Hello, please note the correct date for the work parties are 3rd & 10th November. It would be great for more people to get involved & enjoy meeting fellow plot holders as well as a tidy up of the site! Please sign up if you are planning to come at ewaa-oxford@hotmail.co.uk

It’s that time of the year again!

We have two work parties booked now to make progress with site maintenance.

We are asking for volunteers for work parties on Sunday 3rd November and Sunday 10th November. This will run from 11am-1pm on both days.

Any help you can give would be much appreciated. Please email Chris Clifford (EWAA Chair) on ewaa-oxford@hotmail.co.uk to add yourself to a work party list by 27th October.

Hot drinks will be provided.

If you haven’t already done it, don’t miss your last chance to pay your rent on Sunday, in the shop 11-1.

Bring your apples to be pressed and transformed into delicious apple juice!

When?  Sunday 6th October 12.00

Where?  Outside the shop

What to bring?  Your apples, an apron and some screw-top bottles to take home the juice

This Sunday, 3- 5.30, a fundraiser for the children’s nursery project taking shape behind our shop. We will also be juicing apples ourselves that day, times tbc.

We will be inspecting the plots this week!

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The plots are inspected against our cultivation guidelines which can be found on our website and on all three notice boards which are next to the gates.

Cultivation guidelines

Plot holders are expected to cultivate at least 25% of their plot in the first year and increase the cultivated area by 25% each year to reach at least 75% after three years of tenanting their plot.

Cultivation includes:

• Annual crops, including cut flowers and green manures.
• Trees and perennials providing they are well maintained and weeded. (Trees must not be allowed to grow higher than 12’ (3.6m)). Members may, subject to national laws, grow any variety of plant except standard trees. Tree sizes we allow: M27, M9, M26, MM111, M116.
• Recently dug or otherwise tilled soil.
• Mown grass.
• Sheds, compost heaps, well-maintained paths between beds and areas of crop cultivation.
• Mulching with cardboard and/or woodchip.
• Crops growing through Plastic sheeting/mypex.

Plastic sheeting/mypex is classed as cultivation when correctly placed to effectively control weed growth.

Large areas of untilled earth or mulch are treated as cultivation providing they are temporary (no more than a year or so)

Non-cultivation includes:

• Any significant growth of weeds.
• Rubbish.
• Brambles (unless they are clearly grown as well -maintained perennials).
• Long uncut grass, including around fruit trees, paths and areas which are used for seating/picnics.

Using carpet as a mulch is not permitted

Inspection process

We inspect all plots up to four times a year against our cultivation guidelines. Members whose plots do not meet the required standard for the length of their tenancy are then sent a letter/email setting out a time frame during which the plot must be cultivated to the required standard. Plot holders who do not address any cultivation issues within the time frame given will be notified by letter/email and the plot will be let out to someone else.

New plot holders

There is high demand for plots at East Ward. New plot holders are given 6 months to show continued and maintained cultivation (this includes existing members who take on an additional plot.) After the initial 6 month period, the membership secretary will inspect the plot for signs of cultivation. If no signs of continuous activity is present the plot will be re- let to someone else.

Examples of cultivation/activity include: shed repair/building, tree/fruit bush pruning, clearance of rubbish, mulching, plastic sheet laying to stop weed growth, cleared land ready for cultivation, cultivation/crop growing.

The EWAA Annual General Meeting will be at 10am on Sunday, 29 September 2019 in the Allotment Shop. All are welcome

Rent days will be on Sunday 6th and 13th October from 11am to 1pm

Allotments can be great places for wildlife! Come and join us on September 1st from 12 -1 to share what you know and learn from your fellow plotholders about the best ways to encourage bees, ladybirds, birds and other creatures to survive and thrive on your plot.

Other diary dates: next committee meeting 12 Sept, our AGM (all welcome, please come) 29 Sept, then rent days on 6 and 13 Oct.

We are still looking for new committee members as of the AGM at the end of September. If you have some time please join us and use your skills to keep the site running smoothly. We need a secretary and a treasurer as well as regular committee members. Get in touch via email (ewaa-oxford@hotmail.co.uk) or speak to a committee member on site.

Naturehood launches in Oxford:

The Naturehood website is now LIVE! You can take part by registering on our new website. Naturehood is a project created by Earthwatch Europe which focuses on local wildlife. Individual actions for wildlife are fantastic, but imagine what we could achieve if whole communities work together towards a common goal. Our initial target areas are Oxford and Swindon, but anybody in the UK can sign-up and start discovering the wildlife on their doorstep, and by involving your neighbours your community can also become a Naturehood.

Take self-guided surveys and use our spotter’s guides to help with identification, and learn about the wildlife in your garden and how to help it thrive by following our Naturespace actions. Take a quiz to see if you know your bees from your butterflies and your hogs from your frogs!

By repeating these surveys you can help us to build a clearer picture of the biodiversity in your area, and see how your actions are helping.

Notice the nature around you, take action, and share on our social media pages – we would love to see the creatures you discover!

Social media links:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NaturehoodFlorencePark/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NaturehoodMarston/

https://naturehood.uk

Thank you, and happy surveying!

Chloë – Naturehood Oxford Community Engagement Officer