It seems I'm always reporting on the Yorkshire weather and the impact that this has had on our growing season. The season started out extremely wet and cold spring and late arrival of summer all had a knock-on effect, with many of us reporting poor crop growth, or the loss of an entire crop of specific vegetables.  On the positive side, there are lots of fruits and veg that love wet conditions, and some plot holders have told me that they have filled their freezers with enough produce to last them until next years harvest! 

Despite contending with the Yorkshire weather, the committee would like to thank everyone who donated excess crops to the Harrogate & District Allotment Federation (HDAF) to sell at their annual allotment show.

 

HDAF Site Inspection 2024

​

Following site inspections by HDAF, this year Unity Grove Allotments was awarded the Silver Gilt certificate.  Unfortunately, this was down from the Gold Award previously received. The HDAF judging criteria evidenced that we suffered the biggest loss of points , eleven in total, due to the unkempt condition of some plots and the boundary paths around some plots. This was so disappointing to the committee, who work hard throughout the year, and in all weathers, to improve the standard on Unity Grove Allotments, and will have been felt by other plot holders, who equally recognise what a privilege it is to be allocated an allotment, in light of demand outweighing plots, and put in huge effort on their individual plots and surrounding paths, out of a sense of personal pride and wanting to support Unity Grove to do well at the same time. However, despite our disappointment, the committee acknowledges that HDAF was fair in their marking, and the result was justified in our opinion. So what's going wrong?

​

No-Dig Allotment

​

We have a number of plot holders who say that they are going no-dig. However, it is quickly apparent that they have not researched how to go about this or the cost involved. For example, did you know that you need to apply a top coat of at least 7 to 8 cms of compost to your allotment plot in the first year and then 5 cms each year thereafter for no-dig allotment gardening to be successful? For a half plot on Unity Grove, this would involve you purchasing several ton builders bags of top soil at the average cost of £70 each.  And what's more you still have to weed.

​

Raised Beds

​

Similarly raised beds are not necessarily the solution. By the end of reading this section, you will gather that I hate raised beds and the reasons why I dislike them so much. I recognise that raised beds offer many benefits. For example, you may be struggling with a particularly tricky area of your plot due to tree roots or other condition beyond your control that cannot be remedied, or you may have a health condition that makes digging and bending difficult. However, the initial costs and maintenance required needs to be factored in. It is not simply a question of throwing a 4 or 6 inch deep square or rectangle box down, often on top of weed suppressant membrane, and hoping for the best.  Like no dig, raised beds, when done properly, require loads of top soil or compost as a top dressing, and crazy as it might sound, most fruit and veg require more than a couple of inches for their root system to thrive, and therefore growing on top of membrane is never going to be successful.  I'm not even going to mention that fact that this kind of gardening requires lots of watering, which also gets neglected by this type of allotment gardener, and the cost of watering generally when root systems aren't able to grow down to the rain water table.  The cost of wood to build raised beds to waist height, to combat health conditions like bad backs, so that less bending and digging is required, and the cost of filling these with top soil and compost will cost hundreds of pounds. The other issue we often see with raised beds in that plot holders will invariably turn their plot into a few small growing areas and will neglect the rest, which in reality is the majority of the plot. When questioned about this, the quick thinking resourceful plot holder will try to explain that the vast areas around their miniature 4 to 6 inch deep raised beds are paths (lol). This does not meet the three quarters cultivated criteria for all plots nationally.

 

In this newsletter, the committee wanted to throw a spot light on plot inspections, and to use this opportunity to say that we understand that for some plot holders this can be a contentious subject, whilst also acknowledging that it’s not the nicest function of the committee.  However, it is one of the most important, if not stressful and time-consuming tasks, which contributes to safeguarding our Unity Grove Allotments from being moved under the control of Harrogate Borough Council, and possible eventual closure to make way for housing development, in what is in a prime town location.  

​

Waiting Lists

​

The waiting list for an allotment at Unity Grove is currently over a 100 applicants, with a waiting time of 1 to 2 years.

  

Plot Inspections

​

As a committee we take seriously our responsibility towards the association as a collective, obligations towards North Yorkshire County Council, as well as those on the waiting list, and so we try to balance the ‘fun’ part of being an allotment tenant with the overarching purpose of allotment gardening and the fact that an allotment plot is a precious and scarce resource.  It is also important to note that one plot holder’s idea of fun is a neighbouring plot holder’s weed infested nightmare.  Therefore, we try to ensure that vacant plots are let as quickly as possible and that they are brought into cultivation, and that all let plots are being fully utilised in accordance with the tenancy agreement.  It’s great to report that 99% of our available plots are let. It is encouraging to see improvement in the use and overall appearance of the site over the past couple of years, and it is always appreciated when longstanding plot holders comment on this; it really does make the hard work worthwhile.  At the same time, we acknowledge our own and the frustration of others when our neighbours aren’t maintaining their plot and although it is never nice to send or receive an advisory letter, plot inspections enable us to identify and respond to concerns as quickly as possible so that these can be resolved. As a result of the June plot inspection, it was necessary to write to 18 plot holders during 2024, giving them 30-days to rectify the issues identified.  

​

Unity Grove Allotments continues to undertake plot inspections three times per year in March, June, and October.  When undertaking inspections, the committee take into consideration the requirements set out in the tenancy agreement, and revised Association Constitution & Rules, the individual plot holders’ length of tenancy, any unforeseen exceptional circumstances that we can all face from time to time, if we are informed of these, and importantly their history of advisory letters and or emails, as well as obviously taking into consideration the weather conditions here in sunny Yorkshire!

​

By June, as a minimum standard, the committee would expect to see three quarters of all plots cultivated and for plots to be clearly numbered.  We actively encourage all plot holders to have water butts and rainwater harvesting kits to collect rainwater from sheds and greenhouses where possible. Water Sprinklers continue to be banned. It is important that plot holders remember that they and their neighbours are responsible for maintaining the paths and hedges around their plots, which is the case even if the plot holder has erected some form of boundary fence!! This is not just about keeping the site looking good but ensures that it is safe to walk around.  This also means that paths should not be used by plot holders as storage areas and an overspill for their individual plot.

​

Open Day Fundraising Event 2024

 

This year Unity grove decided to raise funds in support of Macmillan, Robert Ogden Centre, Harrogate Hospital and the Endoscopy Fund, Harrogate Hospital. Our event was held on Saturday, 7th September and so far has raised £1,917.15, not including money donated in the donation buckets brought by Harrogate Hospital and yet to be counted. This event would not have been possible without your support and the help of our volunteers, who should be especially thanked.

​

Special thanks go out to:

 

Phil Jarvis, Chairman, for preparing the site, setting up and dismantling the event

James Didzun, Plot Lettings Manager, for preparing the site, setting up and dismantling the event

Neil Craig, Setting up / Dismantling the event and running the café

Heather Craig, Setting up and running the Pop Up café 

Lois Wulff, who formally greeted approximately 150 to the event  

Sam Ward, Treasurer, Baking 250 cakes

Liz Powell, Helping to run the café

Ruth Denton, Helping to set up the children's activity and helping in the café

Christine Maclean & Laura Jarvis King, who both survived direct work with the children

Dave Smith & Ben Grant, for hosting guided tours around the allotment

Ian & Rachel Seaward, for organising and funding the Golden Carrot competition

Wendy Ridgeway, for organizing and selling raffle tickets

Val & Steve Blackburn and Lindsay Mitchell, Setting up and running the allotment pop up shop

Margaret Smith, for running the Meet the Chickens activity

John Mann for providing the volunteers with walnut cake to sustain us    

​

Thank you to everyone else who donated cakes, raffle prizes and money towards two very worthy charities based at Harrogate Hospital and for coming along and supporting our fundraising endeavour.  

  

​

​

​​