News Archive 07
Vegetable campaign - 'Grow your own veg 2007'
The BBC and the RHS will be involved with a campaign to encourage people to grow their own vegetables. There will be a series of TV gardening programmes starting on Friday January 5th. (They were filmed at Harlow Carr and Rosemoor gardens.) The RHS book about the series will be published on January 8th.
A special 'Grow Your Own Veg Day' will be held at four RHS gardens (Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall, Rosemoor and Wisley) on Saturday February 10th.
Hillingdon Mayor visits allotment sites
The Mayor, (David Routledge) visited all of the London Borough of Hillingdon allotment sites during March. He was accompanied by Nick Porter (the Allotment Officer). They met some of the plot holders, site representatives and committee members. During their visit to the West Drayton Cemetery allotment site they were photographed with the Chairman (Les Fuller), and the Treasurer (Les Webber).
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L-R: Nick Porter, Les Fuller (Site Chairman), David Routledge, Les Webber (Site Treasurer). |
Free Compost Offer in support of International Compost Awareness week
West London Composting provided free compost for Hillingdon residents on Sunday May 6th. This was a joint initiative between the London Borough of Hillingdon and West London Composting. Click here for further details about the centre.
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Greater London Authority report on allotments in London
The latest report is a comprehensive survey of allotment sites in greater London. It highlights the reasons why numbers are declining at time when more people are interested in organic gardening. Numbers are declining because of increased population density, building development and neglect. The report contains interesting maps, showing the number of allotments in each borough. There are hyperlinks to the report and the maps on this page. Just click on the title A lot to lose: London's disappearing allotments or the maps to see the situation in your area.
Review of Allotment Taster Sessions 2007
There was a good response to the taster sessions at Highgrove and Hayes End allotment sites. A number of key topics were included. The main areas were: seed sowing, types of soil, suitable tools, composting, crop rotation, health and safety, coping with weeds.
Sue Hazeldean (a teacher from Hillingdon Adult Education department) and Nick Porter (the allotment officer) provided information, tools, seeds and equipment for the group to use during the sessions.
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Sue Hazeldean teaching a group about sowing various types of seeds in containers. |
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New glasshouse at RHS Wisley
A brand new state of the art glass house was opened in June. It was developed to celebrate the RHS bicentenary. It has three climatic zones, a root zone, a horticultural theatre and the clore learning centre for all ages. Click here for details.
Hillingdon Allotment Competition Round 2
Allotment plot holders are busy preparing for the second round of the annual competition during National Allotment Week (in August). A team of judges will visit a number of allotment sites to re-assess the plots that achieved good scores during the first round. The top 50 plots and the best allotment sites will be selected.
Marks will be awarded according to the specified criteria. (Click on the relevant links for the Individual Plot criteria and the Allotment Site criteria.) The results will be announced during the annual general meeting in November.
A Re-use Bank / Scrap Store at New Years Green Lane
The London Borough of Hillingdon has installed a special system for recycling household items that are 'too good to throw away'. It will provide opportunity for people to exchange unwanted items, they may also browse through the collection and remove items that they need.
The re-use bank is based at the New Years Green Lane Civic Amenity site in Harefield. It is open is open 7 days a week from 8:00am - 4:00pm, (6.00pm during British Summer Time).
Click here for a street map.
Gardeners and allotment plot holders will be pleased to hear that garden equipment and tools are included amongst the list. Other suitable items are: Re-usable DIY materials; Hand tools; paints. crockery; kitchen items; furniture; soft furnishing; garden items; sports equipment; bicycles; children’s toys and games; musical instruments; mobile phones; books; CDs; DVDs; videos; memorabilia and collectables.
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Conserving Water on Allotment Sites?
A number of local councils are reviewing their policy about the use of water taps and hosepipes on allotment sites. Hosepipe bans are still common in many areas. This is mainly to conserve resources.
Allotment sites in the London Borough of Hillingdon are usually provided with self-filling water troughs. A similar system has been adopted by Bristol City Council. Brent Council has provided water butts for plot holders to collect rain water from their shed roof.
Regenerating Allotments in the South East Region
The Allotments Regeneration Initiative (ARI) have appointed Paul Neary as the new mentor for the region. Paul will be available to provide advice and support people for people who are involved in regenerating allotments in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Kent, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex.
His contact details are: Tel 01243 380 823, Email: paul-ari@tiscali.co.uk
HAHF promotes Grow Your Own at Mall Pavillions Food Fair
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There was a wide range of fruits, vegetables, flowers and some jars of honey on display at the HAHF stall in the Mall Pavillions Food Fair on September 17th and 18th. Visitors were invited to examine produce from various local allotments.
HAHF members were available to provide information about allotment gardening, finding allotments and growing various crops. Many copies of the new allotment leaflet were distributed. A number of people also took part in the 'Guess the Nuts' competition to win a food hamper. (The winner was a lady from Hanwell.)
Chef Andy Gratton provided cookery demonstrations from the new 'Mall Cares Cook Book'. Copies of the book were on sale at the event.
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Farewell to a popular administrator
Christina Hasler, the Team Co-Ordination Officer for the London Borough of Hillingdon Green Spaces department will be retiring at the end of the year. She has provided valuable support for the team and allotment holders during the past few years.
Marianne Slater, Chairman of the Hillingdon Allotment and Horticultural Federation spoke briefly about Christina's role during the AGM meeting, and gave her two plants (an orchid and a gooseberry bush).
Best allotment sites and top 50 plots
Results of the annual allotment competition were announced on November 14th. Councillor Jenkins (Cabinet Member for the Environment), presented awards to representatives from the best allotment sites, and three plot holders who scored top marks in the competition. Photographs of the presentations will be available soon.
Details of the best sites and photographs are on the best sites page. A list of the top fifty plots and photographs of the first three are on the top fifty page.
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