HAD AWFUL SHOCK

[Hot_Potato]

As some of you know - I can't get to my allotment as much as I'd like to as I'm away a lot looking after my Mum, whose a hundred miles away from me.

I got back from my last visit nearly a week ago and on Friday went up to the lottie to do a bit of digging - I keep my fork and hoe in my lovely neighbours shed - he no longer keeps it locked as it's been broken into several times this last year. He and the lottie holder the other side of him are smashing chaps and have been really helpful to me and both are very hardworking.

As I walked up the shared pathway towards the shed which is situated at the far end of his plot, I noticed the ground getting blacker & blacker and stopped in abosolute horror & shock to find his shed had been totally burned to the ground. Lying at the back of his plot in a blackened wheelbarrow were what remained of his tools (& mine) just the metal prongs of our forks, hoes, and the curved bit of his pruning saw.....it was awful and reduced me to  :'(

The other neighbour had left his shed undone (by some miracle his was still standing) and I later learned that he'd left it undone so that I could get access to a spade or fork if I turned up at the lottie.

I left a note for both the chaps (they've been friends apparently for years) to let them know how sorry I was and if I could help in anyway and one of them 'phoned me on the Saturday - we don't normally have anyway of contacting each other - just meet up at the lottie as and when......

It seems that they'd had a controlled bonfire up there the previous weekend on a derelict plot behind both of theirs (where we all have been dumping stuff througout the year) and had both stayed with it until it had died right down and one of the men returned the next day just to check on things - he said there were just a few hot embers left when he went home.

Within a few hours of that - my neighbours shed had been burned down and it seems likely that these 'troublemakers' for want of a better word once again got into the site (it's a secure site but it is possible to get in thru some woods further round & over some lower railings (which have now had barbed wire put all along the top) and it's thought they just gathered up handfuls of hot embers and finding or knowing that my neighbours shed is never locked - chucked a load inside - his shed was full of just about everything.....he stored all his empty jam jars in there too between seasons - it must have been awful.....

All 3 of us now are using the shed belonging to the other chap and have had to replace some of our tools. My neighbour was lucky enough to get a spade & fork from a boot sale for £3. but as I can't get to boot sales, I've just bought a set from Robert Dyas in S.S. for £17.99 which I suppose isn't too bad......the hoe I lost and had never used was a Wilkinson Sword and very lightweigh cost 20 quid!!

Why or why do certain people do these awful things - it's nothing but wanton destruction..........

[Hot_Potato]

[CotswoldLass]

Dear Hot Potato

How horrid! I feel absolutely gutted for you.
Clearly you've got up and dusted yourself off and started over, but it does make you wonder why some sections of society do such destructive things. It is so depressing.

Best wishes to you and lottie mates,

Keep on digging!

All best from the Cotswolds

[Ozzy]

HP

Am gutted for you, but must draw the line that "troublemakers" are responsible, when they themselves had the bonfire?.. I feel sorry for any young kids around there who may get the blame for this, tis not always their doing,.. fires can and do spread so very easily I am frankly amazed that they decided to leave a few embers burning away.. like I said I am sorry, but think it unfair to blame others just because it suits.. sorry if this upsets anyone but  blaming "yobs" is just an easy option for everyone to wash their hands.. there are some very spitefull OAP's about who also have allotments... on the face of what you have said HP seems like an accident, no matter how they try to say otherwise they were the ones who had the bonfire and chose to leave it burning...  shed gets burnt down.. "must be yobs"  come on now... sorry to hear about your mum and hopes she gets better soon.

Ozzy

[Hot_Potato]

You could possibly be right Ozzy but these two men have taken on this responsibility for the last 12 years (arranged with the Horticultural Society) and never before has such a thing happened.....the derelict 'plot' that has been designated by the Society to be used for collection of all large and burnable rubbish by wheelbarrow pushers within a reasonable walking distance, is 3 more plots away from the one where the shed got burned and a 'controlled fire' is organised on the site at least once a year.....and whilst there's always a chance that a spark could blow on the wind.....after 48 hours and careful watching of the 'remains' - it seems unlikely....

What does upset me is that two very thoughtful, kind men, who have regularly 'taken on' responsibilites that no-one else wants should be blamed in anyway....

Just after Christmas, my neighbour the other side of me had a wheelbarrow (taken from another lottie holders plot) slung thru his greenhouse and now there's nothing but a couple of side bits left and broken glass was 'chucked' all over my plot and I spend ages gathering it all up to bring home & stick in the dustbin....we have at the moment a regular 'gang' of whoever....hell bent on causing trouble.....the Society are well aware of this, have an idea who it is but just can't catch them in the act.....

[tim]

Doesn't stop at lotties, does it? Even the big Sussex growers have had their glass smashed from passing trains. Around us it's mainly signpost bashing. But it doesn't stop there. = Tim

[derbex]

Bad luck HP, we've an infestation too. Unfortunately the local police have cleared them out of the town centres and they've got on the train to visit our village, just wish they'd have a ruck with our local lot so they could all be carted away. If we ever saw a copper to do it.

The CCTV cameras they installed at great expense just mean they trash the kiddies playground, park & allotments instead of the high st. and allow the problem to be ignored.

Can't help thinking that all the urine I've been saving for the compost heap could be better employed ::)

[busy_lizzie]

I am so sorry to hear your news HP.  It is a horrible thing to happen.  Hope things can be sorted out - try not to be be too downhearted.  I do sympathise.  :( busy_lizzie

[Kerry]

whatever the cause, HP, i am sorry to hear of your difficulties. very disheartening. best wishes to you!

[rosebud]

Hi HP so sorry to hear what has happened at the allotment to you and your nice friends.  I do sympathise with you all.
There are a minority of youth today that have no respect for people or property.
Please pass on my best wishes to your allotmenteers do all try to not let it spoil anything for you . All the best Rosebud

[Hot_Potato]

Just want to 'say thanks' for all the understanding and encouraging messages - today I tried out the new spade I bought the other day for the first time - sliced thru the ground lovely.

When I got there today - had lovely surprise - one of those two kind friends had dug a few more rows for me (I don't know which one did it tho) but this is typical of their kindness. They help me when they can as I've got fybromyalgia (had it for years) and find the 'heavy stuff' a bit difficult.

Dithered and dithered before I left about what to do with the spade - leave it in the one shed we're all 3 now sharing or put back into boot of car - but decided I'd take my chance like we all have to so mine has joined the other two......

I agree with your comments about 'shifting the problem' Derbex - our local precinct (just down the end of the main road from the allotments) has also had CCTV cameras installed at much cost and whilst it's much improved things there - the 'troublemakers' are just finding other places to 'trash'.