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Newsletter 21 –SPRING 2015

Burydell has a reputation for being a welcoming and friendly group of people, with a common interest in growing stuff to feed our families. We can feel proud of the improvements made on the site by working parties made up of plot holders, not just Committee Members.

With a growing number of Friends from the Park Street community we enjoy and benefit from their involvement in Burydell activities.

It is good to see so many of you at our Sunday Coffee mornings – an opportunity to catch up, to share successes and failures, to moan about the slugs and to down a cake or three.

AND we are looking to vary our social activities so that we don`t get fed up with a lack of variety over the years. Do you have ideas for our Autumn event?

The Race Night was fun but maybe not to be repeated, quizzes are great but for once a year only and we are unlikely to give up the Summer BBQ which is always popular...........SO please give your ideas to any Committee member.

SOCIAL CALENDAR 2015 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Saturday 7th March Quiz Night Park Street Village Hall

Sunday 10th May AGM and Cream Tea On Site

Sunday 28th June BBQ and Tombola On Site

October/November Yet to be decided Ideas please??

QUIZ NIGHT SATURDAY 7th MARCHPark Street Village Hall

Cost £8 to include a simple SupperDoors open at 7.15 for a 7.45 start

Bring your own drinks, glasses and any extra nibbles but no nuts please as one of our plotholders has a severe nut allergy.

Any contributions to the raffle would be appreciated. Please deliver to Barbara.

Our quiz nights are always popular so please tell Barbara as soon as possible if you would like to come. As usual we need numbers of your party and payment well in advance. Put through Barbara`s door – 2 Mill Cottages, Burydell Lane

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) AND CREAM TEA

The AGM will take place on the site on Sunday 10th May. More details will be sent out nearer the time by email. A cream tea will follow the business of the AGM. We’d love to see you there.

SITE MATTERSThings have been quiet on the site over the Winter with many of us feeling that we`d rather be at home. In the Autumn we all reported that our sweetcorn was being stripped by a mystery creature. The cobs were being carefully opened up and the kernels eaten. Mice are the most usual suspect but in this case the destruction was too big for them. Now, in the Winter many of us are wondering what is digging up our parsnips. Rabbits on well protected plots, squirrels, foxes digging deep or deer, spotted near the site? Who knows........... There were certainly far fewer allotment grown parsnips on the Christmas table this year.

There is currently 1 vacant plot and nobody on the waiting list. Inspections by Phil Bruce-Green, the officer responsible for allotments at St Albans District Council, will restart in April.

The paths are very wet and unsuitable for vehicles. So the barrier will remain in place until at least the end of March.

Thank goodness for the additional parking area just inside the gate. Mike (Plot 2 and 8) has kindly agreed to finish off the small area in the corner and then it will just be a question of weeding occasionally and using it.

No decision has been made on the use of that plot at the back of the site (originally Plot 35a). Our current thinking is to use a small part of it for car turning/parking and the rest for a few fruit trees. Another idea, not voiced previously, is to plant plenty of comfrey which, once established, would be used by all plot holders to produce our own fertiliser.

Does anybody have any comments on that idea?

Bonfires on the plots are permitted until 31st March but only at specific times i.e. Tuesdays after midday and on the first Saturday of the month after midday. For more details see Allotment and Leisure Garden Rules and Procedures 3.4 on the St Albans City and District Council Website.

ST ALBANS DISTRICT COUNCIL ALLOTMENT STRATEGY 2014 – 2019Phil Bruce-Green is coordinating a meeting with representatives from all District Allotment Groups, to discuss future plans for allotments and to hear views of Allotment Groups. Kim and Pat will be attending and we will give you some feedback in the next Newsletter.

MEMBERSHIP – A NEW YEARJust starting our 6th year the strength of the Association and the community spirit generated through involvement and participation from our members is so encouraging. We thank all of

SUNDAY MORNINGS ON BURYDELL

TEA, COFFEE, BISCUITS/CAKE AND CHAT IN THE HUT

11am on the first Sunday of the month. Join us for refreshments and a chat.

Bring surplus plants, produce, jams pickles and gardening items to exchange or sell, to donate to Association funds.

We chickened out of meeting up in January. It was too cold, wet and inhospitable. BUT we were back in action in February and aim to continue every month.

you for your friendship and interest. Your Committee has decided that Membership of the Association should remain the same (£5) for the coming year. This covers the cost of running the Association. Our other activities, both social and improvements to the site are funded by your contributions at our various social events.The new Membership year starts in March. Please deliver your £5 to Barbara at 2 Mill Cottages (in an envelope, clearly labelled) or give to Jan, with any changes of contact details.

Contact with you by email seems to be the best way to keep members informed and to hear your concerns and suggestions.

We welcome new plot holders Damian to Plot 26a and Daniel to Plot 31A and say goodbye to Jim on Plot 9 and Denise and Tim on Plot 32A. Jim, Denise and Tim are all now Friends of the Association and we hope to see them at our events on the site.

QUIZ WITH A DIFFERENCE.- OUR NOVEMBER “DO”

Park Street Village Hall was once again the venue for our Autumn event which was fuelled by mulled wine, mince pies and a touch of early Christmas spirit. Quote from Kim (our Chair) as reported on our Website http://burydellallotments.wordpress.com

FRIENDS OF BURYDELL LANE ALLOTMENT ASSOCIATION

We enjoy the support of many Park Street and Bricket Wood Residents and the Committee have decided to include them in receiving information about our activities. By being on our Friends mailing list they will:

Be the first to hear about our SOCIAL EVENTS Receive our NEWSLETTER every 4 months Be a part of our thriving ALLOTMENT COMMUNITY Be able to join us for a CUPPA AND CAKE on the first Sunday each month from

11am-12mdNo subscription is expected, just their interest and involvement

If you know anybody who would like to join as a “Friend” please let Jan know on Jpatbricketwood@sky.com or 01923 671277

Jim, seen here at our BBQ, and his family are part of Burydell history.

His father had a plot on Burydell in the 1940s when the site was first established. Can you believe that? He eventually left and Jim has carried on the tradition of allotment gardening and giving his advice to the inexperienced. He has been doing that for 20 years or so but has sadly decided that the time has come to hang up his fork and spade.

We will miss him...................

We will miss him

Some twists on the normal quiz night were introduced, such as the Feely Bag and Guess the Chocolate, to keep us all on our quizzing toes. Pat was in fancy dress for half of the night, but (un)fortunately we have no photo. In terms of results, the team who call themselves the Qumquats won – again – by a thundering four points. We are grateful to the Feakes, especially Chris the Quizmaster, and James his son (and friend) for administering the quiz so efficiently. Thanks to your generosity, we made around £300 for the Association coffers.

BURYDELL BEST PLOT AND PARISH IN BLOOM COMPETITIONS 2014Last year Gill and Alan won our own Best Plot Competition with their enthusiasm and small but perfectly grown plot (no 28). In the St Stephens Parish in Bloom/Allotments Competition they came second overall.

Gill writes:

When I agreed to write a few lines about winning the ‘Best Plot Award’ I had to stop and think about how we managed it.

There was no plan, no strategy, no tactic and certainly no scheme in place, just a pathological dislike of weeds and a team member who likes to see everything in neat rows and tidy beds surrounded by wooden edges and straight paths.

Let’s go back to the start, a very good place to begin. Drifting towards retirement I decided that I would have time for a genteel hobby of some kind and decided that I would apply for an allotment. After all it would take years to be allocated and when I took it over it would be a lovely plot, well maintained whose previous owner decided to go and live in the sun permanently and wanted someone who could be trusted to continue their good work. Then the reality check kicks in.

I was faced with something that had not seen any TLC for years had waist high weeds, no discernable beds, no fence but plenty of rubbish and a variety of wood in different shapes and forms.

The first months were spent digging, weeding, re-digging, weeding again and so it went on until the Spring of 2012 when Alan suddenly found that he had a little time on his hands. So, in between the other chores assigned to him, he built borders, fences and the little red shed. After all the hard work it meant that we could actually start planting and hopefully produce something resembling a few vegetables later in the year.

One thing I would say is that if there had been an award for the most improved allotment that year I would have hoped to be in the running.

By the second growing season we had a bit more experience. We had picked up a few tips from others, especially our very knowledgeable neighbour and her able accomplice, about which produce thrived and how to protect the crops. By looking around at the other plots we saw different and more decorative ways of staking and growing and combining different crops to complement each other.

Although we were pleased with the results we were as surprised as anyone that in 2013 we were awarded First Prize as the best plot. I think we may have been lucky and spent hours weeding the weekend before the judging. When walking around the whole site after the barbecue there were many plots that certainly deserved an award.

In the Spring of 2014 we just continued the same as the year before ensuring a good variety of vegetables were planted along with flowers to accompany them to either attract the things we liked or deter the bugs and pests.

It was very pleasing to be awarded the Best Plot for the second year running. Not least because it means that you get invited to the St Stephen’s Parish Awards and actually have a drink and buffet on the Council, well not exactly as we all pay for it!!

We have no pretentions however, and are humble enough to know that if we were ever to win the best plot again, that in the Parish awards we have no chance of a first place. This has been awarded to the same allotment holder from the Park Street Lane allotments since Noah was a lad.

Still we can all aim high. Gill and Alan Foster – Plot 28

BEST PLOT COMPETITION 2015This year we will not be participating in the Parish in Bloom Allotment Competition but will concentrate on our own Best Plot Competition. Ayletts have once again generously agreed to judge the plots and are donating their Vouchers for the Winners. Their interest and support is much appreciated. To ring the changes there will be just one winner in each of 3 categories:

1. Best Plot on Burydell2. Best Newcomer`s Plot – for plots taken on before the last 2 growing seasons3. Most creative/innovative idea – how about a scarecrow, a self built BBQ, clever support for your runners or a “different” but practical compost container? OR simply a decorative something or another to brighten up your plot. Show us how imaginative you can be...............

Judging will take place in very late June with Aylett Vouchers given to the winners at our BBQ on Sunday 28th June. We will email the exact date to you nearer the time so that you can be prepared and ready to win your prize.

If you wish to enter your plot into the Parish in Bloom Competition independently you can contact the Parish direct by Email - clerk@ststephenparish council .gov.uk

ST STEPHENS GARDENING CLUB ANNUAL SHOWSt Stephens Gardening Club are busy planning their Annual Show which will take place on Saturday 5th September. Many of you show interest in joining in but are unsure as to what to do and how to do it. In the next Newsletter we will try to give some guidance and maybe we could have good representation from Burydell at this year’s show.

And finally - the monthly RHS Magazine, The Garden is on the table in the Hut for all members to share. Why not have a break from weeding and composting, enjoy a tea or coffee and read The Garden or the hard copy of our Newsletters? The Hut is there for all to use. Please just close the door when you leave.

Your next Newsletter will be out in early June.

Any contributions to Jan by 1st May please.

YOUR COMMITTEE

In the event of site related problems please speak to Pat, Site Liaison Officer, in the first instance.

Chair: Kim Scrivener

kim.scrivener@gmail.com … 07899 844564Secretary: Barbara Vernon

vernonbarbara@gmail.com … 01727 872092Treasurer: Jan Carpenter

carpenter_m3@sky.com … 01727 874842

Site Liaison Officer: Pat Solomonsjpatbricketwood@sky.com … 01923 671277

Membership/Newsletter: Jan Castlejpatbricketwood@sky.com … 01923 671277

Information: Barbara Vernonvernonbarbara@gmail.com … 01727 872092

Gill Feakesgill_feakes@hotmail.com … 01727 875399

Derrick Davisderrick.a.davis@btinternet … 01727 873657

Alyson FrickerAlyson@africker.co.uk … 01727 872156

Christine Miles

Christinemiles712@gmail.com …07703 498257

Jim Miller

jemiller@dialstart.net …01727 872014