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Why sooo long...?

• Message 1. 

  Posted by desmond4893 (U2332206) on Thursday, 27th October 2005

  HI,
  
  I'm a newby to this site and hoefully soon to an allotment.
  
  I am just waiting to hear if the local council will actually repair and replace the (just) existing fencing around the unused allotments. Obviously if they say no I don't fancy one that everyone can have access to (bored kids etc)
  
  Does anyone have any advice on whether a council has to provide adequate security or is it just the land they have to supply?
  
  My second question is...the land has not been used as allotment land for about 10 years and is very heavily overgrown....any suggestions on the best way to clear it and start using it?
  
  Come on council give me an answer and any suggestions most welcome.....
  
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by green_salad (U2277331) on Thursday, 27th October 2005

  Hi, If the Allotment Site is council maintained, then they will probably have an Allotment's Officer who you can get in touch with to answer all of your questions. Look on your local authority web site and you will probably find a contact number for him/her. He/she will also be able to tell you whether an allotment committee has been formed.
  
  I would mark your plot out and tackle one portion at a time, covering the rest with cardboard or a weed suppressing fabric. It will keep the weeds down until you can get round to it. Next dig a part over and get something in straight away, there are lots of winter things you can plant still, onions, shallots, garlic and winter brassica's to name some. Then you will have something to look forward to and you will feel like a proper allomenteer.
  
  Can you order manure? If so you can let it rot down over the winter and it will be something to nourish and improve your soil next year. I am just assuming your don't want to use chemicals like weedkillers of which I have no knowledge. Most of all enjoy your plot and remember the allotment tip "little and often" - don't overdo it; you dig for ten minutes and then have a break doing something else then go back to your digging and continue in this way, so it is not too taxing on your back. And good luck, it is wonderful having an allotment and will certainly enhance your life. Best wishes, green_salad

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Thursday, 27th October 2005

  Hi Desmond - these new boards have only gone live in the past 24 hours so it may take a while for the lottie brigade to migrate here from the old boards. You could try posting your question on this site to get a quicker response.
  
  Otherwise, most allotments have a site chairman or woman and a council officer designated as site manager. Either of these people should be able to help.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by ken-71 (U2340356) on Friday, 28th October 2005

  Hi Des....can't see any landlord spending money on such a long disused piece of land.
  Strimming lets you see what's there, and you can get a temporary crop next year without digging, by growing stuff in a mulch such as well seasoned manure or grass cuttings.
  Google for NO DIG, then together with what you have dug and cleared you should be self sufficient in quite a short time.
  
  

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Green-Laners (U2346527) on Friday, 28th October 2005

  We have the same problem, in that the fence we have is collapsing. The council unfortuately don't have the resources to fix it at the moment. Even where the fence is in good order though the kids just climb over it. If there were a few people on the site you could form an association and then apply for funding from a grant giving body, or the local community chest to have the fence fixed yourself.
  
  When we started on our plot 3 years ago, we hired a petrol brush cutter with steel blade (plastic ones just break all the time). Over the course of a weekend we strimmed it and raked it several times, until you could barely see any weed growth. We the covered half of it in black matting and du the other half.

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