Soon be time for bonfire....

[Snadger]

Don't know about you but I have a few bin bags of rubbish which I can't compost and am eagerly awaiting 1st October when we are allowed to burn rubbish on our site!
In the bags I have club root infected brassicas roots, mildew infected leaves, onions with botrytis and any other dodgy plant which I was afraid to add to the compost along with bits left over from my shed buiding experience!
I wonder whether there will be a glow in the sky on !st of October similar to Nov 5th around allotments nationwide?

[Squirrel]

Oops! Should I not have burnt the bedding from my chicken house then? Didn't realise there was a time to burn and a time not to burn! The bedding in question had red mite, hence the burning!

[Snadger]

Oops! Should I not have burnt the bedding from my chicken house then? Didn't realise there was a time to burn and a time not to burn! The bedding in question had red mite, hence the burning!

Could be just a rule for our allotments then. They are in a built up area and it will probably appease the local population! No fires from 1st May to 30th Sept is the ruling

[Shortie]

Maybe it's just a think on your lotties Snadger as the one's I visited last week said it was okay unless any wind was blowing towards the nearby houses

[Snadger]

Maybe it's just a think on your lotties Snadger as the one's I visited last week said it was okay unless any wind was blowing towards the nearby houses

Jees shortie...I'm gutted...do you mean to say we have the only allotments in the whole world with fire lighting restrictions.?

Must have had a pyromaniac on our site at some time and this is the 'Comittees' subtle way of making him leave his matches at home,...Shucks!!!

[Shortie]

Maybe they'll be a glow just above your lotties then Snadger... certainly a way to find them at least from a distance!

[Snadger]

The annoying thing is, the houses close to us have huge bonfires in there gardens..just to p**s us off I thinK!......

[Alice]

I don't know what the law is in England but as I understand it in Scotland you can burn what you like AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT CAUSE A NUISANCE TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS. The onus is on you you handle the matter responsibly. You do have to think about where that smoke is going. Seems sensible to me. Having said that, on Guy Folks (Nov 5th) you can burn what you like (as long as its not live humans) with impunity. I tend to refrain from burning rubbish. It's always going to be a nuisance to somebody.

[yoanbob]

These restrictions are usually put in place cos of neighbours complaining, everyone has the right to dry their washing without it smelling of smoke, hence the no fires in summer rule, we just let the neighbours know when we plan to have a fire so they dont put their washing out on that day

[clarelouise4]

We can't start burning ours until 1st November and having just taken over an allotment with two years worth of rubbish on it November seems such a long way away.

[nick the grief]

There is all sorts of restrictions now. You can be fined if the smoke blows across a road & causes probles, that's why farmers don't burn stubble any more.
We are looking at our guidelines at the moment (the plot holders don't know ) & it looks like this

Hartshill Allotments Association: Rules for Bonfires
This Code of Practice has been devised to reduce as far as possible inconvenience and nuisance to allotment holders and nearby residents alike. Compliance with this Code is obligatory for allotment holders on the Hartshill Allotment Site under the rental agreements for each plot, in line with the resolution passed at the Meeting of the Association which was held in June 1991. If you plan to light a fire, please bear in mind that smoke can be irritating for most people and harmful for people with breathing and chest problems. If you can find no alternative to burning, please ensure that the burn is quick and clean, and whenever possible use a proper incinerator.
CODE OF PRACTICE
1. Bonfires may not be lit under any circumstances during the period 1st April to 31st October inclusive, out of consideration for other plotholders and nearby residents.
2. Bonfires may be lit during the period 1st November to 31st March inclusive only on the first weekend (Saturday/Sunday) of each month, unless the weather is wet, in which case bonfires may be lit on the second weekend instead.
3. Plotholders who choose to light a bonfire must endeavour to insure that the material to be burnt has been allowed to dry out thoroughly, that no material is burnt which could otherwise be composted, and in particular, that no material is burnt which is likely to emit dense smoke. To comply with the law, plotholders must ensure that smoke is not allowed to drift over nearby allotments or properties adjacent to the site. Smoke can hang in the air on damp windless days and in the evening around sunset, when 'temperature inversions' develop. Please avoid fires at such times. For safety reasons bonfires should never be left unattended, (if necessary, they must be doused with water or soil) and they should be kept well away from the footpaths.
4. Any plotholder who wishes to light a bonfire but is uncertain whether the bonfire will conform to this Code of Practice is welcome to contact the Secretary in advance, so that advice and assistance can be given.
BONFIRES AND THE LAW
Please note that anyone allowing smoke to drift across a road faces a fine of up to £2,000 under the Highways (Amendment) Act 1986. Under the Clean Air Act 1956 it is an offence to cause a nuisance through the creation of smoke: the maximum penalty is again £2,000.
THE ALTERNATIVES
A skip service will be provided at pre-announced times during the year to enable material not suitable for composting, such as diseased and woody material, to be disposed of. If you are likely to face difficulties in making use of this service (the cost of which is provided for within the annual rental payment), please contact the Secretary for advice and assistance. The Secretary can also arrange for advice to be given on composting techniques, including the construction and use of compost bins.
COMPLAINTS
Any individual who wishes to bring a complaint regarding bonfires is welcome to contact the Secretary in writing in the first instance, and an attempt will be made to settle the complaint at that stage. Alternatively, or if the Secretary cannot settle the matter, complaints should be directed to the Environmental Health Officer at North Warwickshire Borough Council.

[OverWyreGrower]

My OH can't wait until we can burn stuff...

He has a pile of wood etc under a tarp, keeping dry; and has requested a burning bin thing for his birthday...

Honestly - men!

[Squirrel]

Hmmm - looks as though I need to invest in an incinerator!

Mind you dry straw burns fast so there is only smoke around for about 30 mins. I only liight it during the week well away from the road, when everyone else is at work - mid morning! The problem is I am trying to get rid of red mite so can't compost the waste from the houses because I am worried that the crawlies will crawl back from whence they have just come! Put some in a compost bin a while ago, and was amazed by the number of red mite that crawled out of the compost when it started to heat up! Took great delight in spraying them to kill them which does nothing for the compost, so that sort of defeats the object!

[Bibliobeck]

My hubby made himself an incinerator from an old oil drum with holes drilled in the sides & bottom. It's great for a quick burn up, but does still smoke. We're lucky not to have any neighbours to worry about though...apart from the rabbits

[NEWTO THE PLOT]

i don't see why they make all them rules when have the bbq's smoke like hell and nobody ever seem's to care which way the wind blows or if they is washing out on the line which is always anoying my o.h.