Allotments 4 All
General => News => Topic started by: Flighty on June 15, 2009, 08:01:38
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What's wrong with an allotment filled with flowers
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2009/jun/12/allotments-plot-flowers?commentpage=1&commentposted=1
and this is the guy's website
http://www.digmyplot.co.uk/
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With us, you can have up to 25% of the plot with "non edible" plants. This is in the contract - along with plenty of what are, in my opinion, more sensible rules. Personally, I'd like to see the rule enforced or changed. And yes, change would be my favourite but you can't just pick & choose the rules you like.
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One of our plotholders grows exhibition dahlias on most of his plot, possibly a quarter is given over to veg. It is a beauty to behold and we certainly have no intentions of evicting him... another lady has two plots given over to herbaceous borders and specimen trees in lawn. We are less happy about that but wouldn't dream of evicting her over it... :-\
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I think that people should be able to grow what they want on an allotment as long as it does not adversely affect other allotment holders.
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I grow about 20% flowers on each plot. We are practically surrounded by flats-hence no gardens so although I love the flowers, we use them to attract the bees( wether they go from flower to beans etc is questionable). My opinion is that while there is a waiting list for allotments for people to grow their own food then I think that the 25% rule for non edibles is right. In cases where there are aload of empty plots then ok. Please remember tht this is only my opinion ;D
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If there are rules you have to comply but flowers vs vegetables is a debatable issue. Dahlias are a tricky plant to ban as they can be a reliable, prolific and nutritious food source.
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This guy grows vegetables as well. Plus flowers/the plants they're growing on have many uses as well as culinary.
Also anything that can help bee's survive shouldn't be prevented.
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There's a huge house adjoining our site, and the owners have two adjoining plots with a gate through their hedge. This double plot has been laid to lawn - it's like a bowling green. They have fruit trees and a shed at one end, and a bench overlooking the lawn the other end. It's carefully mown weekly.
They've been told they have to cultivate 1/3 of it, so some carefully-measured beds have been put in, fruit planted through black plastic (minimum upkeep) and the lawn remains. A teenage son practised golf on it (had to walk down through the other plots to find the ball) one evening, I was too far away to say anything or take a picture.
That's taking the p!$$, I'd say. Most plots on our site have flowers, and there is comfrey everywhere. Companion planting, nothing wrong with that.
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On our site there are a couple of plots that are completeley laid to lawn and are used solely for the next door plot holder to park his car on. And that is a full 10 rod plot.
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Now that is taking the p**s for sure ain't it. Just shows that the rules need to be enforced cos there is always someone who tries it on.
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Why not full of flowers? It's not strictly allowed under the allotments acts, but they don't apply to every site, and quite honestly I think the restriction should be relaxed.
So did the select committee report into the future of allotments (http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmenvtra/560/56014.htm#a31): * We recommend that the main restrictions on the use of allotments contained in national legislation should be repealed. In particular, decisions over:
o the uses to which plots may be put, particularly with regard to flower growing;
o commercial use with regard to site shops and the sale of surplus produce; and
o the keeping of livestock
* should be made on a site-by-site basis by the local authority or allotment society. We urge that care should be taken when relaxing restrictions so that the essential character of a site is maintained. (Paragraph 32)
On the whole I think people should be left alone to do what they want on their allotments while it doesn't interfere with anyone else, and that most certainly includes the right to a decent sized shed to spend the whole weekend in.
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I'd go along with you on the shed size and I know that DebP would. Her shed is nice enough to live in.
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Cheers Shirl.... ;D
I also think it is the cultivation of the plot that is important, not what is grown. I too favour a mix of veg, fruits and flowers on the plot, and love the fact that people adopt different ways of growing. You have to wonder what their specific objection to flowers are, I wonder if it is just an excuse to have a go at a possibly 'less conventional' gardener? Shame on them! >:(
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Well I guess it depends on whether the plot is cultivated or just a wild area of self-seeded nasturtiums! I don't have a problem with people growing flowers, although I am not sure about 100% flowers. As for turning the whole plot into a lawn that is just totally taking the mick!
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You have to wonder what their specific objection to flowers are
On a council site where the Allotment Acts apply the council doesn't have the power to allow the allotment to be used for anything other than mainly fruit and veg. The council is obliged to enforce the restriction, though I think it increadibly unlikely that anyone would take out a high court injunction against them if they just turned a blind eye. In practice what happens is mean-spirited busy-bodies get off on telling other people what to do. The more rules you have the greater the scope for tyrany.
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Deb P I agree wholeheartedly with what you say!
Unwashed sadly what you say is all too true!
As a less conventional gardener myself I wonder what I'd do in this situation.
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Allotment legislation badly needs updating, but this is absurd!
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Allotment legislation badly needs updating, but this is absurd!
Unfortunately although it "badly needs updating" what will happen is that it will be "updated badly"...... [/my 2p]
chrisc
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Robert much as I agree with you chrisc is probably right, and I dread to think just what it'd be like if Health & Safety got involved!
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On our allotment site know one is allowed to plant trees except for fruit trees but first have to get permission which is usually given if the trees in question are not going to grow into the fruit trees we had long ago.
As for a lawn we would not allow them to have one at all but have know objection to them having flower beds but all our members have to grow vegetables on at least half of there allotment.
No cars are allowed on to the allotments unless they are unloading or picking up materials from there allotment and we have four spaces where we do allow members to park there car if they are disabled and this has worked very well for us.
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I don't get some of these silly allotment rules!!
Today I got a letter saying I have to dig up my strawberry bed because its classed as permanent according to a green party councillor, I did point out that strawberrys only last three years but they won't have it and say they'll be back within 12 months to make sure I've compiled with their ruling and removed them.
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I don't get that, what is wrong with a strawberry bed!!!!!
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I don't get that, what is wrong with a strawberry bed!!!!!
No idea what they are thinking and I won't be digging them out, I find it a bit of a joke that our local council won't deal with people that have uncultivated plots but tell the person on site that uses his allotment to the full that they can't have a strawberry bed, maybe my constant moaning about unused plots bugs them a little but while there are people on our site doing bugger all with the allotments they have they'll continue to get an email from me every three months telling them about it!!
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The lunatics are running the asylum
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I don't get some of these silly allotment rules!!
Today I got a letter saying I have to dig up my strawberry bed because its classed as permanent according to a green party councillor, I did point out that strawberrys only last three years but they won't have it and say they'll be back within 12 months to make sure I've compiled with their ruling and removed them.
??? ??? ??? ??? ???
So no rhubarb, raspberries, redcurrants etc either? That is pure crazy! I would go to the councillor myself and ask them to the meaning explain the ruling.
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Perhaps they are just allergic to strawberries and they bring them out in a rash, or perhaps they are just jealous. Just off to make strawberry jam, this has been a good year for strawberries. Have you got a raised bed or some permanent structure that they are moaning about, it can't just be strawberries. I don't believe it!!! (Victor Mildrew).
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??? ??? ??? ??? ???
So no rhubarb, raspberries, redcurrants etc either? That is pure crazy! I would go to the councillor myself and ask them to the meaning explain the ruling.
We are allowed to grow rhubarb because they don't class that as permanent!! I have spoken to the councillor but only got the norm "I don't make the rules" rubbish, I have photo's from our whole site for the last six years (its only 13 plots) and have writen to our local paper once or twice and might pay a visit to them next week to see if they'll print the story.
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Mick, why not mail RHS and ask them if they consider strawbs permanent. Interesting viewpoint they are taking...is there a criteria re what/how they class some things as permanent and not others?
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They are talking Bo!!ocks... :-X
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Why not just plant them in pots and plunge the pots into the soil so that the strawbs root through the bottom? Pots have to be considered temporary.
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What date is it? It's to warm for April ::) ::) ::).
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MickW that is absolutely ludicrous, especially as you can grow rhubarb!
We really do live in a topsy-turvy world.
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This Strawberry situation is so similar to mine. A member of the Committee stood looking at my plot and said it was not cultivated, His explanation was that I just throw a few seeds in now and again and it all self seeds. His credentials : he has been gardening since the age of eleven. We were standing in front of the strawberry bed, he said " Look at it, it is all just growing".
The year before last it received a commended, and a couple before that, to the Allotment Representative's astonishment, it received a Highly Commmended. He put it down to the range of crops I was growing.
Anyway thank you all for your supportive comments, and especially flighty for putting on the original posting.
digmyplot
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Digmyplot welcome to A4A, and thanks for the mention.
Having read the Guardian Gardening Blog I felt that it should be made known to as many people, especially allotmenteers, as possible. I also did a blog entry about it
http://flightplot.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/it-makes-you-think/
I will be doing a further blog entry today which will include MickW's strawberry story!
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With over 30 replies and nearly 1000 views on this subject I'd just like to thank everyone.
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Hi digmyplot. I see you have explored other forums too lol.
Oh update your blog ;)
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What is wrong with these people? Let's hope with all the publicity they will be eating humble pie very soon.
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Welcome to the site Digmyplot, there are some crazy things going on on our sites, I've just had my run ins with our council saying that I never payed in 2007. But Mick's STRAWBERRYS, I've heard some bollx in my life but this one defies logic. ??? ??? ??? :( :( :(
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We actually encourage people to grow flowers on their plots by having a 'Flower Garden' competition every year.
Lots of plotholders enter and many of them who never grew flowers before now do so.
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On GQT this afternoon someone asked what were the best things to grow on an allotment to save money, and Bob Flowerdew said "Cut flowers" because they are so expensive in the shops.Makes sense to me!
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You can only save money growing cut flowers if you normally spend lots of money buying cut flowers. If you do spend lots of money on cut flowers and you need to trim the budget, cut flowers are the first thing to cut out. Growing flowers for the house is a bonus not an economy measure.
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You can only save money growing cut flowers if you normally spend lots of money buying cut flowers. If you do spend lots of money on cut flowers and you need to trim the budget, cut flowers are the first thing to cut out. Growing flowers for the house is a bonus not an economy measure.
Very true! I never buy flowers. Still feels good when I can have them in the house for next-to-nothing, though!
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I grow quite a few flowers but only cut the chrysanths and sweet peas. I always grow too many so always have quite a few to give to my friends and neighbours on the site. I find these two flowers a challenge. So much beauty for the effort you put in.