Grow Your Own Magazine

Not the stuff with foils and face-sieves, but to go around the plot.

Apparently, we have a bit of a problem with Wabbits on the allotment, and as I have a large bramble in the plot next to mine - chances are the little bl**ders are in there, waiting for me to plant nice tender, juicy leaves for them to munch.

Wanting to keep expenditure to a minimum, could anyone point me in the direction of a cheap fence post supplier - or maybe you have an alternative to fence posts? I've found rabbit/chicken wire at about £30 for 60x1.5m which should just about do it, but fence posts are proving a little more elusive...

Many ta's

did you try Freecycle yet? www.freecycle.org

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Have you got any wooded areas near you, where could *aquire* some falled chunky stumps etc. (Don't get into trouble, better ask permission first).. Lauren

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"A good gardener always plants 3 seeds - one for the bugs, one for the weather and one for himself.” - Leo Aikman
Lauren

I was thinking that when fencing contractors go to replace a fence, they replace the posts as well, and chuck the posts and kn*ckered fence panels in the skip...

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

Depends on how much you want to spend....

Can you contact a local timber/fencing supplier and see if they've got any unwanted materials (e.g. wrong lengths, slightly damaged etc)

We've just had a load of fencing delivered and the 6ft fence posts were about £1.50 + VAT from a local timber company

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"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne

Would the bigger stronger bits from a pallet be any good as fenceposts?

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Denise xox

Learn from the mistakes of others because you'll never live long enough to make them all yourself.
-- Alfred E. Neumann
http://irchesterplot.blogspot.com

Not 5 mins from where I'm sat is a gigantic roll of sweet chestnut paling fencing on a wire roll. Beautiful stuff. It's sat in a council flowerbed having never been used. It's been there for months. It's been put to no good use. It's literally rotting.

Surely no on would mind if I..................

Discuss

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it's written in the wind that we're two, carved out in the sand that we're real,
it's lit up in the stars that we're true, we're destined in the sky to be glad
Paul Weller
http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

I thought I'd ask here rather than starting a new thread (sorry Wayne).

Has anyone got any idea as to where i can find used pallets in order to recycle them for fencing? I guess i would need about 2 dozen. I googled and googled with no avail...

I realise it has to be a local supplier, so just wondering where used pallets normally go... Guide me where to look please.

And yes.. I'm gonna use the middle bits for fence posts

Many thanks

Alex

I just take a drive around the nearest industrial estate. Always loads to pick up, just don't squeeze in my car too easily.

__________________
it's written in the wind that we're two, carved out in the sand that we're real,
it's lit up in the stars that we're true, we're destined in the sky to be glad
Paul Weller
http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

Do it - it's wrong to see that waste.

Suggest you find a mate, a couple of hi-vis jackets, and an early hour on a weekday. If you have 3 or 4 cones to cordon off your parked estate car/van so much the better. Adopt air of tranquility - leaning on a spade or fork whilst chatting and/or smoking will add an air or authenticity. Collect fencing - ensure entire operation lasts an hour or you will arouse suspicion.

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

Ask first, or drive quickly!

Most ind ests have a chap who comes round and collects unwanted pallets, mends if necessary and sells them.

NB pallets come in 1m square blue (THESE ARE RENTED AND NOT FOR THE CASUAL COLLECTOR!), 1m square unpainted - which will fit into a Fiat Punto, and larger 2m pallets which do not.

If in doubt ask!

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

Places to look, Builders Merchants, B&Q, Tesco, Ask at local garden centres, they have compost delivered on pallets. Do you have any industrial Estates? Cruise on a Saturday, stop and ask, worse they can say is No

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"A good gardener always plants 3 seeds - one for the bugs, one for the weather and one for himself.” - Leo Aikman
Lauren

The BLUE PALLETS are known as CHEP PALLETS and are tracked and accounted for along with 285 million others EVERY DAY . If you see any BLUE Pallets don't take them, you will be fined, just like the BBC were. Monty Don, (I believe) used some on a gardening show...Ooooops

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"A good gardener always plants 3 seeds - one for the bugs, one for the weather and one for himself.” - Leo Aikman
Lauren

I'll tell them you said it was ok.

__________________
it's written in the wind that we're two, carved out in the sand that we're real,
it's lit up in the stars that we're true, we're destined in the sky to be glad
Paul Weller
http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

Johnty, you know the answer to that or you wouldn't even be asking the question.
But if public money is being wasted you could get on the phone and demand an explanation.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Now, about that fencing..............

Hi Alex,

We have a builders merchants shop in Portsmouth, not much use to you but it may give you an idea, called Trade Depot. They are only too pleased to let you take the pallets away, I use them for kindling for my log burner. They must have 25 to 50 in a pile at all times. A lot of bricks and slabs etc come on disposible pallets.

I'm sure most Wickes/B&Qs/Jewsons have a similar problem. Next time you go along to buy something just ask.

Jonny

Thanks Jonny

My pallets are brown ones and often broken too. Thank You tip though.

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Denise xox

Learn from the mistakes of others because you'll never live long enough to make them all yourself.
-- Alfred E. Neumann
http://irchesterplot.blogspot.com

Pallets:
I look for a local building site: allllll materails are on pallets : and they are destroyed afterwards.

Just ask and they'll give you.

Smaller sites are best: big ones are too organised and may recycle..

I can get 3 pallets in a Yaris.. any betters?:-)

I've got as many pallets as I need at work, I can simply help myself. Still doesn't answer my fencing question......

Hi Hey,

What ever you do you'll need to bury the wire at least 6" to stop the lil critters sneaking underneath. Why not buy 8ft posts & cut in half they will be cheaper the 2 x 4ft ones ( I know cos thats what the legs on my propagating bench are) you'll need a couple of strands of wire woven into or clipped to the fencing as well .

Hope that helps a tad

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Cheers Nick, it does a tad. Spoke to one of my plot neighbours and he has round "spike" type fence posts. When I asked him where he got them from, he said the nearest place he could find was Princes Risbrough, and they were about £2 each.