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  • #1

    Finished Before I've Started

    I managed to get an allotment in November last year, got it all cleared and dug over, started planting a few easy to grow crops for a beginner (potatoes, onions, garlic etc. etc.)

    Couple of months ago allotment was broken into and everything sabataged, so fixed fence and gate and cleared up, then again fence completely destroyed, hut broken into and vandalised. Replaced fence and hut. Fence again pulled down and the flag stones stolen. Replaced fence with pallet fence and congreted in some posts for support. Next doors allotment broken into, his fence pulled down and everything else destroyed.

    So long story short, I have had to give up the allotment as I cannot afford to keep it. Took about 3+ years to get an allotment so gutted that this sort of thing happens. Council won't secure main fences or put up better fences to secure area.

    So my growing time has come to an abrupt halt.
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  • #2
    Surely the council have a responsibility to secure the are? Cant you keep pushing them to sort it out?
    An attempt to live a little more self-sufficient

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    • #3
      Well that sucks big time! I think that the council should try and make things more difficult for the vandals, although I'm not sure even high fences will stop some of them.
      Such a shame for you tho!

      I'm going to the Norty Step for this one.............but what about an electric fence next time ....
      Last edited by Feral007; 06-08-2012, 09:11 AM.
      Ali

      My blog: feral007.com/countrylife/

      Some days it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints!

      One bit of old folklore wisdom says to plant tomatoes when the soil is warm enough to sit on with bare buttocks. In surburban areas, use the back of your wrist. Jackie French

      Member of the Eastern Branch of the Darn Under Nutter's Club

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      • #4
        What has the council's response been? Councils are given funding to encourage all sorts of green initiatives, including locally grown food and they need to be held accountable. They should have a web site with information about their policies. Be prepared to quote them back to any one who is less than helpful. I have found one person actively pushing one policy while others are unaware of it. If the council are really not helpful, I would try getting your local paper interested in the story. I don't know much about allotments but I assume there are other sites in your council area, how are they coping? DLTBGYD.
        "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."

        PS. I just don't have enough time to say hello to everyone as they join so please take this as a delighted to see you here!

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        • #5
          Has the damage been reported to the police? Has it also been reported to the council and your site rep?

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          • #6
            I don't actually think that the council does have to make the site secure although obviously I would expect them to assist as much as they can. Our site isn't remotely secure and there is in fact a pathway through the middle which is used by local residents as a cut through. Wouldn't hold my breath with the police either, when we were subject to vandalism (although thankfully not as bad as you describe!) they basically told us that we needed to report it as it was happening - yeah right, very helpful. Rubbish news and a real shame.

            Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

            Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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            • #7
              Our site is regularly vandalised and it is fenced. We also have police persons who cycle round on a regular basis. We went down to our allotment site quite late last Friday evening. As we drove up a person was turning into the allotments. As we turned in, he did a quick about face and scuttled off. I've decided not to have a shed and only to have a plastic blowaway which is still in it's box ATM. I think I could cope with having equipment taken but it must be heartbreaking to have your produce sabotaged. Sorry to hear you are giving up.
              A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows

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              • #8
                That's shocking TD, so sorry to hear you're giving up. Ring up local radio stations and local papers to see if you can get any publicity.
                Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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                • #9
                  I was originaly offered a newly cleared area on the same land but this required all the fencing errecting to secure the plot, that was why I took plot 8 with the fencing up.

                  I have mentioned it to the council and their reply was that it isn't up to them to secure the area, that is up to the tennants.

                  I went back yesterday just to collect a few bits left in the shed (lamp, water butt, composting bin) and even thats gone now.

                  The remainder of the items I was able to rescue over the weekend have been taken through to my partners mothers, she has quite a large back garden and she has said that we can use the far end to make into veg beds. I've bought a walk in plastic green house from Asda for £20 which seemd too good an offer to miss. Hopefully once I've got the area cleared I'll be able to start learning to grow my own. I'll start with the easy ones as I did in the allotment. So potatoe and onion soup for a while.

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                  • #10
                    Sorry about this Taz, So much effort and expense for negligible return and a lot of grief along the way.
                    Glad to hear that you have somewhere to carry on gardening - and you'll have a ready made plant sitter if you go away!

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                    • #11
                      Glad you have a backyard to use then Taz. Put some leeks in fast tho - leek and potato soup much better than onion and potato. Tell the mother in law you want to keep a few chooks as well so she can make some chicken and sweetcorn soup!
                      Ali

                      My blog: feral007.com/countrylife/

                      Some days it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints!

                      One bit of old folklore wisdom says to plant tomatoes when the soil is warm enough to sit on with bare buttocks. In surburban areas, use the back of your wrist. Jackie French

                      Member of the Eastern Branch of the Darn Under Nutter's Club

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Sorry to hear that Taz, try emailing Mr Hugh FW - you never know - in the meantime grow what you can where you can (containers are great) and don't forget to ask for unused rent back!
                        The cats' valet.

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                        • #13
                          Have you tried Landshare ? Obviously it is in your blood now, and there is no keeping a good gardener down...
                          There's no point reading history if you don't use the lessons it teaches.

                          Head-hunted member of the Nutter's Club - can I get my cranium back please ?

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Feral007 View Post
                            Tell the mother in law you want to keep a few chooks as well so she can make some chicken and sweetcorn soup!
                            Wouldn't be able to keep chickens as my partner would be put of chicken for life.

                            Going to get back to the books and have a better idea as to what and when to plant.

                            Found a good supply of horse manure bagged up and free to the general public.

                            Got quite a few different types of seeds from Poundland (it's good having a partner that works there, get the best picks first), along with seeding trays and a few tools.

                            I might start up a blog about it this time. from start to present day.

                            On the plus side of the other allotment, my son has started up an ant farm and we had hundreds collected from under the remaining flag stones. No queen though so will have to keep re-supplying the current colony.

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                            • #15
                              Sh1t happens Taz but I am glad to see you wasn't put off by your experience. Many folk would have just jacked it in......Good luck.
                              sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
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                              KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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