Hillingdon Allotment News 16: Chairman's comments

I’m writing these words for the Spring Newsletter at 4.40pm on a day early in February and it’s not dark yet. When I look out at the garden the Snowdrops are out, the Hellebores flowering and Crocuses and Daffodils are starting to show some colour.
I’ve even just cut the lawn in the garden to stop it looking so ‘woolly’. It’s the time of year when we are all eager to get back onto our plots but the ground is very soft the risk of compaction is very high.
With the obvious climate change that we are all experiencing of very wet winters it may be worthwhile looking at running your plot with beds and paths to save yourself the extra work of digging areas that are only to be walked on. This ensures that you only manure and cultivate the dedicated growing beds which not only saves your energy, time and back but also makes crop rotation much easier in the long run. Just remember to record what you put where and when as all our memories grow dim over time.

I also wish to record that I have informed the Council and the Committee that I will not be standing as Chairman again at next Novembers AGM as we are planning to move to East Kent at some point later on this year. The committee will need to find a new Chairman to lead this Federation and if any of you know of or could twist the arms of someone suitable now is the time to start thinking about it.

Well all I can wish you now is keep you tools clean, your rows straight and your muscles well massaged.

Marianne Slater
Chairman