Covid-19 Precautions

We have noticed that some tenants are NOT following the rules on social distancing.

Being behind a wall does NOT mean we are forgotten. The police helicopter has been checking us out, probably because we are next to the park which they are checking regularly. The only reason to be at the allotments is for the sanctioned activity of exercise.

If you don’t want to lose the extraordinary privilege that your plot confers please stick to the rules:

  • Maintain ‘social distancing’ and keep a minimum of 2-5 metres from anyone else. If someone approaches you on a path, step aside to create that distance and let them pass
  • No friends or guests to visit
  • No barbeques. The Council has instructed that communal facilities must be closed
  • Go straight to and stay on your plot. Families, please stay on your plot and do not socialise with others.

Remember, one indiscreet action could lead to the allotments being closed.

Latest Newsletter

Newsletter 54 has been added to the archives page. Well worth a read. Please let us know if you haven’t received your email copy.

It’s good to know that allotments are healthy exercise. Please use gloves or anti-bacterial measures when using the gates and please maintain the 2m social distancing.

Extending the Recycling Area

Due to increased demand, Joe Ambaye is organising a day for voluntary effort on our communal facilities and volunteers are needed to help with clearing work adjacent to plot 33. We would appreciate if you can spare about 2-3hrs of your valuable time to help with clearing work expected to take 1 day. This is scheduled for Saturday 22nd February from 10am-4pm.

Please let Joe know directly here . Please bring your shovels and forks and we will provide teas, coffee, biscuits and cake.

Newsletters

Newsletters 51 and 52 have been added to the Archive page.

Please particularly see the details in No.52 for the Seed Swap on Sunday 26th January at around 12.15 and also the appeal for help with extending the Communal Composting area in February.

Flooding advice

We have contacted the RHS and they offer the following advice to those who have had their plots flooded. We continue to be in contact with the Council and the Royal Parks to see what, if anything, can be done to prevent this happening again.

The RHS advises for the short term:

After flooding, wash down hard surfaces and collect up debris to prevent drains blocking, soil surfaces being covered, and pollutants or contaminants lingering in the garden. Wear gloves and overalls to minimise contact with pollutants.

Keep off the soil until it is workable, to avoid compacting it and worsening the conditions.

Remove damaged shoots from affected plants.

After flooding, edible crops near to harvest are best not eaten: no assurances can be given that root crops will be safe to eat, so they should be discarded. Plants eaten raw should be discarded too, and it is prudent to avoid growing salads and other uncooked crops for two years in case disease spores remain in the soil. However, the following year after flooding, it should be safe to grow crops that are to be cooked.

Apply a balanced fertiliser in the spring, mulching over the root area after application – any well rotted organic matter can be used here.

Foliar feeds during the growing season may help improve leaf colour, and encourage new root growth.

Water thoroughly in dry spells after a waterlogged period, as plants will be more susceptible to drought stress.

There is more information on the RHS website. Search for ‘waterlogging and flooding’.

Flooding

Following the recent heavy rain and resulting saturated ground there has been severe flooding in parts of the site and many plots are under water. We have been in touch with the Royal Parks and they advised the main cause is that the River Colne flows out of the Chilterns past Heathrow and feeds the Longford. There has been an enormous amount of rain, but they have now closed 2 of the 3 sluices that feed the water into the Longford which should help.  They reassured us that the water is not contaminated with sewage being pure river water. The only contamination is from run off from the swimming pool car park and any loose vegetation. They do not consider there is any great risk from this but we will raise this with the Council when they return from their Christmas break. The flooding is widespread across the Park’s Brewhouse fields and they are trying to discharge it as fast as possible, but there is nowhere to pump it to. We must simply wait for it to drain away into the Thames.

Borough of Richmond Allotment Group (BRAG)

BRAG held its Annual General Meeting on 19th December at York House. Council officers were present. A Mission Statement for BRAG was distributed for use as a brief summary of objectives.

The updated Termination Procedures devised by the Council in conjunction with BRAG are proving successful and the Council reported 120 warning letters were sent out resulting in 50 terminations.

The Council confirmed that open fires such as bonfires are not allowed on Council land without express permission, but BBQs are acceptable under the Allotment Terms and Conditions.

Congratulations to Joseph Ambaye, our Chairman, who has been appointed the new Secretary of BRAG.

A copy of the minutes and the Mission Statement have been added to the Archives page.

Double yellow lines

You will be pleased to see that following a request from BPAA, the double yellow lines outside the vehicle gate have been extended. This should improve sightlines and make it safer for those leaving the site.