CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:
COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES
PLEASE NOTE: ACCESS TO THE CHESTERGATE ALLOTMENTS SITE IS NOW FORBIDDEN TO ALL BUT ALLOTMENT TENANTS
THEFTS AT THE ALLOTMENTS / QUESTIONNAIRES /
MOWING / DOG-FOULING - May 8, 2020
Two allotment owners have now reported having had seeds, seedlings, slug pellets and tools stolen from sheds or polytunnels. This is not a common occurrence at the allotments - in fact there have never been thefts there before - but people should be aware. Only allotmenteers are allowed access to the allotments currently, and other people should be asked to leave.
Please fill in and return your questionnaires (sent out by email).
Mowing takes place on Monday (May 11) so please ensure all grass walkways are clear of tools etc.
There have been unpleasant reports of dogs fouling allotments: dogs are allowed at the allotments but the usual rules about collecting and removing faeces apply and must be followed. Failure to do so presents an obvious health risk, as well as being thoughtless and anti-social. The dog can't help it: owners can.
Update from Lesley Greene - April 9, 2020
ORCHIDS: Orchids have started to appear in the orchard - if you walk up there, please be careful not to tread on them.
GATE LOCK: The gate lock can stick a little if you try to force it - it responds better if you handle it gently. (This is honestly what Lesley basically emailed.)
Update from Lesley Greene - April 6, 2020
WATER SAVING: The water is now on, but no rain is predicted for some time so please don't be wasteful: water harvest if you can, resist using hoses, and please don't wash your hands or use sanitisers and soaps etc in the tanks. The low rent the Parish charges is because we save water - the biggest bills are water bills.
SEED SUPPLIES: Many seed companies are now inundated with orders as people start growing their own food. Please do not over-order. The company Lesley uses, Real Seeds, says, ‘Four hundred people an hour are trying to order but we can only pack six hundred orders per week. There is no shortage of seed and there is still plenty of time to plant things. Do try waiting a week if you can't get through. A few people are asking to place huge orders, but it's not necessary. Seeds do not keep so there is NO POINT in stockpiling them. All orders are now limited to one packet of each variety and no more than 35 different things. Please be considerate of others who would like to garden, and only order what you think you can realistically use.'
SEED SAVERS: Several of us save our own seed so if you have excess please do what we do in all normal years and leave the seeds and plants you don't want on the allotment table for all to share. Lesley and Martin Brown each have some spare tomato plants including some unusual varieties - email or text Lesley and they can be left for you. Sue has perennial kale available. Ashley at the Farm Shop still has a few varieties of seed potatoes available and is getting another packeted seed delivery later this week- you can always buy local!
ORCHIDS: If you walk your dog in the community orchard please look out for the emerging orchids and avoid treading and putting paws on them.
A PERSONAL PLEA FOR ORGANIC GARDENING: Please avoid chemicals, especially glysophate (Round-Up) if you can help it - this report in The Guardian claims that Monsanto always knew that its chemicals would breed resistance in
weeds.
Finally: a big thank you for welcoming new allotment tenants and the help you are giving them.
Update from Lesley Greene - April 1, 2020
The NAS has just issued latest guidance on allotment usage as follows:
The government is presently advising the population to stay at home and practice social distancing, whilst being allowed to take one form of exercise a day.
If working your allotment is to carry on being seen as legitimate exercise then it is imperative that plot-holders follow all the guidelines; allotment sites are as risky as anywhere else.
We think that now is the time to consider working your plot in isolation i.e. not with household members, and if you can stay away for a few weeks to do so.
It is vitally important that you follow all the advice about social distancing and hygiene in the points below and not gather together on site.
Any plot-holder who is self isolating because a household member is ill with corona-virus should not be visiting the site.
The Allotment water has now been turned on.
Please use it sparingly and abide by the guidelines on the virus - it is important that anyone attending the allotment takes care to stay the appropriate distance from others, avoids body contact and washes hands at taps: do not wash hands or use detergents in the water tanks.
Use hand sanitiser before opening and after closing any gate lock.
Wash hands when you get home.
Update March 24, 2020:
It is essential that no unauthorised people are allowed onto the plots for the duration of this emergency.
If you see non-allotment individuals, dog walkers etc anywhere on site, please report them to the Allotment Warden Lesley Greene (01452 770018) or the Parish Clerk Debbie Meredith (01452 771089).
If there is unauthorised use of the site it may have to be closed.
Meanwhile, ALLOTMENT TENANTS should take the following precautionary measures:
• Keep hand sanitiser in your shed and wash your hands regularly
• Do not wash hands or use detergents in the water tanks and please pay attention to notice boards in a changing situation
• Please keep your children on your plot
• If you come into the site by car preferably do not use the main gate at all but park in the road outside the site. If you HAVE to come in by car please ALWAYS keep the gate shut at ALL times
• Always use hand sanitiser before opening and closing gate locks
• Observe ‘Social Distancing' with each other - keep two-three metres apart
• Do not share tools
The compost loo and allotment hut are CLOSED to reduce the risk of infection.
BCCS is also CLOSED until further notice. Bisley-resident allotment holders can still collect compost but must NOT deposit green waste (please compost it at home instead).
Membership renewals will be deferred until the situation changes.
For further information see our website or contact the directors
Lesley Greene (01452 770018), Liz Howlett (01452 770689), Ian Plewis (01452 770277), Peter Richardson (01453 759284) or Hazel Saunders (01452 770606)
We understand that SDC is still collecting recycling, rubbish and green waste – call them on 01453 766321 or visit their website for more information.
ABOUT THE ALLOTMENTS IN BISLEY
The Chestergate Allotments are located on the edge of Bisley, on the Stroud Road, and are provided by the Charity of the Ancient Parish of Bisley.
Current allotmenteers grow fruit, vegetables and flowers, and several keep chickens.
It's a great way to grow fresh and nutritious food - often more interesting or unusual strains of fruit and veg that are harder to find or more expensive in the supermarkets.
You don't need any great experience or knowledge to take on a plot - there are always friendly people around to offer advice and lend tools if you need them, and free plants are also often provided.
Rent is £15 per year, and many allotments are still available.
If you would like to take on an allotment, please email allotment warden Lesley Greene or telephone her on 01452 770018.
Next door to the allotments is the Bisley Community Composting Scheme.
This is a members-only scheme that takes garden waste, composts it in large bins and makes it available to members as unsieved soil conditioner or, for a small donation, as sieved and bagged green compost.
Membership is £30 per year.
If you would like to join BCCS, please email Hazel Saunders or telephone her on 01452 770606.
At the Stroud end of the allotments area is Bisley's Community Orchard, which was set up in 2013 in memory of a very popular local resident, Lyn Hemming. It was planted with seventeen indigenous Gloucestershire apple varieties and two perry pears.
It is largely left to grow wild in order to provide a habitat for bees and other insects.
COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES
PLEASE NOTE: ACCESS TO THE CHESTERGATE ALLOTMENTS SITE IS NOW FORBIDDEN TO ALL BUT ALLOTMENT TENANTS
THEFTS AT THE ALLOTMENTS / QUESTIONNAIRES /
MOWING / DOG-FOULING - May 8, 2020
Two allotment owners have now reported having had seeds, seedlings, slug pellets and tools stolen from sheds or polytunnels. This is not a common occurrence at the allotments - in fact there have never been thefts there before - but people should be aware. Only allotmenteers are allowed access to the allotments currently, and other people should be asked to leave.
Please fill in and return your questionnaires (sent out by email).
Mowing takes place on Monday (May 11) so please ensure all grass walkways are clear of tools etc.
There have been unpleasant reports of dogs fouling allotments: dogs are allowed at the allotments but the usual rules about collecting and removing faeces apply and must be followed. Failure to do so presents an obvious health risk, as well as being thoughtless and anti-social. The dog can't help it: owners can.
Update from Lesley Greene - April 9, 2020
ORCHIDS: Orchids have started to appear in the orchard - if you walk up there, please be careful not to tread on them.
GATE LOCK: The gate lock can stick a little if you try to force it - it responds better if you handle it gently. (This is honestly what Lesley basically emailed.)
Update from Lesley Greene - April 6, 2020
WATER SAVING: The water is now on, but no rain is predicted for some time so please don't be wasteful: water harvest if you can, resist using hoses, and please don't wash your hands or use sanitisers and soaps etc in the tanks. The low rent the Parish charges is because we save water - the biggest bills are water bills.
SEED SUPPLIES: Many seed companies are now inundated with orders as people start growing their own food. Please do not over-order. The company Lesley uses, Real Seeds, says, ‘Four hundred people an hour are trying to order but we can only pack six hundred orders per week. There is no shortage of seed and there is still plenty of time to plant things. Do try waiting a week if you can't get through. A few people are asking to place huge orders, but it's not necessary. Seeds do not keep so there is NO POINT in stockpiling them. All orders are now limited to one packet of each variety and no more than 35 different things. Please be considerate of others who would like to garden, and only order what you think you can realistically use.'
SEED SAVERS: Several of us save our own seed so if you have excess please do what we do in all normal years and leave the seeds and plants you don't want on the allotment table for all to share. Lesley and Martin Brown each have some spare tomato plants including some unusual varieties - email or text Lesley and they can be left for you. Sue has perennial kale available. Ashley at the Farm Shop still has a few varieties of seed potatoes available and is getting another packeted seed delivery later this week- you can always buy local!
ORCHIDS: If you walk your dog in the community orchard please look out for the emerging orchids and avoid treading and putting paws on them.
A PERSONAL PLEA FOR ORGANIC GARDENING: Please avoid chemicals, especially glysophate (Round-Up) if you can help it - this report in The Guardian claims that Monsanto always knew that its chemicals would breed resistance in
weeds.
Finally: a big thank you for welcoming new allotment tenants and the help you are giving them.
Update from Lesley Greene - April 1, 2020
The NAS has just issued latest guidance on allotment usage as follows:
The government is presently advising the population to stay at home and practice social distancing, whilst being allowed to take one form of exercise a day.
If working your allotment is to carry on being seen as legitimate exercise then it is imperative that plot-holders follow all the guidelines; allotment sites are as risky as anywhere else.
We think that now is the time to consider working your plot in isolation i.e. not with household members, and if you can stay away for a few weeks to do so.
It is vitally important that you follow all the advice about social distancing and hygiene in the points below and not gather together on site.
Any plot-holder who is self isolating because a household member is ill with corona-virus should not be visiting the site.
The Allotment water has now been turned on.
Please use it sparingly and abide by the guidelines on the virus - it is important that anyone attending the allotment takes care to stay the appropriate distance from others, avoids body contact and washes hands at taps: do not wash hands or use detergents in the water tanks.
Use hand sanitiser before opening and after closing any gate lock.
Wash hands when you get home.
Update March 24, 2020:
It is essential that no unauthorised people are allowed onto the plots for the duration of this emergency.
If you see non-allotment individuals, dog walkers etc anywhere on site, please report them to the Allotment Warden Lesley Greene (01452 770018) or the Parish Clerk Debbie Meredith (01452 771089).
If there is unauthorised use of the site it may have to be closed.
Meanwhile, ALLOTMENT TENANTS should take the following precautionary measures:
• Keep hand sanitiser in your shed and wash your hands regularly
• Do not wash hands or use detergents in the water tanks and please pay attention to notice boards in a changing situation
• Please keep your children on your plot
• If you come into the site by car preferably do not use the main gate at all but park in the road outside the site. If you HAVE to come in by car please ALWAYS keep the gate shut at ALL times
• Always use hand sanitiser before opening and closing gate locks
• Observe ‘Social Distancing' with each other - keep two-three metres apart
• Do not share tools
The compost loo and allotment hut are CLOSED to reduce the risk of infection.
BCCS is also CLOSED until further notice. Bisley-resident allotment holders can still collect compost but must NOT deposit green waste (please compost it at home instead).
Membership renewals will be deferred until the situation changes.
For further information see our website or contact the directors
Lesley Greene (01452 770018), Liz Howlett (01452 770689), Ian Plewis (01452 770277), Peter Richardson (01453 759284) or Hazel Saunders (01452 770606)
We understand that SDC is still collecting recycling, rubbish and green waste – call them on 01453 766321 or visit their website for more information.
ABOUT THE ALLOTMENTS IN BISLEY
The Chestergate Allotments are located on the edge of Bisley, on the Stroud Road, and are provided by the Charity of the Ancient Parish of Bisley.
Current allotmenteers grow fruit, vegetables and flowers, and several keep chickens.
It's a great way to grow fresh and nutritious food - often more interesting or unusual strains of fruit and veg that are harder to find or more expensive in the supermarkets.
You don't need any great experience or knowledge to take on a plot - there are always friendly people around to offer advice and lend tools if you need them, and free plants are also often provided.
Rent is £15 per year, and many allotments are still available.
If you would like to take on an allotment, please email allotment warden Lesley Greene or telephone her on 01452 770018.
Next door to the allotments is the Bisley Community Composting Scheme.
This is a members-only scheme that takes garden waste, composts it in large bins and makes it available to members as unsieved soil conditioner or, for a small donation, as sieved and bagged green compost.
Membership is £30 per year.
If you would like to join BCCS, please email Hazel Saunders or telephone her on 01452 770606.
At the Stroud end of the allotments area is Bisley's Community Orchard, which was set up in 2013 in memory of a very popular local resident, Lyn Hemming. It was planted with seventeen indigenous Gloucestershire apple varieties and two perry pears.
It is largely left to grow wild in order to provide a habitat for bees and other insects.
