Children’s activities including a treasure hunt, plus stalls and guided walks at the nature reserve adjoining the allotments:
Irrigation works
We have received a grant from the council to put in a few extra taps and waterbutts in between the ones we have. Currently there is an exploratory trench open on the top road (Howard St end). It is safely fenced off, but please do be aware of it. Other works, including trench digging, will be taking place on all three roads over the next few weeks, please go carefully and do not move the fences under any circumstances. If there is a problem, please contact the committee via email.
We look forward to shorter walks to the water sources this year!
Now in shop
We have just taken delivery of French Beans, Runner Beans, Broad Beans, Garlic, Onion Sets, Shallots, Peas and a variety of other seeds.
120 litre Water butts have been reduced to £22, so very good value!
Potatoes are due for delivery in the 3rd week of February
Soil/composting workshops at Sandy Lane Farm, Tiddington – THIS SUNDAY
Rubbish dumping
We hire a skip each year (this year two, due to the first being filled in one day), at considerable expense, to allow plotholders to dispose of rubbish. We do not have a regular waste collection due to the cost and practicalities of access. At other times we ask plotholders to dispose of their own rubbish by taking it to Redbridge, or home to add to the normal waste collection if appropriate. Please keep in mind the difficulties of waste disposal when considering whether to bring things that are “bound to be useful” to the site – either you or subsequent plotholders will have to deal with them at some point!
Under no circumstances should rubbish be dumped on other people’s plots, and anyone doing this will be required to remove the rubbish immediately and dispose of it properly. They may also risk being asked to surrender their membership of the Association.
If anyone reading this was responsible for balancing a pile of mostly broken glass on a bramble patch on site recently, please take the earliest opportunity to remove it.
Winter pruning and grafting courses
Andy Howard of the Heritage Fruit Tree Company will be running Winter Pruning + Grafting Training Courses 20th and 21st Jan, 3rd and 4th Feb.
More details here: Dear Fruit Lover .
Potato Fair – date for your diary
O&DFAA (Oxford and District Federation of Allotment Associations) will be holding its 1st POTATO FAIR in conjunction with Pennard Potatoes.
On Thursday 22nd February, from 2pm – 7pm at West Oxford Community Centre, Botley Road.
Admission FREE, All welcome
(Parking is very limited on site. Botley Road buses use Osney Island stop. Ten minute level walk from Seacourt Park and ride)
More information here: http://www.potato-days.net/ – a large number of potato varieties will be available for sale, as well as onion sets, shallots, fruit bushes and trees, dahlias and gladioli. You can pre-order items from Pennard Plants for collection on the day too.
Manure for sale
We have taken delivery of 3 large piles of manure, which is now available for £2 a barrow-load.
Please pay in the shop when it opens again on 7th January, or put the money in an envelope with your plot number on it under the door
Christmas Drinks!
All welcome at the Donnington Arms, on the corner of Howard St and Silver Road. Sunday 17th December from 6.30pm.
Slow-worms on site
The Urban Wildlife Group have rehomed some slow-worms on their site, so we are likely to see them on the allotments.
These are NOT snakes – they are a type of legless lizard. They are protected under UK law, so please leave them alone
♥♥♥ They eat slugs! ♥♥♥
Please be aware that they can be poisoned by slug pellets, particularly the metaldehyde type – we sell the less toxic ferric phosphate ones in the shop, which should still be used sparingly.