Hello Allotmenteers!
I hope everyone is really looking forward to a productive growing season. We have some updates for you and some helpful information.
SPRING IS SPRINGING – TIME TO PREP THOSE PLOTS!
This is the perfect time to get back outdoors and get your soil turned. There has been an unseasonably warm weather trend over the last few weeks which has left the ground in ideal condition for turning. In fact, so ideal that you may even find that there are some weeds already growing (AHHHH!). If you are usually a person who waits to get going – the race bell has already been rung. It is time to get out on those plots and race the weeds to the finish line!
Word of caution though – this is a fool’s spring. Tender plants will still require a minimum of 5C overnight temps to avoid damage so if you are tempting the weather gods, please remember to cover with cloches or other protection. We have been known to get frosts as late as the end of May so it is always a good idea to keep things covered until all risk of frost has definitely passed.
BEGIN AT HOME
Now is the perfect time to begin your growing at home. March is a great time to start peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergine & headed lettuces.
BEGIN AT THE PLOT
Now is the perfect time to put in cold root strawberries, onion sets & cold prepared garlic. Some seeds might be sewn outdoors if careful to manage the temps with cloches and mulch but for an easy life, you might just want to start these at home or in your greenhouse/polytunnel. Keep a special eye out for mice and rats this time of year and report them to the committee if you see them. We pay for rodent control and knowing where they have been sighted helps with the placement of the bait. Please do not move bait stations if you see them as this will damage our control efforts.
PURCHASE UPDATES
We wanted to give everyone an update on the purchase of the land. As these things go, the purchase is taking much longer than originally anticipated. This delay is not on our part. We have instructed the solicitors and have received all of our funding.
We have asked ForFarmers to agree to a head of terms and whilst they have assured us that they are still entirely prepared to move ahead – as of today we are still awaiting an agreement on head of terms. This does not indicate that the sale is not going through (we know that there has been a rumour to this effect). They have given us assurances very recently that the sale of the property to us is still in progress. Dealing with commercial property sales is just simply sometimes a slow process and they are managing the sale of more properties than just ours so we are having to just be patient and wait for things to happen in due course.
We can understand if tenants are frustrated by the slowness of the process and we share your frustrations. But buying a piece of land under these conditions is a very complicated process and as we have had to change over to a CIC model to facilitate the sale, we have important considerations that must be managed to ensure the purchase is handled properly.
WAITING LIST
In happy news, we have developed quite a waiting list for our plots including many people who are happy to take up a rehab plot (eg – bramble covered, etc.) and plots will begin being assigned to new tenants over the coming weeks. Should you be giving up your plot, it would be helpful to know as soon as possible so these new tenants can hit the season running.
As we do have such a large demand for plots and as growing our own food is more important than ever (so many empty grocery shelves and £3 packs of tomatoes!), it is increasingly important that tenants make good use of their land. If you don’t feel you can tend all of your plot to its best capacity, please contact us so we can divide your plot and offer it to another person who can make use of the land. We always strive to be maximally beneficial to the community.
PLOT RENEWALS
If you are planning to renew your tenancy…
Your tenancy will automatically renew (if your plot was in good standing last year) and you only need to remember to pay your rent on or before the 10th of April. Ideally you will do this at the AGM (date TBC) as the committee team will be present to accept your payment and issue a receipt.
If you are planning to give up your tenancy…
Please notify us at: admin@recreationroadallotments.co.uk as soon as possible but no later than the 6th of April. We will log your intent to determine(end) your tenancy and we will send you some helpful information about clearing your site.
If you are voluntarily giving up your tenancy or if you have been asked to vacate your plot, please ensure all of your possessions are removed from the plot BEFORE the 10th of April. Items left on the plot after this time will be considered abandoned. You will no longer have access to your plot after this date.
If your plot was not in good standing last year…
If your plot was not worked to a meaningful capacity last year, you may have already received a letter or you will be contacted in the next week or so to discuss your options based on your situation. In some cases, you may be asked to vacate and your tenancy will come to an end. In other cases, you may be given the option to have a half plot – this is at the discretion of the committee. In cases where your plot is in serious disrepair, we may ask for a bond for you to continue to renew your tenancy (if that option is offered). If we are unable to contact you or you are not being offered a renewal of your tenancy, you will be sent a notice that your tenancy is being brought to an end.
RENTS DUE
All rents are due on or before the 10th of April, 2023.
Please remember that tenancies that are unpaid after the 10th of April will begin the determination process as per your tenancy agreement. If you have concerns regarding your ability to pay your tenancy, please contact us as soon as possible so we can chat about your options.
AGM
The date and location for the AGM is TBC but we will notify you as soon as the date has been set.
