Month: June 2024

Complaints against car drivers

PPAA Committee have recently received complaints – from more than one plot holder – of cars driving over part of their plots in order to save care when turning off the spine road and onto side tracks. Understandably, these gardeners have taken steps to stop this, by placing posts or other objects on their plots to cause drivers to be more considerate. It’s quite shocking to hear then, that these drivers have apparently destroyed these fixtures, throwing them aside, to enable them to drive over other people’s gardens.

This is simply wilful damage, and if traced, then the perpetrators risk prosecution, and also the loss of their allotment tenancies.

Vehicles are accepted onto PPA site, but that absolutely does not mean that drivers have an unqualified right to access their plots by such means, even if that entails driving over someone else’s. There is no such right stated in the Tenancy Agreement.

Complaints by car drivers

We now come to the other side of this coin.

It’s a condition of tenancy that the occupants of a plot don’t cause nuisance to any other Council property, or injury or obstruction to any track or path. It has to be said that there are too many plots, which adjoin trackways, where the tenant has allowed vegetation – whether crops or weeds – to overhang the trackway, or to grow in the cracks between edgings, in accumulations of leaf mould, and so on. PPAA’s understanding is that where a plot adjoins such a track, its tenant is expected to keep the edgings weed-free (this applies whether or not the tenant has erected rabbit fencing etc., which they might claim to be the boundary of their plot – it isn’t). Now, it seems that where people have failed to do this, aggrieved drivers may have resorted to self-help. Whatever, as long as they don’t harm any crops or anything else on the actual body of the plot, then without more, they have done no particular wrong in so doing either.

Here are some examples of properly-maintained edgings, and of some which aren’t.

It isn’t just car drivers who need clear trackways. Nor do pedestrians and cyclists want to be hurt by injurious thorns, or by other nasty things projecting into their way.

Let’s all be considerate.

PPA Website Team (striving, as ever, for balance)

As mentioned for the AGM, volunteers have restored some 450 square metres of plot to rentable condition, and a similar area is in the process of restitution. The Council have emphasised the importance of this, with about a hundred people on the Waiting List. However, a few plot holders expressed scepticism that these plots would ever be any good.

Well, the camera never lies, they say, so take a look at these pictures.

The plots by the wall get full morning sun until about 1100-1200.

Crops such as onions, garlic, and leeks grow during the autumn, winter, and early spring, and so being under large overhanging trees is no problem, as there are no leaves on them for much of that time, and they get plenty of light. Brassicas are shade-tolerant anyway, as are salads.

Plots 51a and 51b are also doing well, although they are better lit, owing to the fall of the previously shading large tree.

A special mention for the tenants of plot 51a, to whom PPAA are deeply indebted, for their having cleared – at their own expense – the large pile of fly-tipping in this corner of their plot, deposited during its long period of non-occupation.

Plot 52a has only recently been released by the Council for reletting, which should happen fairly soon after clearing.

Plot 52b has been very productively cultivated for years, and continues to be so!

The part of plot 48b which was previously occupied by the huge pile of fly tipping was quickly put to good use by its tenants, and the adjoining part of the cleared site has recently been let.

Plots 71 and 72 are still in the process of restitution, but once this is done, and the plots let, this large project will be complete.

Update: this work is now complete.

PPA Website Team.

The event was a very pleasant success. There are still some plants available, and some useful shop stock too. Full details are here.

PPAA Committee received an email back in February from a plot holder, who was sad to see that the ivy growth on the Heritage Listed wall – “Listed Structure” – had been cut back where it adjoins the tennis courts. As he pointed out, it had been a nesting home for blackbirds and for more besides over a long period, and he wondered why this had been done. An email explaining this was sent to him.

It was resolved to do this at this Committee meeting. However, covid etc. meant that it could only have been addressed more recently. It was also made far more urgent by the fact that during the recent work on the tennis courts, the growth had been removed on that side, leaving the wall badly unbalanced, and in danger of being pulled over (the heavy ivy reached about two metres from the wall in places, with woody stems up to some four inches thick)

There’s also a general problem with ivy growing on brick masonry or on stonework. The stems and roots will invade any crack however small. As they grow and swell they can exert great force and prise apart the joints, leading to eventual collapse. The pictures below are from our beautiful wall. Most of the culprit had earlier been removed in the damage pictures.

Wildlife habitat enhancement planting update

Committee volunteers have investigated the costs of the small trees and shrubs mentioned in the earlier post on this topic. A burgundy elder ready for planting costs typically £45 from a garden centre, which is rather dear.

Very fortunately, plot holder Chris Roberts has most kindly said that we can take cuttings from his magnificent sambucus nigra (pictured), which could be grown on in the poly tunnel where the sale plants stand for the moment. Our hardy fuchsias have also started sprouting, just from the prunings in our compost heap, so these should be easy to propagate too.

With luck they should be ready for planting by the end of this growing season. Other suitable shrubs are less expensive to buy.

Hedge improvements

The long hedge by the spine road, for some years, had been unsatisfactory, and ineffective from a security point of view. It’s largely composed of unsuitable subjects such as sycamore and maple. These are very fast growing, and quickly overshadow the better components such as hawthorn and holly. There were sections where these had grown too tall for volunteers to maintain properly, and the hedging beneath, starved of light, had become sparse and weak, and also poor as a resort for nesting birds.

Over the last couple of years, the effects of these problems have been resolved, although the composition of the hedge remains what it was. Winter maintenance has resulted in a hedge of a sensible, even, easily-maintained height, which can more readily be controlled with fewer hours of volunteers’ time. It now gets plenty of light along its entire length – as does the bramble thicket adjoining it in the park – and both have become bushy and vigorous as a result. It’s thickened and become more dense at previously weak points, and we can’t find anywhere along it now where intruders could easily enter.

There appear to be many wrens nesting in or by it, and like last year, the trickling song of the black cap warbler is a frequent pleasure to the ear. (At the AGM a plot holder using a mobile ‘phone app* to listen reported twenty-five species of bird’s songs heard in just half-an-hour.)

The statistics for this website show that these topics aren’t nearly as well-read as ones about, say, crime affecting the site etc., but some plot holders feel passionately about them, and to a few others they are apparently paramount.

*The app is called Merlin, and is made by Cornell University in the US as a part of their public participation project.

PPA Website Team

Sale of legacy PPA Site Shop stock – continuing on line.

More items may be added to this sale in due course – so keep watching!

If anyone wishes to buy any of the below items, then please email the PPAA Committee. The updated quantities left after sales are beneath the pictures.

Bamboo canes

Bundles of 10: 5ft £4.50, 4ft £3.00, 3ft £2.00

Fertiliser sale

Handy bags

The bulk fertilisers below have now been packed in 2kg bags – about the same amount as in a garden centre pack. They’re all £3 each.

PPA Website Team

Present: Sue Jones (Acting Chair), Wendy Gunter (Treasurer), Mike Powell, Rhys Williams, Lewis Evans, Jane Davies, Martin Pasek (Website Admin), Keith Ball

Apologies: Gordon Goldsmith, Nerys Lloyd-Pierce

The meeting opened at 19:00.

Previous Minutes

Matters covered below. 

Chairman’s Report:

Jane Davies raised an objection to Sue Jones acting as Chair for the meeting. The reason given was her claim that “complaints” had been made against Sue by “some plot holders”. Sue asked Jane to confirm that the “complaints” to which she referred were the same ones referred to by Nerys Lloyd-Pierce at Sunday’s AGM. Jane confirmed this. As of this time, no written communication has been received by the PPAA Committee on this claimed matter. Sue had been in conversation with the Council Allotments Officer that morning, re the new PPAA Committee roles, and the Allotments Officer was happy with the arrangement. Sue Jones suggested a vote on Jane Davies’s objection. The motion was not carried by six votes to one. Accordingly, the meeting then continued with Sue Jones as Acting Chair.

Wildlife cameras:

The second camera has now been installed by the Western Avenue gate. Thanks to Richard Masterman for completing this project before he stepped down from the Committee.

Site Secretary’s report (shared role):

Sue reported there are currently six vacant plots. PPA welcomed four new potholders in May. Plot viewings are ongoing. 

The Parks Department are currently migrating to a new computer management programme. While this is ongoing all of the Cardiff Allotments waiting lists are closed. A completion date for end of June has been given.

GDPR:

Sue attended a GDPR training presentation by Cardiff Parks.

Site Representatives Meeting:

Sue attended the bi-monthly Cardiff Allotments Site Representatives meeting, chaired by Jon Maidment Head of Cardiff Parks Dept. Common issues discussed by other sites were the differing approaches to neglected plots and the timing of the Clean or Quit process, dangerous trees, and the new automatic water meter reading infrastructure roll-out. With reference to the Clean or Quit process Wendy suggested that in 2025 we begin the process no later than March.

Trees:

Mike Powell had previously reported to, and met with, a Council officer with regard to some diseased trees of concern on our site boundary. The Council had committed to a second risk assessment in July. Mike will follow up.

Plot Inspections:

A group of four from the Committee will be carrying out the first inspections in the coming days. 

Any Other Business: 

Martin suggested that serving Committee members, as a sign of sincerity, undertake to familiarise themselves with, and commit to upholding, the Local Management Agreement, the PPAA Constitution, and the Terms of Tenancy. Lewis suggested that an undertaking to familiarise themselves with the documents should suffice. 

Jane commented that she felt that the writing style used in PPAA Communications was ‘too regimented’ and ‘sometimes appeared patronising in tone’. A discussion followed as to balancing how important facts need to be conveyed clearly without room for misinterpretation and the possible dangers of an unclear message in a different writing style.

Wendy raised the large amount of key deposit money currently held and how to manage it going forward. She also suggested the refurbishment of the red brick cubicles as a possible major spend for this financial year.

Lewis stated he felt that the PPAA Committee was perceived by some as akin to the police. 

Keith Ball stated he has a few blank plot number signs, which he is happy to supply numbered to any interested plot holder.

There was no further business and the meeting ended at 2004.

The PPAA Committee meetings are regularly scheduled for the first Tuesday in the month, the next being 2nd July 2024 at 1900, at the Butcher’s Arms, Canton.

Update 13 07 25: The Council have been unequivocal in stating, that no record has been found to support any claim of any person’s having acted on behalf of a group complaining of wrongdoing by any Committee member, during any period leading up to the June AGM. No Committee member has, at any point to date, been asked by the Council to account for any aspect of their conduct during this time either.

Present: 

Committee: 

Richard Masterman (Chair), Wendy Gunter (Treasurer), Sue Jones, Martin Pasek, Lewis Evans, Mike Powell, Rhys Williams

Plot holders:

Matthew Pearce, Keith Ball, Teresa Morris, Clare Briggs, Barrie Briggs, Thoma Powell, Nerys Lloyd-Pierce, Jane Handley, Adrian Peters (Riverside Community Garden), Jane Davies, Mary Pope, Monica Nobrega, Sera Jones, George Grigg, Josie Henley, Edith England, James Matthews, Louise Shenstone

Apologies for absence:

Mandy Tucker, Margaret Mathias, Jason Horn

Chair’s Welcome and Introduction

Richard welcomed all to the AGM. He explained that committee meetings have taken place monthly and thanked the committee members for volunteering their time through the year.

Richard outlined a few of the actions completed which had been previously reported and are available to view in a website article.

Committee Report

Sue and Richard reported that forty new tenants had been admitted to the site through the year and currently there are five vacant plots being viewed. The waiting list is now closed with around a hundred hopeful gardeners.

Richard explained that after a short interruption manure deliveries have continued.

Richard acknowledged with thanks the work carried out by Wanda O’Connor and volunteers in arranging and coordinating the upcoming Plant Sale to be held 10:00-13:00 Saturday 8^th June 2024.

Richard confirmed that plot inspections to identify unworked plots will commence this month. He explained that this responsibility falls the committee on behalf of the Council using prescribed procedures set by the Cardiff Parks Dept. He explained that initial contact email/letter has been revised from previous years to a less formal and abrupt format set by the Cardiff Allotment Office.

In answer to a query regarding “rewilding” it was explained that a degree of latitude and discretion is used in the assessments. 

Treasurer’ Report

Wendy presented the draft accounts for the year which were being independently audited by Dave King. The accounts show a healthy positive balance.

Election/Appointment of Officers and Committee Members

Richard stated that he would be standing down from the Committee following the meeting.

Keith Ball, Jane Davies and Nerys Lloyd-Pierce put their names forward to join the committee. 

It was discussed and agreed that Wendy would continue as Treasurer and the roles of Site Rep and Chair would be shared by the Committee to ease the burden of work.

There was unanimous agreement and the following were collectively proposed and seconded:

• Site Representative shared role 
• Chair shared role
• Treasurer Wendy Gunter
• Members

Sue Jones, Martin Pasek, Mike Powell, Rhys Williams, Gordon Goldsmith, Lewis Evans, Keith Ball, Nerys Lloyd-Pierce, Jane Davies

Any Other Business

• Nerys Lloyd-Pierce reported that she had been asked to represent a small number – six – of plot holders who claimed that some previous exchanges with Committee members had been heavy handed. Specific details were not divulged but the Committee acknowledged the report and will monitor on-going interactions.*
• Jane Davies commented that the Council’s biodiversity strategy document had not yet been updated to accord with Welsh Assembly policy. There was discussion about improvements to wildlife and pollinator habitats and Jane and Nerys both volunteered to join the committee with the aim of improving the site.
• Adrian Peters spoke about the recent merger of Cardiff Community Gardens with Cardiff Salad Garden (CSG) and explained that the inclusion of CSG will provide more volunteer assistance to expand the growing of produce for community benefit. He extended an open invitation to all plot holders to attend an Open Day 6^th July 2024 at the Community Garden plots. It is proposed to tend the plots twice weekly Wednesday and Friday between 11:00 and 14:00.
• There was an exchange between two plot holders and a Committee member. The matters relating to that are now being investigated by the Council.*
• It was noted that some of the road repairs carried out by the Council’s contractor when dealing with underground water leaks were still very poor and potentially hazardous for cycle users. This has been previously reported to the Allotment Office but no remedial work has been carried out.
• Sue stated that the Council have installed an automatic water meter to the site. Sue advised that the main off-site meter perhaps serves other consumers, feeds a long length of potentially leaking pipe outside of PPA site, and therefore if the payment for consumption were ever to be included in the Local Management Agreement, then the allotment sub-meter must be the one used for billing, for those reasons.

There being no further discussion the meeting closed at 11:50.

Thanks to all who attended.

*Update – this article has since been published in relation to such matters, and there is, at the time of its publication, no indication that the Council intend to take any action in relation to those here.