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Low Moor Community Kids’ Allotment Vacancies

Low Moor Allotments Community Kid’s Allotment is located at the bottom of Kilburn Road, just by the allotment car park.  The Kid’s Allotment has been running for 15 years and has received many awards.  It is organised by volunteers and the sessions are staffed by these volunteers and parents on a rota.

There are currently 12 members, aged between 6 and 12 years and sessions run weekly on a Saturday morning from 10am til 12noon between March and the end of October.  Members pay £1 per session.

During  the session the children are helped to garden the allotment: growing fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers.  Whilst work has to be done, they make it fun! Produce is shared out after harvesting and brought home.

This year there are a number of vacancies for new members.  For more information or to register your child’s interest please contact Angela Johnson:  angela3147@hotmail.com

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Hosepipe Use

REMINDER:

Hosepipes must only be used for filling water butts and containers.  You must not use them to directly water your plot.  Sprinklers are strictly prohibited.

This is for several reasons:

  • Using a hosepipe for extended periods means that other plot holders cannot get water.
  • Watering with a hosepipe is inefficient and leads to excessive water consumption, much of which is lost to evaporation.
  • Excessive water usage may lead to a water shortage and a hosepipe ban in times of drought.

The National Allotment Society website has more information on Gardening In A Drought which offers some helpful advice.

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Inspection Notices

Plot inspections have recently taken place across most sites.  Some tenants will have received a letter from us telling them that they need to improve the condition of their plot.  But what does this mean?  We ask that at least 25% of a plot is cultivated as set out below.

Weed Suppressant - York Allotments

The tenant must demonstrate that they are maintaining their plot in a cultivatable state. This means that they are:

  • making every effort to control weed growth
  • preparing the soil for sowing or planting
  • planting out new crops during the growing season or maintaining perennials such as fruit bearing shrubs or trees

The use of weed suppressant covering by tenants is permitted in the following circumstances:

  • to prepare an overgrown plot for cultivation (weed suppressant coverings should not normally be in place for more than 12 months)
  • on a temporary basis for small areas of the plot (not exceeding 50% of the total area) not currently being used for growing
  • in the event of a prolonged absence, either due to illness or circumstances beyond the plot holders control, larger proportions of covering are permitted providing the tenant makes arrangements for YACIO to be notified.
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Allotments Photography Project

In conjunction with a nationally exhibited photographer Dan May, we’re looking to start a project photographing allotment holders and their plots. The aim is to provide a record of York allotments and the people who cultivate them in 2018 and, hopefully, stage an exhibition of the photographs in the city later this year.

Dan is keen to meet allotment holders old and new and hear their stories and record them in photographs. He would particularly like to hear from groups of plotholders or meet those with more ‘unusual’ plots or allotment stories. Dan is a professional photographer and will ensure all photos are taken with consent. All photos taken will also be available for YACIO to use for promotional purposes.

If you or perhaps a group of plotholders or an allotment association would like to be involved, please contact danmayphotography@gmail.com for further information.

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Bloom Festival

You may already have heard about the Bloom Festival taking place in York between 5th and 8th July.

York Allotments (YACIO) will be participating at two events. The first is the Shambles Flower Market on Sunday 8th July where we will have a stall to promote allotments in the city. We need helpers to staff the stall, if you can help, even for just an hour or two please email
 contact@yorkallotments.org

We are also able to sell surplus allotment produce from the stall. If you’ve a glut of anything that would otherwise go to waste please also let us know. All monies raised will support allotment good causes.

York Allotments YACIO Allotment Shed

The second Bloom event we’re involved in, along with Edible York, is an Edible Gardening Question Time. This will take place on Thursday 5th July at Bootham School. Doors open from 6pm for light refreshments, question time begins at 7pm.

The event will be chaired by former BBC gardening presenter Wil Jenkyn with a panel of four experienced local allotment holders ready to answer your questions. If you’ve any tricky growing problems on the plot this is a chance to get some expert advice.