This is how we keep our feet dry

[ina]

Here you can see how we keep our feet dry in our allotment complex. When the water in the small canals of the complex reach a certain level, the pump kicks in automatically. You can see the level of the water on the complex side of the dam is lower. Sorry people, no windmill anymore to do this job.

[ina]

[The gardener]

Impressive!

We have a ditch at the back of our allotment which take the water that flows down the hillside away from our allotments.

It is on council property so technically it is there problem, but year on year we have to desilt & deleaf it, otherwise we get flooded out.

So with us it is a case with us of getting the finger out! ::) whereas I think you Dutch stick a finger in, is that right? ;D

[ina]

Every year, all canals (and don't you dare call them ditches haha) get inspected by the district water board. This is for all canals and all owners and renters of property bordering on canals have to keep them clean. You will be fined and pay for the cleaning if you don't.

At our allotment complex, the commitee inspects twice a year, the inspection in the fall takes place just before the official inspection of the water board. Lottie holders failing this get a letter and a chance to clean up or will get booted off if they don't.

Our lottie borders on the canal you see on the left in the picture and a smaller side canal. The first year we had a hell of a job cleaning it out, we chopped a mat of roots off the bottom. Now we pull water plants out with a rake as soon as we see it so they can inspect all they want, whenever they want. Outside the complex, where inspection is once a year, lots of water plants grow and I must admit, it looks very nice in summer with flowers, plumes and cat tails (we call stink cigars).

[Garden Manager]

Just shows how far more organised dutch authorites appear to be.  In Britain the local authority would assume the posture of an ostrich and bury its head in the sand over such a problem (either that or tie itself up in red tape and forms, while the lotties get flooded out).