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PLOT HOLDERS - IMPORTANT!!!! You MUST remember to switch off the water butt taps after you have filled up the tank. A week or so ago, the top reservoir tanlks were emptied when someone forgot to turn off a tap. If you let the water overflow, then it drains all our top reservoir tanks and we then have to wait for the stream to fill the tanks again. In the summertime, the stream can stop running and then we have no source of water. Please be considerate and be careful with water. If you are careful, there should be enogh water for everyone. Also, did you know that a good drenching a few days apart is much better for your plants than lots of little sprinkles everyday. The latter makes the plants grow shallow roots, which makes them even more susceptible to drought. The best way to preserve soil water is to mulch and to have lots of organic material in your soil in the first place. And, we encourage everyone to have a water butt on their own plot, which you are allowed to fill from communal tanks between October and up to the end of March ONLY!
Are the frosts past? May 9th and hopefully all the frosts are now past and the soil will start to warm up now. The weather forecast is for warmer weather and the weeds, especially perennial weeds, have got a march on. Horsetail and bindweed are the bane of my plot, whilst others next door have none at all - down to soil husbandry previously I think. If you do have perennial weeds such as the above and couch grass, then clean the soil by hand - DO NOT rotovate as you just chop it all up and one plant becomes 10!!!! |
Plots available: we have two plots available today on May 11th. One is small and in excellent condition and should rent quickly. The other plot is quite large and pretty overgrown so may be a suitable challenge for a fit, active person, or a family, or a couple of pals sharing.
Asparagus: there is nothing to equal the delicious English asparagus season. A few lucky plot holders have well-established asparagus beds and are harvesting now. If you have a problem with perennial weeds, try a raised bed. Sunflower competition: The allotments are looking really lovely just now with lots of hard work being carried out, everything lush and fresh, and new plants going in daily. I spotted some newly planted sunflowers drooping in the afternoon warmth but give them a couple of days and they'll be perky again. A good headstart for our 'Largest sunflower' competition. Will they be the winners? Hmm we'll see in the autumn but looking good so far. |
What is growing on the allotments on 19th April 2015?
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Website Traffic: From 3-4 visitors a day normally, to 55 visitors and 114 pageviews yesterday, it's amazing what a few good news tweets about our allotments being saved from development will do to the website traffic. For all the allotment sites across the country still facing closure, we wish you luck and a landowner willing to listen to public opinion.
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Four plots are currently available (March 2015). Priority given to Speen residents but wider Newbury residents can apply.
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PRESS RELEASE
The Benham Estate are now able to confirm that their proposals for providing new homes at Speen have been amended to allow the existing allotments to be retained in situ. The Estate first presented its proposals for the development of the block of land between the Bath Road, Lambourn Road and the A34 at a Community Consultation event held in June 2013. These draft proposals included relocating the existing Speen allotments, providing new public open space and building 125 new homes (including 50 affordable dwellings). The proposals were adopted by West Berkshire Council as one of its preferred options for new housing around Newbury when it published for public consultation its draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document in July 2014. However, the response to that draft Plan from residents, the Parish Council and the Speen Allotment Association, highlighted local concerns about relocating the existing allotments. These concerns were discussed at a meeting between representatives of the Allotments Association and the Estate in November 2014. The revised proposals are illustrated on the attached plan which indicates a reduction in the number of dwellings now proposed to about 108.
Alex Winn, the Benham Estate Manager, explained:
“The Benham Estate promotes progressive land stewardship which seeks to balance economic, environmental and social considerations to secure a long term sustainable future. The Estate recognises the importance of working with the local community and is committed to meaningful public consultation. In the case of the Speen proposals, the Estate has carefully considered all of the views that have been expressed and recognises that the allotments are valued by a great many in the community and that they make a significant contribution to the character and appearance of the area. Accordingly they have now confirmed to West Berkshire Council that they intend that the existing allotment should be retained”
The Benham Estate are now able to confirm that their proposals for providing new homes at Speen have been amended to allow the existing allotments to be retained in situ. The Estate first presented its proposals for the development of the block of land between the Bath Road, Lambourn Road and the A34 at a Community Consultation event held in June 2013. These draft proposals included relocating the existing Speen allotments, providing new public open space and building 125 new homes (including 50 affordable dwellings). The proposals were adopted by West Berkshire Council as one of its preferred options for new housing around Newbury when it published for public consultation its draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document in July 2014. However, the response to that draft Plan from residents, the Parish Council and the Speen Allotment Association, highlighted local concerns about relocating the existing allotments. These concerns were discussed at a meeting between representatives of the Allotments Association and the Estate in November 2014. The revised proposals are illustrated on the attached plan which indicates a reduction in the number of dwellings now proposed to about 108.
Alex Winn, the Benham Estate Manager, explained:
“The Benham Estate promotes progressive land stewardship which seeks to balance economic, environmental and social considerations to secure a long term sustainable future. The Estate recognises the importance of working with the local community and is committed to meaningful public consultation. In the case of the Speen proposals, the Estate has carefully considered all of the views that have been expressed and recognises that the allotments are valued by a great many in the community and that they make a significant contribution to the character and appearance of the area. Accordingly they have now confirmed to West Berkshire Council that they intend that the existing allotment should be retained”
New Chairman required for March 2016: Chairman, Cliff Sells, announced at the AGM in March 2015 that this will be his last season in the position. This time next year we will be looking for a new Chairman.
