Inundated by neighbours weeds

[greenishfing]

When someone is allocated a plot for the first time why on earth aren't they given a very short term contract, (probationary period) to be extended only if they put some effort into at least controlling their weeds? (maybe 2 months at a time for the first year.)

I am fed up of newbies getting plots, coming to have a look around, maybe clearing a few weeds or doing a bit of strimming, on one occasion having a drunken party with their "delightful" offspring and then disappearing never to be seen again.

Nothing then happens for months until, eventually, the whole cycle repeats itself.

If there was a probationary period surely the benefits would be:

a, the weeds wouldn't get as bad

b, the newbie would have some realisation of the hard work and commitment required

c, the waiting lists wouldn't be as long as time wasters would be removed quickly.

[Vince G]

Got the same problem with the plot next to mine. Fella there says he can't work as is registered disabled due to having some ruptured stomach muscles.....so how did he think he could work an allotment??

Field sec felt sorry for him and gave him a half plot which he stuck a few spuds in then left to get completely overgrown again. Eviction notice was served and suddenly someone (not him) has cleared it. Month later it nearly all couch grass again.

Another one swinging the lead......

[Greenleaves]

I understand your frustration and have had to deal with similar issues but upon taking advice from this forum I did two things.

Gained consent from the council to enter the ajoining plot and strimmed and cleared a metre wide strip and covered with cardboard.
Moved my path to that side of the plot to create even more of a buffer.

we have a three moth rule that says 60% of the plot must be cultivated but it is very rarely enforced. I now work with the issue rather than let it work against me

[Samurailord]

We have just had another newbie hand back her keys after three months.

They did the usual, came on and rotivated (eek!) then built a 4' x 15' edged bed, planted a couple of fruit bushes, a tree and a couple of courgettes, then weren't seen again for four weeks.

When they came back on, they weeded most of the bed they had made, but the other 85% of their plot was knee deep in weeds by this time, and i think that is what has finally done it for them.

They also have a couple of young kids, and in the recent warm weather they have obviously decided that an allotment is too much like hard work.

We do have a 2 month probation period, but our committee have admitted that they haven't enforced it as they should have done and have promised to do better next time. (I am chair of said committee).

As a result we now have a half plot available in (very) sunny South Chadderton.

Anyone interested??

Andy

[Alison]

Haven't you got a waiting list Andy?

[alldigging]

Haven't you got a waiting list Andy?

We did have. But one person doesn't want the plot because of it's location (long story) and the other person has found one on another plot.
I am emailing local secretaries to find out if they have anyone near us wanting one.

[Samurailord]

We are in a strange position where even though we are officially a Council controlled allotment we don't appear on any of the Council's lists of allotments, so no one know we even exist.

It's all to do with us being very new (less then 4 years old) and going independent and having our own lease from the Council. Because of this they have never bothered adding us to their lists.

We are also in a strange geographical position as one of our boundaries is also the council boundary, so someone who lives literally next door couldn't take on a plot as they live in another council's area.

Andy

[Noosner]

I understand your frustration! The plot next to mine has been abandoned for 3 years now, and is a haven for rabbits and Himalayan Balsam.

It's particularly frustrating as our allotments have a waiting list of 180 people. I've written to our Parish Council more than once and they always say they have offered it to someone and are waiting to hear back.

But anyway... my solution has been to go in and cut the weeds back on the part that's near our fence. The bees love the balsam, so there's a plus side there. We have reinforced the fence, too, which had to be done from their side for various reasons.

I've also (somewhat more naughtily) planted some gooseberry bushes and an apple tree in the sunniest corner, which any new tenants will be welcome to. Except that the tree overhangs my fence

[Ananke]

This year, we have introduced a probationary period on our site, I thought it was to be 3 months but one of our new plot holders has told me it is 6 months.

One of the plots that was allocated at the end of May hasn't been touched at all yet and another that was allocated a few weeks ago hasn't been touched yet either. So I'm wondering if some people think that they can pop in the week before the probationary period is up and whip those weeks out lol.