BULL LANE ALLOTMENTSNewsletter April 2018

Ornamental gourds

BONFIRE AND WORKING PARTYSaturday 21st April

Yes we are finally going ahead with the bonfire ! As you know we are only allowed two bonfires on the site per year so we have to make the most of this one despite the weather.

To reward you for all your hard work we will be providing Italian bean soup which has been…. made specially for us by chef Paul Dunstane ( Plot 17a ) We will include his recipe for the soup in next month’s newsletter.For catering purposes I would be grateful to know how many plot holders will be coming to help at the bonfire and working party and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on the day !

The first of the plot inspections will be held shortly and we are aware how the appalling weather conditions have hampered us all in clearing the winter waste and getting the plots ready for the new season. This will be taken into consideration but we do ask that if there is any reason why you haven't yet made a start that you contact the committee to discuss your circumstances before the inspections take place.

Chippings ! To ensure that the chippings and manure that are delivered to the site are fit for purpose please do not let anyone onto the site who has not been authorised by our site manager Chris Davidge to deposit chippings or manure, if in doubt refuse entry.

You may have already been contacted by other organizations that hold your personal data ? The General Data Protection Regulations ( GDPR) comes into force May25th 2018 .This is legislation that safeguards the personal information that is held by any organization. For Bull Lane Allotment plot holders this will mean that you will need to agree to the association holding the information that is relevant to your tenancy, name, address, phone numbers and email address. We are waiting to hear from BALGF ( Bromley Allotments and Leisure Gardens Federation ) who will hopefully have a policy for all of the allotments in Bromley and we will let you know what action is required.

New Feature -Meet the plot holders

Tony and Janet Paveley Plots 1a and 2a

When Tony and Janet Paveley first took on their plots at Bull Lane the brambles, weeds and thistles were head high.( See photos on next page ) Sixteen years later and lots of heavy digging (Tony) and plant nurturing (Janet) this is certainly not the case. The plots are hugely productive with a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, especially "BEANS AND MORE BEANS", and beautiful seasonal flowers in true cottage garden style. Janet makes inventive use of everything they grow – true "Fork to Table" gardeners! They are both active and enthusiastic members of our Association, always participating in working parties and Open Days and giving generously of their time and knowledge. Although hard to picture at the moment they both love the early mornings in the summer when they can have breakfast sitting out on the allotment, enjoying the peace and sunshine. This morning there was no sunshine but asparagus just poking through the soil, parsnip seedlings almost ready to plant out.....and another productive year to look forward to!

(The ornamental gourds pictured on their kitchen windowsill were decorated by family members .... which one is Tony ? ) Welcome to our new plot holders

Plot 3a Nick TyePlot 19a Stephen GrovesPlot 11a Vic BarnesPlot 38 Jan Davies and her father Bert QuinnPlot 43a Tonya Lark

Lastly, it is only four months to the OPEN DAY ( August 18th ) We will soon be setting up sub- committee meetings to plan and prepare for the best Open Day ever ! Let me know if you can help.

Caroline

2001 Janet Paveley with grandchildren Theo and Zoe on plot 1

2001 Plot 1 with hedge and Bull Lane on right