Minutes for meeting held at Butcher’s Arms Canton
Present: Sue Pasek (Acting Chair), Mike Powell, Jane Davies, Martin Pasek, Keith Ball
Apologies: Wendy Gunter (Treasurer), Rhys Williams, Gordon Goldsmith. Nerys Lloyd-Pierce, Lewis Evans
The meeting opened at 19:00
Previous Minutes:
Matters covered below
Chairman’s Report:
Covered below
Site Secretary’s report (shared role):
Sue reported that there are currently six vacant plots. Plot viewings were zero during August, due to lack of availability and some ongoing clearing works. There have been four structure applications approved.
Clean or Quit Process: This four-stage Council-dictated process has been ongoing since June. The 15 plots previously issued with Non Cultivation Notices in July were revisited after the stipulated 28 days, and consequently the PPA requested that the Council issue 9 ‘Terminations of Tenancy’ notices. This was done on the 1st of September, and the recipients had 28 days to appeal to the Council. The PPA await an update from the Council on progress. The Chair thanked the Plot Inspection Team for their work in following through this process.
Orkastrate: In August Sue attended the bi-monthly Site Representatives Meeting held by the Parks Department. The new computer management programme (Orkastrate) is expected to be piloted with sites in October, but as of this time no “going live’ date has been announced. While this is ongoing all of the Cardiff Allotments waiting lists remain closed. (The system is to manage waiting lists, lettings, plot holder details and so on.)
Fly-tipping: Some plot holders have complained of neighbouring plot holders fly tipping on to their plots. The PPA would like to remind everyone to dispose of rubbish off site.
Treasurer’s Report: Wendy was unable to attend the meeting but had stated that there was nothing to report.
Trees: Mike had emailed the Council re dying or dead trees on the site boundaries, but had only received an automated reply.
Quotes are currently being sought for work on other trees on site.
Allotments Terms, Conditions, Fees and Charges Workshop: Martin stated that he was to attend the next working group later this month, and that although constructive suggestions for revision have been gathered, a final draft of the new Tenancy Agreement is still some way off.
Water: Whilst the Council investigate the water leak detected on site the water will only be turned on for a few hours a day. The Council have given no time scale as to anticipated repairs.
Manure: The problems now facing the Riding School were discussed, and Nerys had asked for it to be noted in her absence, that she will liaise with a contact there to see what help might be given in this regard.
Wildlife – robins: Nerys (by email) and Jane raised concerns re fewer robin sightings this year. Discussion re the RSPB report of declining numbers countrywide, and various related matters followed. It was also noted that the Committee had previously committed to improving habitats, and this is further covered in a separate article (to be published on the PPA website), along with a fuller account of the meeting’s digressions. In the meantime it was agreed to request that plot holders don’t strim down brambles on the bank adjoining Road Three.
AOB:
Mike proposed a working party to address a heavily overgrown vacant plot, 112b. It was agreed to meet there on Tuesday 15th October at 10:00, all volunteers welcome.
There being no further business, the meeting ended at 19:50.
The PPAA Committee meetings are regularly scheduled for the first Tuesday in the month, the next meeting will be Tuesday 1st October 2024 at 1900, at the Butcher’s Arms, Canton.
Robins on PPA site
(This article doesn’t form part of the Committee minutes, as it perhaps represents digressions beyond the brief given to PPAA under their Local Management Agreement.)
Robins hold a special place in the affections of gardeners, and Nerys wrote to the recent Committee meeting to say “During my ‘citizen science’ project over the years, looking at song thrushes, mistle thrushes, blackbirds and robins on the allotment and nearby areas, I have noticed a significant decline in robins. I usually have a courting pair on plot 44, but not this year. The usual robin(s) following me when I dig, plant etc have been noticeably fewer. This could be part of the national decline highlighted by the RSPB, sadly.
However, robins badly need a helping hand. I would like us, the Committee, to make a concerted effort to provide habitat, and to encourage plot holders to do the same. Many myths prevail among plot holders, for example that all birds nest in trees (yes, really!). This could lead to potential nesting sites being damaged inadvertently. I am happy to do the research into practical and manageable steps we can take. Ditto hedgehogs (the event in Bute Park turned out to be about monitoring ‘hogs’ specifically in that area, rather than generic steps to help them).”
The subject was discussed at the September Committee meeting, and several interesting points were raised.
Sue noted that although there may be somewhat fewer robins, she’s never seen so many wrens as she has of late. Furthermore, wrens are very territorial and competitive like robins are, and have evolved the technique of destroying the eggs in the nests of ground-nesting birds such as robins. Sue suggested that this might be a major factor in the apparent decline on site. As they only usually live for a couple of years, it would be inevitable that no one would see the same pair for many years too.
Martin said that robins follow active gardeners for very good reasons, that is, for the feast of worms, grubs, wood lice etc. that we offer them when we fork or dig soil, turn a compost heap, or hoe weeds. Since a significant proportion of plot holders now claim to be using the No Dig Method – or the “No Gardening And No Food Method” as it appeared to some – it’s hardly surprising that robins don’t bother to visit them. There’s also the chronic problem of neglected plots, and the fact of no gardening at all being done on those.
Jane pointed out that the No Dig Method requires the eradication of weeds before the method is begun, but accepted that it seems that plenty claiming to follow this method omit this fundamental part of the process.
Martin also mentioned that there’s at least one pair of sparrow hawks in the area – these can kill thousands of song birds in a season – as well as a Siamese cat, habitually stalking the site.
Over the Pontcanna Fields and Llandaff Fields area, as a whole, there’s been a dramatic increase in habitat for a range of wildlife, with the return to meadow of previously mown fields, the Council’s moratorium on cutting back bramble thickets – notably those adjoining the hedge running the length of PPA spine road, and along the southern site boundary (these have multiplied several times in size in recent years) – and so on. Nevertheless, the Committee agreed, that if parts of PPA could be managed so as to increase this a bit further, then that could only be beneficial.
As it stands, the group of eight native elders planted by volunteers have established themselves well, and are on the way to providing a hospitable thicket quite quickly. Volunteers also have about sixty young hardy fuchsias (of two varieties), ten or so sambucus nigra (burgundy elder), and about forty hypericum (St. John’s wort). These were all taken as cuttings, so they cost PPAA funds nothing, and they represent those that successfully rooted among the larger number actually taken. It looks like these won’t be large enough to be planted out until late next season, however.
The Committee have a responsibility to maintain hedges, to keep tracks free of overhanging brambles etc., and plot holders are required not to harbour mess which may attract vermin, as well as to keep their plots reasonably free of weeds. Furthermore the new Tenancy Agreement – which we’ll soon all be required to sign – would appear to be very likely far stricter in terms of the extent of non-cultivation that would be accepted on plots. That said, there may well still be some scope to enhance habitat for robins and for other wildlife on PPA, particularly in marginal, non-cultivated parts of the site, and discussions will no doubt continue on this topic – to the extent that perhaps more pressing, immediately plot holder-related matters allow at meetings.
PPA Website Team
