Damage on Allotments

[marmalade]

Hiya

I'm currently considering putting my name down onto a waiting list for an allotment but I'm still a bit undecided.

One of the things I'm wondering is how many times have the plots holders amongst you had your plants/shed/greenhouse damaged by someone other than you? kids/teenagers/other people etc?

I think if I went to my plot to find it trashed I'd just cry

So tell me your stories

[Digger-07]

There is always chance that vandals will attack but in my experience everyone watches out for each other and there is usually someone on the site whenever the weather is fine. Vandals tend not to like to get cold and wet and in many cases are only opportunistic. If there is a locked gate on the plots it helps.

If we never did anything because we thought that it might be vandalised or damaged it would be a sad day.

Good luck with the plot and don't worry, you will find other plot holders will be happy to help out.

[Alison]

There's probably a waiting list anyway, so get your name down and decide as you wait.

[GreenGriff]

There's probably a waiting list anyway, so get your name down and decide as you wait.

That's what I'm doing! Name is on the list while I endeavour to grow some stuff at home this year ... hopefully next year my plot will come up

The allotments I'm on the list for have a locked gate and are fully enclosed from what I can tell - haven't actually been inside yet though.

[Fat Bob]

We leave nothing of value on ours. I know a lot of people who leave all of their tools in their brand new sheds and I think it's only a matter of time.

We aren't too far from the car park, so we just bring and take everything with us.

I know we should be able to leave our stuff on site, but I've had stuff stolen before and I really don't want to repeat that feeling.

Most of the old timers have very small sheds, which they leave unlocked and just keep inexpensive stuff in and use as somewhere to get out of the rain etc.

I'd still go for the plot though, the peace and quiet is priceless.

[Nes]

Our site is open all the time - no gates. We're not actually allowed sheds as we're in a conservation area apparently, so some people have tool boxes, rather like a trunk. I keep a few tools (watering cans, wheel barrow) in my compost bin covered with a bit of old carpet, and lug the rest from the car and back when I need them.
I don't know anyone who's had anything stolen, though it's always a possibility when stuff is left unattended, but don't let that put you off!! If you do plan to leave tools at your plot, either hide them well or paint them lurid colours, to make them virtually unsaleable. I don't know many people who'd buy a badly painted bright pink and yellow fork!
The other problem could be people stealing produce. Again, I haven't heard of this at my site, though there are a few tales of sweetcorn pilfering on this website. If some crops seem to be at greater risk than others, you may consider growing these at home if you have room, and leave other less attractive crops for the allotment.
My advice would be to get your name down quickly, as you may have a long wait for a plot to come up anyway, as lists don't tend to get shorter the longer you wait. You can always turn it down later if you change your mind. Then go and talk to some resident plot holders at the site, to find out what the local situation is, and what precautions seem to be effective in combatting any problems they have.
Sorry, turned into a bit of an essay!

[zazen999]

My OH got burgled 3 times but we still have to live in a house...

I think the thing to do is to make sure you keep nothing of too much value there, and plan in that it might just get vandalised. Our tools for the lottie we bought from Wilko and they are actually great tools to use...And always have crops ready to replace the ones you harvest so that if the worst does happen, you can just slide new ones in and start over.

[bluemoon]

It is heartbreaking when your hard work is ruined, but my plots give me so much pleasure I couldn't imagine life without them. Don't leave anything there that you can't afford to lose. We take all our tools with us, taking along just those we think we are going to need that particular day and we keep some old and battered tools in the shed, just in case a job comes up that we hadn't planned for.

[Snadger]

I've had my allotment 3 years and it's in a 'rough' area of town, but I've had no bother (touch wood!)
Found some splattered eggs recently from my honesty box.....but when I checked the box, whoever splattered the eggs had payed for them first!

[jenjen]

I don't have a shed (yet) and just leave my tools on the allotment, sometimes covered up in some weed suppressing fabric. Had no problems.

[bluemoon]

It is heartbreaking when your hard work is ruined, but my plots give me so much pleasure I couldn't imagine life without them. Don't leave anything there that you can't afford to lose. We take all our tools with us, taking along just those we think we are going to need that particular day and we keep some old and battered tools in the shed, just in case a job comes up that we hadn't planned for.

It's a good thing I answered this yesterday and not today, because I went up there last night to put the chickens to bed and everything was fine, left at 9.10pm and this morning at 5.30am discovered that some *&%£ had caused a fair amount of damage using the said battered tools, then left them strewn around. Fortunately they hadn't touched the chickens, which are very securely locked anyway. I have to say though that this sort of vandalism is almost unheard of on this particular site, but it can happen.

[GreenGriff]

Argh no bluemoon! What B*&$%*&$!! I'm so glad they didn't harm the chickens!!! Hope the damage isn't irreversible?! At least you didn't keep the good tools there, hey! Good advice there!

[bluemoon]

Argh no bluemoon! What B*&$%*&$!! I'm so glad they didn't harm the chickens!!! Hope the damage isn't irreversible?! At least you didn't keep the good tools there, hey! Good advice there!

And the moral of this story is; keep even the rubbish tools securely locked, even if they're not worth pinching they can still be used for mindless vandalism.
We live and learn.

[NOG]

You will have your shed broken in to. Its live football at some point you will get a kick in the shin.

Buy tools from boot fairs....Put bigger hindges lots of padlock s on and beef up the door. But also dont leave any tools that are worth anything in it.

[jackie j]

So far our site has only had minimal damage mostly greenhouse glass broken. That doesnt mean it wont happen at some point. My shed can be seen from the road and the site has a gate to get through but its easy to climb over.