Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: amphibian on July 04, 2006, 19:22:49
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The blasted deer have munched many of my corn plants, some have been ripped out the ground or reduced to stumps, but some have just had their tops eaten off. Do corn regrow or are they curtains?
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curtains, unless it had some little side shoots at the base, in which case you could get those to grow instead.
:(
moonbells
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I think I'm going to give up my plot, the deer eat everything, the council refuse to improve the fencing, what's the point. :'(
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Amphibian I feel for you, do you have an allotment manager that you could talk too? Do the other plot holders have the same problem?
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Amphibian I feel for you, do you have an allotment manager that you could talk too? Do the other plot holders have the same problem?
We all have the same issue, some have fenced their own plots, in breach of our contracts. This works because the deer can't be bothered jumping the fence if they can just munch someone else's produce with out jumping. However virtually all the plots are now fenced, if I fence mine then they will start jumping over the fences and we'll all be back to square one.
We have no manager, but I called the council woman, and she got stroppy with me, telling me how she had already told us 'all' (as if we have a collective conscience) that there is no funding for a fence along the bottom of the site, and how if we pinpoint where the deer get through she will get it fenced, this is just daft as they will simply move along a few feet and come through somewhere else where a fence is lacking. The council's idea of deer fencing is a four foot wire fence, useless.
I know a year ago my site was virtually empty and the council wanted to sell it off for housing, I think they are trying to drive us all away so they can rekindle this aim.
I don't get this no funding lark, the site is full and and the rent for all the plots should amount to about £20,000/year, they mow the paths twice a year, and collect rubbish once a year. That is it. It seems to me that they use our rent to fund other council expenses, which I believe is illegal.
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Could you not get an article into your local paper, get a few of you together and have a piccy taken so that it makes other people aware of the problem. Councils don't really like bad press. I agree if they tried to sell the land it does sound fishy.
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Try your MP, then if that doesn't work, go to the local paper, and they can contact the MP, who will already be aware of the situation, and give them some free publicity.
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I am not normally one to take this kind of nonsense, but there is an association run site nearer my current home, and I am tempted just to try to get a plot there. The association site deal with the deer with an electric fence, it is apparently very effective and cheaper than a tall fence.
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Good thinking - before you make the press phone call, give the next manager up to the charming lady one final try. It might be worth clearly pointing out the news value, and the urgency. They really do hate bad press. Suggest a joint meeting on site - they may be glad to get out for an hour. E-mail photo's of your sweetcorn to the manager - possibly as part of a draft "press release". I don't know how big a fence it is, but is there a middle way, whereby they provide the materials and the allottmenteers provide the labour??
I may be able to find you a nice rare orchid - if they try to sell the site. We have one up our sleeves (metaphorically) just in case!!!
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I know where the biggest colony of bee orchids in the E Midlands is, I found it and reported it. I can also get you some Great Crested newts if needs be ;D
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I wouldn't start digging up bee orchids, they don't like being moved. GC newts are a better bet; stick a few in a pond at the right time of year and they'll probably stay around.
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i dunno-news stories...gc newts-bee orchids-you are a cunning lot-
its just what i was going to suggest!!lol!
kick up a stink-and put you'r name down for the more local plot too amph-it wont do any harm to run them side by side for a while while you give the council some stick ;D ;D ;D
i consider meself lucky that the only deer i have seen frolicked past thru the wheatfield and on to the woods-i was hoping she wouldnt notice the veg garden!
kitty
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Get a Lurcher ;D
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Do you know much about the deer - i.e. type and herd size? (wild or owned, local hunting laws etc).
The geography of your plot (i.e. are you on an edge of the grounds or not) and how the deer get in is worth looking at. Perhaps there is something you could grow at their entrance into the ground that would keep them away (?vicious spiky plants etc)...or even razor wire via ebay (i.e.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Razor-Wire-Security-Fencing-450-mm-boxed-warning-sign_W0QQitemZ230002646256QQihZ013QQcategoryZ26197QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
...there is always corn-fed venison recipes?
Or maybe round some up and sneak then into the Council offices.
Either way good luck.
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The edge of Tunbridge Wells? Roe or fallow are the most likely, though I could be wrong.
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The edge of Tunbridge Wells? Roe or fallow are the most likely, though I could be wrong.
We have roe and fallow in abundance, I am not sure which is the responsible party, may be both.
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Do you know much about the deer - i.e. type and herd size? (wild or owned, local hunting laws etc).
The geography of your plot (i.e. are you on an edge of the grounds or not) and how the deer get in is worth looking at. Perhaps there is something you could grow at their entrance into the ground that would keep them away (?vicious spiky plants etc)...or even razor wire via ebay (i.e.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Razor-Wire-Security-Fencing-450-mm-boxed-warning-sign_W0QQitemZ230002646256QQihZ013QQcategoryZ26197QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
...there is always corn-fed venison recipes?
Or maybe round some up and sneak then into the Council offices.
Either way good luck.
They are 'wild' deer, it is illegal to hunt them, unless licenced to cull.
All the plots border the fields behind because we have long thin strips running doen the site, deer are not usually put of by briars, they often make their homes in teh middle of them. We are nott allowed to install razor wire, nor erect our own fencing.
I love the idea of letting them loose in the town hall though.
A local resident says he has seen them jumping over the hedge from the road, the hedge is 6' tall and 4' deep, the only plot that doesn't suffer from them is one that has a 7' hedge all the way round it.
I am desparately trying to get hold of the association site secretary, but his phone just rings and rings. ???
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Well I have put my name down for a plot at the association runs site round the corner, it has a waiting list of 25 and has something like 150 plots. He asked lots of questions, that made me think the waiting list wasn't run in a stictly first come first serve order.
Hopefully I won't have to wait an age. In the meantime I am going to give up the lower portion of my allotment, and concentrate on the top, which I think I'll keep to grow deer resisant things like spuds, soft fruits etc...
Apparently the association site has no problems with deer and is relatively free of perenial weeds and brambles, it has a shop and toilet regular manure deliveries, no stupid rules about greenhouses or sheds, wish I'd gone there in the first place, they had no waiting list when I took on my plot.
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it has a shop and toilet regular manure deliveries
its just the same in our bathroom amph! ;D ;D ;D
more seriously-i'm glad you are trying for the new place-theres nothing more disheartening than having your hardworkruined-i hopoe you get a new plot soon-you can look forward to next years harvest then....
blinkin deer...
best of luck..
kitty
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Well I have had a bumper harvest of shallots today, that cheered me up, though my whole house reeks of them now.
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I am furious.
I have just returned from my allotment and the deer have completely destroyed the remainder of my sweetcorn. However, what has really got me angry is the council and a strongly worded letter is in the making; someone has been up to strim the empty plots, however they have walked backwards and forwards across my carrot bed, which is raised, leaving massive craters among my rows, and to top it off they have strimmed my broadbeans too. On a neighbouring plot they have strimmed blackcurrant bushes to the ground, and ripped up tayberries.
God only knows what oik they sent up, but I haven't been this angry in years. >:(
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I think threats of court action are needed here. I get the impression they are trying to harass you off your plots so they can sell them. Thankfully, my council is actively encouraging people to take on a lotties with high profile media campaigns which gives you a sense of security. Who is your council, it might be worth getting a campaign going which includes members of A4A.
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I know where the biggest colony of bee orchids in the E Midlands is, I found it and reported it. I can also get you some Great Crested newts if needs be ;D
not a good idea as you know great crested newts are covered by the laws of protection and if people openly advise flouting these laws in such a way then you are shooting yourself in the foot or even feet . i woul stick to pm's for such advice and offers of aquiring protected animals and plants .
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Please recognise a tongue shape sticking out of a cheek. Having notified the relevant authorities and kept it a closely guarded secret for ten years, I think I know what I am doing.
Sheeesh - you sound like my mother.
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ok my friend never noticed the t-i-c but still :-X hush my mouth
mark
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Sheeesh - you sound like my mother.
oedipus shmoedipus-who cares so long as he loves his mother??-
you never write..you never fone-oi!clanger-my son the teacher!
;D ;D ;D
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an ology your a scientist ;D
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my boy!
;D
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Sheeesh - you sound like my mother.
oedipus shmoedipus-who cares so long as he loves his mother??-
you never write..you never fone-oi!clanger-my son the teacher!
;D ;D ;D
Kits, my mother has watched me grow up and knows what a chronic environmentalist I and my OH are (chronically chronic) and everytime we make a sarcy (chavvish) statement like "ooh, look at that wildflower, let's take it home" gives us a complete b*ll*ck*ng.
Heeby - you are forgiven ;D
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ha!thats mothers for you clang! ;D
i bet she still asks you if you have your vest on and a clean hanky when you go out..
i'm tempted when i see you ,to ask meself!
tho when you see a nice clump of rare orchids ,split 'em with me willya?
ta!
heeby-we is only avin a larf-rest assured-you wont find anyone on here harming a gnat let alone a rare thing!
kitty
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yes isee now i take my self too seriously sometimes but after reading the oedipus shmoedipus reply you cant help but smile, if its not one thing its your mother
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hahaha!heeby-you're a good sport!you'll get on well here-hope yto see you posting lots! ;D
luv
kitty
x
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Have you any evidence that the strimming, trampling, etc. was indeed done by someone from the Council? If you have, then a very strong letter threatening legal action for damage to your crops might stop it happening again.
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thats a good idea....
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The council deny they conducted any strimming that week.
I wonder who decided to strim all the paths and uncultivated areas of the site.
Only one plot is actually vacant, as opposed to awaiting cultivation, the council don't normally deal with the unused areas of rented plots, so I am confused as to what is going on.
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i wouldnt bother your head about it amph....in my experiance,whenever you are trying to get someone to take responsibility they are ace at passing the buck...... ::)
*sigh*
kitty
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An update on deer and corn...
I have been trialling a new method of repelling deer I call it the Stinky Scarecrow™; basically I go upto the allotment and change into a set of clothing, I do as much sweaty work as possible and then use the stinky clothes to dress a scarecrow. Next time I return I simply undress the scaregrow and wear the clothes again, they reek of 100% hardworking man.
I have two scarecrows positioned near my corn bed, each with Stinky Scarecrows™ near my corn on the route up the plot the deer were using, they have not returned.
The corn has magic regeneration properties and a few of the corn have regenerated from stumps, others have put out new stems from the base, some are kind of dwarf plants having started flowering at only 1-2' tall, I have no idea whether any of them will recover sufficiently to give me a crop, if we have an Indian summer I may get lucky, but I will be rolling out the Stinky Scarecrow™ across my plot.
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peeeuuuww!
Kitty edges away from the stinky amphibian!
glad you found a cure for the moment-lets hope it lasts!
kitty