Allotment gardening IS ALLOWED!

He wouldn't be my normal go to for honest trustworthy advice, but I'll make an exception for this one

Today the NASALG posted this

There is more so here's the link for you to keep an eye on
https://www.nsalg.org.uk/news/covid19-information/

I'm lucky as I garden at home but regardless of what they have said I would stay home. I've just gone outside twice over the last 3 weeks to pick up essentials. It's not worth the risk.

Glad I got my potatoes planted last week, I’m not going up the plot again until restrictions are lifted. I plan to just potter about at home for now. Fortunately this time of year is all about seed sowing anyway, I can do this from home.

I have thought things through and I am taking this situation very seriously indeed, but I feel that I can continue to visit my plot under the current rules. My rationale is as follows:

I live on the outskirts of a reasonably quiet village. My allotment is about 0.2 miles walk from my house, and it is always possible to stay 2m from the very few other people I might sometimes meet on the way. The allotments are in a straight line along the roadside (separated from it by a thick hedge), mine is the end one and I have to pass only one plot to reach it. It is fairly rare even in the height of summer to see anyone else at the allotments who uses the same gate as me (3 people including me), even when spending several hours at the plot. There are no communal facilities, water troughs, tools etc.

I am using my allotment in order to be self sufficient in veg, and this will definitely save trips to the supermarket, if I can keep the plants alive. I therefore feel that I am justified in walking down to the plot each morning to open the covers and do any jobs (my allowed exercise). As a direct result my next visit to a shop is likely to be 3-4 weeks away instead of every few days for fresh produce.

I also have a horse which needs attention each evening and twice a day at the weekend (he is looked after by someone else on weekday mornings). The plot is on the way to the stables. I therefore feel justified in going to the plot in my car (electric, with a private charger at home), nipping out to close the covers and then continuing to the stables.

I intend to continue with this routine, sticking to a maximum of 2 outings a day, until the restrictions are lifted or I am specifically told that this is not allowed. It is highly likely that most days I will see nobody closer to me than the width of the road.

Other people will have different situations where it is hard to get to their allotments without coming too close to other people or touching public access points. Everyone needs to assess the risk level and make decisions accordingly. I have posted my thinking on this so that people don't jump down my throat when I continue to post about my allotment.

My allotment is half-empty, anyway. There seems to a real lack of demand in my town. And the in-use plots are pretty well spaced out, and it's about 500m from my house along a quiet road. I'm often the only one working there, and even when I'm not the others are off on their own plots well away from each other, so all things considered I feel the risk in continuing to use it is negligible at most.
I'll just have to make sure the talkative old guy one plot over from me doesn't try to chat. Or if he does, that he stays well away and shouts.

Ditto......... Although my plot is a couple of miles away.

I no longer have my allotment but it was in a similar situation to Penellype, in that I passed by it on the way to my horse’s field. I would probably have called in briefly but maybe early or late to avoid any talkative neighbours.

I went down to the allotment early this afternoon to grab onions, leeks and potatoes. Two people in the far distance working hard so decided to stay and get exercise (weeding).
If it had been busy I'd have cut and run.

I went this afternoon to do some work. Only other people there were the couple who took on a plot just a couple weeks ago, and their plot is pretty much the other end of the allotment from mine. They've been there pretty much every day this past week. I guess they're off work at the moment like me, as they don't look old enough to be retired.

It was a lovely day, though. I was in my t-shirt for the first time this year. Soon gets cold once the sun goes in, though.

Be back in your thermals next week!

Some council run allotments will be closed along with parks and kids playgrounds. Presumably for safety reasons - and also as a deterrent to stop thieves.

Saw this on a local allotment FB page. Just passing it on, in case.............

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM
SOUTH WALES POLICE

Attending your allotment plot is allowed under the Coronavirus restrictions and is classified as your daily exercise however this does not mean that you should drive to your allotments

You should only use your vehicle to go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
You must not drive to any place and then take your daily exercise. This applies to Allotments and any outside places

I'm going to be juggling several seed trays to the allotments tomorrow! Just be good to get out to be honest!