At last it's arrived - sunshine and cow parsley! You me and a few hardy leeks and cabbages have made it through another Winter. It was beginning to look as though it would never happen. Stuff is growing.
Yes of course the marestail, sticky bob, dandelions, cabbage whites and bindweed have also arrived, but NEVER MIND. Summer's here and the time is right for dancing on the plot.
The Gates of Russell Road
Unless you're in Zone G, you're more likely to see these gates while heading to town down Russell Road. They're a little shabby now - indeed they're in such a bad state that we wonder how much longer they can last. But you can see that in their prime they were beautiful. These ornamental gates were erected in 1953 at that entrance and are a piece of allotment history.
They were designed by the city architect to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Unfortunately they have been neglected for years and are now in a poor state of repair. Over the summer we're going to try to crowd fund a little project to make sure they're good for another 50 years with a full sandblast and professional repaint treatment - and probably a drop of oil to the hinges. Our target for completing the work is £2000. Help us restore them to their former glory and bring this little local landmark back to new.
DONATIONS TO:
Moor Green Allotments
Sort Code: 30-99-50
Account No: 24433860
Dates for Your Diary 1 - the RHS Visit 22nd June
On the evening of Saturday 22nd June, the Royal Horticultural Society are coming to Moor Green to hold a Question and Answer session in the Clubhouse. So if you would like to meet face-to-face some of the leading lights in horticulture, this is your opportunity to quiz them about your plans, achievements and failures!
The RHS Fruit, Veg & Herb Committee group visiting us (David Allison, Jim Arbury, Vicki Cooke, Nick Dunn, Gerry Edwards and Barry Newman) all have different areas of expertise and experience. For a start, three have allotments themselves. All of them have expertise in growing fruit, vegetables and herbs. Three are specialists in growing and advising on fruit, two are vegetable specialists who have also chaired the National Vegetable Society. Two particularly advise on organic methods, two are exhibition gardeners, two are exhibition judges — one also being a Britain in Bloom judge - one is an apple expert and another is a beekeeper!
The panel session will be on from 5.30 - 7.00 pm in the Clubhouse. The Bar will be open until 8.00 - being an audience member is thirsty work. Tea and coffee will also be available before the event.
We hope this is going to be a great evening. People from other sites will also be coming and seats may be at a premium. Just click on the link below then click on the Buy Ticket button to book your place.
Don't worry - it's free; it just helps us to get an idea of how many people are coming.
Dates for Your Diary 2 - Annual General Meeting Saturday 6th July at 10.30 a.m
This is the one occasion where you can find out directly
what's happening with allotments across the City - including any news about big issues , like rents and other charges
what the Committee has been up to on your behalf
what's planned for next year.
And of course you get to elect the Committee for next year. We are very keen to get new committee members - especially from the younger end of the community. At our last committee we agreed that the next AGM take place on Saturday 6th July at 10.30 a.m. Next year and thereafter (for those of you that like to plan ahead) AGMs will be scheduled to take place in late April/early May to coincide with end of the financial year. This is much more normal and resumes the practice of this Association pre-Covid. The 2025 meeting would therefore be on 3rd May 2025.
Nominations for the Association Committee willl be opened on 1st June - well ahead of the Annual General Meeting - and closed on 22nd June, 14 days before the AGM takes place to enable an election if necessary. A list for you to add nominations to will be placed in a prominent place in the Clubhouse. All nominees must be proposed, seconded and approved at the AGM.
Dates for your Diary 3 - Summer Fair 20th July
Dont miss this lovely annual event. Sun guaranteed - honest! Something for all the family in our little bit of country paradise in the heart of the second city. Starts at midday on the 20th and runs until 7.00 (stalls close at at around 5.00) There will be all the usual attractions including:
Craft stalls,
Bar offering dazzling variety of cool drinks including a range of Glasshouse craft beers and the new Staropramen
Pizza – The pizza boys will be there; I swear they’re getting bigger. The pizzas, not the boysÂ
BBQ – sausages, burgers, witty banter, disposable cutlery
Tea and cake - massive selection and all home madeÂ
Live Music – still working on this,but it’s definitely in the plan.
Tables are still available if you want to hire a stall. It's £18 for a place for the day - £15 if you're a plotholder or social member.
Good News - Lottery Fund
Well this is is a nice bit of news to finish on. Those lovely people at the National Lottery Fund have just sent us almost £20,000! It's money that we bid for to improve security on site and will enable us to pay for
a good security system of motion sensitive cameras/lighting all linked live to people's phones so we can act quickly when intruders are spotted. Our thanks to Dan, Rob, Bernie and Zulf for puttiing the plan together and
Better fences. Old fashioned but effective. We won't be able to replace the whole half mile or so of boundary fence but should be able to tackle the weakest sections.
This is not the total answer to the problem of break ins . A 20 foot high wall with manned machine gun posts at 100 metre intervals would be better, but the Council probably wouldn't allow it anyway. However this additional work will definitely deter and hopefully provide a safer site for all of us.
That's all for this month folks - the weeding is calling. Happy plotting!
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