Damage to my allotment

[Nicos]

My sympathies are with you all who have had your plots vandelised. It really does make you feel personally assaulted doesn't it? Almost as if you have had your home attecked.

We moved from our previous plot 3 years ago having put up with vandelism from gypsies who would park up every summer (20 vans plus in the next field on a local school's football pitch!) and pinch the crops/ chickens...smash all the cold frames and sh*t of the pathways.They would leave all the taps running too if they hadn't got round to smashing them off the pipes.
We put up with it for 3 or 4 summers and then moved to where we are now. Since we left , they never returned, so hanging on one more season would have seen it through. I think by then the council had finally worked out what to do.
As the veg plots tend to be our bolt holes to get away from the stresses of life, it really is the last place you want to have agro.
It is suprising though how something like this bonds the community, so don't let it put you off.
Yet another life experience to cope with!!

[lyndap]

I've not been on the vine for a few weeks,cos feeling totally peed off because of my health,then allotment totally trashed! .We have had probs with vandals to varying degrees over the years,but this was particularly bad.Police cant do anything unless caught red handed.Annoying thing is,fencing to stop this was put up in april(Mind you,we said at time it wasn't high enough,but the council as usual take no notice!)We are seriously thinking of giving up our plot and converting our very small back garden for veg growing.It will prob be better for me in long run cos getting to the plot is getting hard for me,but will be very sad to give it up.Wont be able to grow half what I do now but what with paying �30 a year,no facilities appart from water,all the crops taken or smashed to pieces,and my mobility probs,maybe vandals have pushed me into making a decision which might be better for me!Well thats the way I'm trying to look at it.Ahhh feel abit better for that moan Sorry if I've bored everyone to death.

[nick the grief]

Hi Lyndap,

I does seem a shame I agree but as you've got other concerns not just the vanadlism, I won't try and put you off.

One thing to bear in mind though, if you are growing at home try the square foot method, this has the advantage of packing a lot into a small space & the fact that you are growing on a raised bed with no digging may be of benefit to you.

Just remember the Glass is half full & it's not closing time yet

[clareg]

Hi Winnie,

I have every sympathy for whats happened but don't give up or give in to them. My allotment was vandalised last year, shed broken into and everything spread around, and every pane of glass in the greenhouse smashed, and most plants bent or broken. I had to start again and it was really upsetting.

On a good note, the stupid vandals actually cut themselves breaking into the shed and the police got a DNA match to a bloke (not a young one either) who was wanted for something else. I'm now getting �9.39 per month for 12 months in compensation. Didn't really cover the cost of the damage but at least the vandals were caught.

Don't give up, allotments are the best form of relaxation and exercise for the body and mind.


Clareg

[George Gray]

Get it looged by the police

We have had intermittent problems culminating in a major fire only a couple of weeks ago
However one piece of advice (by a policeman!) that appeared on another forum stood out Report it to the local police and make sure you make a statement and sign it!
This includes everything including a broken into shed and a vandalised greenhouse or polytunnel. Each time anything happens if you do this it is recorded as a crime. If they don't catch the ones that do it it goes down as an unsolved crime on the staistics for that police station one the annual statistics. That doesn't look good! If there are a large number questions will be asked from on high! If there is a cluster of crimes then it may even give a clue to the location of the vandal.

[dexterdoglancashire]

lyndap and winnie, I'm so sorry! I can only just imagine what it feels like to have everything you've worked so hard for trashed! LJ would have my guts for garters if I posted what I would do to the little **** that do this kind of thing. Think phoney CCTVs would be a good idea (know the real ones cost lots of �) - you could try the CPC catalogue - www.cpc.co.uk - they sell thousands of things. Perhaps even just a few signs saying you have CCTV may put them off? good luck, thinking of you. Dexterdog

[winnie]

Hi everyone, thanks for the sympathy & advice!!! The police were not interested, wouldn't even come & take a look, but we've got a crime number for what it's worth! Someone found all the tools that were stolen a few hundred yards away so we all got most stuff back.
One good outcome tho' when I was clearing up the beer bottles, tipped out the beer dregs & found loads of dead drunken slugs, so that was a result!!!!
Going up today to fix the shed, booby trap it etc!!! Also looking into fake CCTV. Still love my allotment tho' and still digging!!!
Reading other peoples suggestions of good books, I can't put down Sarah Raven's-The Great Vegetable Plot-got it from the library & have had to renew it loads!! I have ordered a few of the veg seeds to try that she recommends, so busy planning for next year already. Is any one else like me, can;t wait 'til March to get going!!!!!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Glad to hear that you arent letting it get you down winnie! and yes, have sorted through the seeds my OH brought home from work, have written down in an old diary when they can be sown/planted out/harvested ect and am now drawing up my plan for next year! exciting isnt it? will try and get hold of a copy of that book, it sounds good! my fave book is surprising enough! "the allotment book" by andi clevely - I got mine from tesco. good useful tips and advice with a few recipes thrown in. Have a good weekend! (I'm off to work now ) dexterdog

[seasprout]

been lurking

I've been reading posts for a while now, and just wanted to say I am put off getting an allotment because of the threat of vandalism.

So to all of you who have one and put up with the disruption, i say well done..! and dont let the ***s get you down.


I however have dug up a lot of my back garden to grow some veggies in, but i can only grow a tiny amount of what I really want to. Least I can keep an eye on the washing if rains due.

[nick the grief]

Don't be put off Seasprout. If you give in to these people you'd never go anywhere or do anything. If it's close to where you live you can aalways take your tools down with you & take them back at the end of the day & just have a shed to sit in.

You are missing out on a lot not just the growing that is only part of it. An allotment is like an extended family. OK, there are some folks you won't get on with but that goes for you family as well so put your name down for one, you won't regret it honest.

[winnie]

Hi seasprout,
Have to say I agree with Nick. At the time, the disruption is a pain and upsetting, but it doesn't take long to tidy up and I wouldn't give my allotment up for anything. We have to get in the car to go to ours, but we have it all down to a fine art now & only take essentials.
We've made good friends and problems like that actually bring people closer & you do become a community, why not just go for it......?

[martini]

Hi Seasprout and welcome - like you we're turning our back garden over to growing veg (as many raised beds as we can fit in). If I could get an allotment I would because I know one of the things we'll miss out on is the comerarderie (spelling ) and the heaps of advice from experienced growers. I'm very grateful for this forum as it's very friendly and I've been given loads of great advice and encouragement. I agree with Nick and Winnie - if you can get an allotment go for it! If we keep letting yobs and vandals dictate what we do, we'll never do anything

[seasprout]

Ahh. cheers guys its nice to get lots of encouragement.

I will give the backgarden a bit longer as there is plenty of lawn left with veg plots hidden underneath if you know what I mean.

I have already found my local allotments and loitered around the gate, there are spaces, but like I say I will give it a while yet and read all about your plots and your comings and goings. (Bit like a soap really..!!)

All the best

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hello and welcome seasprout! I dug over my back garden earlier this year and have enjoyed every minute! especially the eating of my veg bit! The only reason why I havent taken the plunge re: a lottie is the time element - but the GYO bug is addictive - and no doubt I will be making the plunge in the near future! Best wishes and good luck! dexterdog PS do keep in touch on the Vine - don't be afraid to ask any questions, about anything you may have - everyone is VERY friendly and has a wealth of advice and tips!

[Lady Leek]

you drive into Olney from bedford/wellingborough end on the bank is Olney spelt out in box a friend of mine tends it its his pride and joy and vandals have used firelighters and lighter fulid to burn it WHY?[/QUOTE]

I remember that being planted, worked in MK and drove through Olney every day, watched it grow, that is out of order.
I to have had shed broken into many times, and things taken, now keep nothing of value in shed all tools are in my car, its the shed on wheels as OH calls it.
had vedge pinched as well but have a doutfull gardener down there who goes around all lotties looking ?