Pontcanna Permanent Allotments, serving over two hundred Cardiff gardeners, traditional and organic
Author: A Place To Grow Your Own
The PPA Website Team are unpaid, at-will volunteers, but with a committed interest in the well being of the allotment site and of all its gardeners, whatever their approach to growing.
The below file’s from Cardiff’s guide to managing allotments for Associations such as PPAA. It’s about the evergreen oak, also known as holm oak, holly oak, etc., and which is often found growing on PPA site. Their planting’s banned in many countries.
Volunteers have been removing the saplings and young trees of this species, wherever they’ve been found on site, for the past few years.
As the article says, they’ve been colonising areas such as ours, and we’d add that they’re a particular problem in that their shade is so very dense that virtually nothing – not even moss – will grow beneath them, and so they progressively eliminate a great deal of wildlife habitat.
There’re a number of huge mature specimens in Pontcanna Fields Park and elsewhere locally, and squirrels bury the acorns quite assiduously all around, so the saplings are a problem not just on PPA, but also in gardens locally. The banks of the River Taff near Sophia Gardens have been smothered by these trees, notably.
So if anyone should find these growing on their plot, or in their garden at home, then they’d be well advised to dig them out before they get any bigger.
As the site schematic plan shows, many plots on PPA are split into two, known as the (a) and (b) plots with that number. The plan’s intended to show the manner in which the plots are split too. That is, where the plots are divided along a line parallel with the shorter dimension of the plot (as most are, since the Council request that it normally be done this way) then the diagram should show this, and where they’re split along a line parallel with its longer edge then it should also indicate that. In most cases then, the (a) part will be that which adjoins a road or trackway. (NB the schematic doesn’t represent the actual plot proportions referred to.)
Plots began to be split many years ago, and it appears that in a very small number of cases the manner in which a plot was split may not have been correctly recorded or later entered on the site plan by the then Committee. This recently led to consternation on the parts of a new and an existing tenant, when the new tenant – and the PPAA volunteer who let the half plot – mistakenly relied on the site plan, resulting in gardening happening on part of someone else’s plot.
PPAA Committee will amend the plan to right this error, but we’d ask that everyone who has a split plot kindly check the above linked plan to make sure that it correctly shows how their plot is split, and if there should be any inaccuracy to message PPAA Committee. Where a plot were split along its longer dimension, could the tenant(s) also please clearly indicate which are the (a) and (b) parts, and also number their plots clearly – as instructed by the Council.
Note: all discussions, which are materially relevant to the site, or to plot holders on it are minuted.
Present: Sue Pasek (Acting Chair), Mike Powell, Martin Pasek, Rhys Williams, Jacqui Boddington (Plot holder observing)
Apologies: Wendy Gunter, Gordon Goldsmith, Nerys Lloyd-Pierce, Lewis Evans, Jane Davies
The meeting opened at 19:00.
Previous Minutes:
Matters covered below.
Chairman’s Report:
Covered with Site Secretary report.
Site Secretary’s report (shared role):
Since the February meeting three plots have been let, with four more viewings booked in.
One structure application has been approved.
Sue attended the Cardiff Council Allotment Site Representatives meeting on the 13th February. With regard to plot holders vacating plots but leaving behind undue mess, council official Anthony Thomas explained ‘colleagues on Waste Enforcement have a Section 9 process in place regarding fly tipping and dumping of waste on Pontcanna Permanent Allotments. This involves interviewing under caution the person alleged to have dumped waste. This may lead to a prosecution. The issue at Pontcanna Permanent Allotments will be a test case. If this works well, we will look to roll this out to other allotment sites’. Please note, that this will not be used to deal with historical waste.
Treasurer’s report: Wendy (by email)
Wendy requested that all invoices be presented before the end of each month.
Orkastrate
Sue was due to attend a training course for the new system on the 17th February, but it was cancelled at short notice due to IT issues. A new date has yet to be announced.
The delay in the system means that the PPAA is operating with waiting and plot holder lists last issued in July 2024.
Bird Boxes: Gordon and Nerys
These works are now complete.
Plant Sale:
Gordon is to contact Chapter Community Garden re opportunity to sell plants at our next AGM.
Rhys said that he was happy to grow a small selection of plants to sell, and suggested that other plot holders might also be willing to do this.
PPA Polytunnel:
The six new bed holders, for 2025-2027 have now been notified of their bed allocations. The existing holders of the other six beds have tenure until February 2026.
Plot holder John Morgan has volunteered to be the point of contact between the poly tunnel tenants and the Committee. Our thanks go to John.
Manure: Martin
Martin reported that after being contacted by Cardiff Riding School, a delivery has been made to site.
The large tractor and trailer used require all available space in the car parks to manoeuvre, and plot holders who complied with the request to keep the car parks free are thanked. However the deliveries need supervision to keep the car parks clear, and Martin suggested that folding signs be bought to put out on such days to assist with that aim.
Martin has also been in touch with Cardiff Council regarding compost delivery from Lamby Way. In principle compost could be supplied free of charge, but would likely be an annual rather than three-or-four-monthly delivery. This would be considered in detail if there were an interruption to the manure supply for any reason.
Plot Inspections:
Plot Inspections will begin at the end of March, with a team from the Committee following the Cardiff Council set process.
AOB:
Rhys mentioned a workshop that he had attended at the Global Gardens Project, and thought that other plot holders might also find them a useful resource.
There was no further business and the meeting ended at 19:40.
The PPAA Committee meetings are regularly scheduled for the first Tuesday in the month, the next being 1st April 2025 at 1900, at The Cricketers, Cathedral Road, Cardiff.
PPAA Committee
Care of children on PPA site
Now that the better weather’s arrived, PPAA Committee have received reports from concerned plot holders of unsupervised children roaming the site. There’ve also been reports of the sort of minor disturbance to plots and to other things that could stem from children amusing themselves, although there’s no further evidence to suggest that this is what happened. Whatever, it’s probably timely to remind ourselves, that it’s in everyone’s interest for those responsible for children to reacquaint themselves with the important information in this article.
It’s important that everyone knows that the right email address for Cardiff Council Allotments management is Allotments@cardiff.gov.uk
Plot holders should also keep in mind, that their tenancy agreements are with the Council and not with PPAA Committee.
PPAA Committee don’t make or enforce the rules of tenancy, and can neither add to nor take away from them. Those acting in good faith are also bound by the Local Management Agreement and by the PPAA Constitution.
For this reason, correspondence to and from the above email address is nothing to do with, and not read by PPAA Committee (unless they’re intentionally copied in on their own email address.)
Other than within the prescribed non-cultivation procedure, if a plot holder should be in dispute with the Council over any matter, by email or by other means, then as it stands PPAA Committee are – as instructed by the Council – not a party to that dispute,and so members will not involve themselves in it. (From the information that we have, it appears that the position in this respect may have been misrepresented recently, and so plot holders are asked kindly to disregard any information at odds with this post’s.)
On the other hand, to contact PPAA Committee, please use the Message Page on this site.
The PPA site’s there for all of us, and there’s nothing at all in the terms of our Tenancy Agreements to say that anyone shouldn’t take it upon themselves to make improvements, to lend a hand, or to end nuisances beyond their own plots. That is, there’s no formal necessity to be a Committee member to do such things.
There’s nothing new in people doing this either. For many years, individuals – with whatever skills – have, at will, done such things as to pick litter and other rubbish, to remove damaging ivy from the listed wall, to clear accretions from tracks, to deal with vegetation – which might have been encroaching on tracks, car parks, or other used areas – to trim hedges so as to facilitate car access, to tidy manure and wood chipping heaps, to clean sediment from water troughs, and so on. All such help is very gratefully acknowledged too.
The independent volunteer does need to make quite sure, however, that what they’re thinking of doing doesn’t break their Tenancy Agreement – e.g. by planting broadleaf trees anywhere – and that it also works with the grain of both the PPAA Constitution and the Local Management Agreement. That is, it doesn’t hinder any right or freedom of any other plot holder to cultivate their plot, or to use the site in any way that they might choose within the rules, or cause any other nuisance to a gardener. It’s also best for them to make sure that such work wouldn’t clash with any Committee project either.
It’s through doing such things that many former and present Committee members decided that they’d like to work with others in these endeavours, and it’s often why they joined.
Present: Sue Pasek (Acting Chair), Mike Powell, Jane Davies, Martin Pasek, Gordon Goldsmith, Nerys Lloyd-Pierce, Lewis Evans, Rhys Williams
Apologies: Wendy Gunter
The meeting opened at 19:00.
Previous Minutes:
Matters covered below.
Chairman’s Report:
Covered with Site Secretary’s report.
Site Secretary’s report (shared role):
During December/January four plots were let. There are currently two ready-to-let plots. Plot viewings are ongoing.
One structure application has been approved.
Sue is to attend the training course for Orkastrate, the Council’s new computer system on February 17th. It is anticipated by the Council that this system will enable quicker access to information e.g. re plot status etc .
The situation regarding some plot holders not having yet received invoices for the year 2025-2026 is acknowledged by the Council. They say that it is due to the roll-out of the Orkastrate system. More information will be shared when made available .
Treasurer’s report: Wendy (by email)
The Public Liability Insurance for the site has been paid.
Many thanks to the plot holders who have paid their £5 PPAA subs for this year, and a reminder to those who have not, that this is now due.
Trees: Mike
Three days of work was completed by contractors between 20th and 22nd January. Works focused, as previously agreed, on Road Three, on four plots where plot holders had requested tree removal, and on some of the Western Avenue boundary.
Rubbish left by vacating plot holders: Sue
[Edit: content removed so as not to affect, possibly, legal proceedings]
Hedge on spine road:
Security of the site has been improved, by the addition of brashings from the tree works to the rough-laid dry hedge (beside the dilapidated and insecure wire netting fence.) Bramble seeds will be purchased to sow, to colonise this material, and as an incidental, to increase further its wildlife benefits (action: Rhys Williams)
Bird Boxes: Gordon and Nerys
Several bird boxes specifically for different bird species have now been installed around the site. There are plans for further installations, in time for nesting season.
Manure: Martin
It had been noticed that a recent delivery of horse manure from the Cardiff Riding School (CRS) had been made to our neighbouring allotment sites but not to PPA, despite their pens already being quite full but ours empty. The Committee will approach CRS to verify whether our agreement re supply negotiated at the end of last year by Wendy and Nerys still stands.
Martin wondered whether plot holders might, on balance, prefer deliveries of free Council compost (made from garden and food waste) instead of manure, if the latter’s supply appeared to be unreliable, and would look into what the arrangements would be for the Council to deliver this. (Action: Nerys, Martin)
Plot Inspections:
In line with other Cardiff Allotment sites and as previously agreed by the PPAA, plot inspections will begin at the end of March. Details of this process are available here.
AOB:
Nerys proposed to write an item re the symbiotic relationship between trees and ivy.
Gordon and Lewis will investigate ways to encourage a larger turnout attendance at the next PPAA AGM
There was no further business and the meeting ended at 19:45.
The PPAA Committee meetings are regularly scheduled for the first Tuesday in the month, the next being 4th March 2025 at 1900, at The Cricketers, Cathedral Road, Cardiff.
Our special thanks go to Gordon Goldsmith for arranging for the Committee to be able to use the Meeting Room at the Cricketers free-of-charge.
For several months now, the Council have been convening a Working Group to draft a new Tenancy Agreement for all Cardiff allotment plot holders, and also to review fees, charges, concessions and so on. (A PPAA Committee member’s been delegated to that group, which consists of Head Of Parks, Allotments Officer and other relevant Council officers, and Site Reps or delegates. The last include representatives from The National Allotment Association, and from Cardiff Allotment Holders’ Association, CAHA.)
The draft’s being finalised now, and it’ll soon be the subject of general consultation as required by law. The expectation’s for tenants to be asked to sign it for the year starting in February 2027, which allows for the year’s notice needed. The Group weren’t unanimous on all the changes, but where there was a general consensus and the change was supported by allotments law it was usually incorporated. Obviously, no one can be compelled to sign, but if they choose not to do so, then – as the Council a bit flatly perhaps put it – their existing tenancy will just end.
There’re quite a few reasons for which this is being done, but a principal one’s the increasing use of allotment plots for purposes, which are nothing to do with those defined by the Allotments Acts and by other laws. Examples in Cardiff are understood to include:-
The fencing off of a plot with a high corrugated iron fence and locking gate, and its use as a builder’s yard.
The setting out of trampolines, swings and slides, and use as a children’s play area.
The use as a place for slaughtering animals for meat.
Storage for junk by hoarders, when they’ve run out of space at home.
Use as a private re-wilding area and wildlife reserve.
Use as a venue for religious gatherings.
Use in the way of a residential garden, i.e. with extensive lawns, patios, chalets, and other such things.
The use as a pet cemetery
Use as meeting place for rowdy outdoor parties on summer evenings.
The list goes on, unfortunately.
It was considered then, that in important ways, the existing Agreement doesn’t make expressly clear many of the specifics, of what should and shouldn’t be done on allotment plots, and one central purpose of the draft is to address this. So it’s probably only fair to tell everyone as soon as we can, that some of the changes may need work doing by plot holders on PPA to bring their plots into line with the proposed new Agreement.
Apart from making much clearer that things like the above examples are formally prohibited, one particular point that’s intended to change is the clarity of definition of “non-cultivation”, and the conditions for bringing a plot to “full cultivation”, which would also be defined more clearly and rigorously. The draft as seen by PPAA’s delegate envisages areas of plots covered by things such as lawn, weed suppressants like wood chip, scrub vegetation (which may often be euphemistically described as wildlife habitat), and other non-productive areas, as not being eligible for inclusion as part of the “cultivated” total, no matter how neatly they might be maintained. This would mean that changes needed to be made to plots on PPA where e.g. overly-wide paths between small productive beds formed too large a proportion of the plot’s total area.
As delegates pointed out though, rules may be changed, but unless they’re enforced, the effect of so doing would likely be limited. The Council accepted this, and so for their part they say that – in parallel with this – they’ll be reviewing their Enforcement procedures, with the aim of streamlining and ruggedising them.
Our understanding is that the Draft Agreement will be published during the coming spring as part of the Consultation, and that an on-line survey will be available, together with postal contact for those who aren’t contactable by email, so tenants should have a far clearer idea of the proposals at such point. It’s probably a good time to remind all then, of the importance of keeping the Council and PPAA Committee informed of any change of email or postal address.
As outlined in the last PPAA Committee meeting Minutes, it was proposed to crown lift the mature hawthorns and other trees forming the historic PPA hedge, and to use the pruned material to form a rough-laid, dry hedge, beside the now-dilapidated wire netting fence. This would offer an immediate and major improvement to site security, notably at the point where the criminals, apparently responsible for the recent arson at Riverside Community Gardens, entered.
This would also provide a substrate for brambles and for other useful defensive subjects to colonise, and their growth would be markedly accelerated by the greatly increased light then available to them. Volunteers would also plant further thorny, hedging-suitable items to grow beside this. Although there are already quite a few growing freely, bramble seeds would also be sown along the length of the whole, so as to engender the extension of the impenetrable thicket – presently adjoining about half of the boundary – to reach the full length of the site. An incidental benefit would be the significant enhancement of wildlife habitat in the vicinity too.
This website’s pleased to report then, that the actions described as proposed in the first paragraph are now complete. (There might remain some minor tidying of possibly unsightly sawn stumps to be done, however.)
The volunteers thank the many plot holders who – on encountering the work in progress – have shown understanding over e.g. delays in vehicle movements, or who’ve expressed support and encouragement to the workers involved.
Present: Sue Pasek (Acting Chair), Mike Powell, Rhys Williams, Jane Williams, Lewis Evans, Gordon Goldsmith, Nerys Lloyd-Pierce, Martin Pasek, Keith Ball.
Apologies: Wendy Gunter.
The meeting opened at 19:00.
Previous Minutes:
Matters covered below.
Chairman’s Report:
Matters covered below.
Site Secretary’s report (shared role – given by Sue):
November saw three new plot holders join the PPA. No structure applications were received. Plot viewings are ongoing, with Sue having four booked for early December.
Work by several Committee volunteers has been ongoing to clear large amounts of ‘rubbish’ left on several plots, the cost of removal offsite by a licensed carrier has been paid out of PPAA funds.
In response to the sickening arson attack on the Riverside Community Gardens, the Council Allotments Officer, Celia Hart, met with Sue. Sophie Bolton and Adrian Peters from Cardiff Salad Gardens were unable to attend, however. The fire damage was discussed, and also site security weak spots. The Council have been quick to respond, by providing a team to remove the fire debris and to organise the ‘making safe’ of several fire damaged trees. Discussions between the CSG and the Council are ongoing as to how and when the structure will be rebuilt, with due regard – as required – to planning permission and safety.
Treasurer’s report: Wendy
Owing to ill health Wendy was unable to attend. The Committee extend their best wishes for a speedy recovery to Wendy.
Trees: Mike
Webbs, the team contracted by the Committee to undertake the planned tree works have postponed the work until the New Year.
The four days work previously agreed by the Committee will be prioritised as listed:
Road Three overhanging branches.
Vacant plots, and where plot holders have already requested tree clearance.
Overhanging branches at the rear of plots alongside the A48 boundary (within fence).
It was agreed that plot holders, who have not already done so, but who wish to have trees on their plots brought down should contact the PPAA asap.
Nerys and Jane proposed to use some of the waste to make invertebrate habitat piles, in discreet locations about the site (AP Jane, Nerys)
Action: Mike to continue to manage the timeline.
Boundary security improvements: Martin
Martin reported that the arsonists had – to all appearances – entered by a sparse point in the hedge and fence, where the shade of a large tree had restricted the hedge’s growth and vigour.
He proposed that the mature hawthorns and other trees in the historic Boundary Hedge be crown lifted to let in light, which would enable the prolific growth of rewilding – such as brambles and further hawthorns – planted by volunteers. The aim would be to make the dense thorn thicket adjoining the northern part of the fence run the whole length of the site. The brash from the pruning would be used for dry thorny hedge reinforcement or laying, which would give an immediate and major improvement to security.
The Committee approved the purchase of a battery pole pruner for the purpose.
Nerys said that she’d investigate the supply of suitable thorny hedging for planting. Martin said that packets of 1,250 bramble seeds could be bought for £6 a bag.
AP: Mike, Martin, Rhys, Nerys
Bird Boxes: Nerys
Nerys has found a source of robin boxes, with Keith Ball also providing some more. Jane said that she could also obtain some locally made kits. Sue proposed a work party could be advertised for plot holders to help assemble them.
Jane reminded the meeting of the issue of a plot holder’s strimming the undergrowth on the bank by Road three, so disturbing the area used by ground nesting birds such as robins.
Action: Nerys and Gordon to place the boxes when ready. Jane to enquire further re her bird box contact. Jane to place warning notices along the bank.
AOB:
Jane proposed that a survey by plot holders of birds, butterflies etc. on their plots would be useful.
Jane also wanted awareness to be raised, as to the harmful effects of some chemicals used by human beings in agriculture on wildlife.
For context, Sue said that current Cardiff Council Allotment policy is that no sites are ‘organic’. Individual plot holders have the right and freedom to garden as they wish, as long as that’s within the rules of tenancy, they respect their neighbours’ gardening styles, and they only used gardening chemicals licensed for sale to the public. Mike pointed out that – in general – potentially harmful chemicals require a licence to purchase. The general consensus was that the use of pesticide sprays on PPA was rare anyway, as no one could report seeing anyone using them.
There was no further business and the meeting ended at 20:00.
The PPAA Committee would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our fellow plot holders a Very Happy Festive Season, and a great growing year in 2025.
PPAA Committee meetings are regularly scheduled for the first Tuesday in the month, the next being on 7th January 2025, at 1900, at the Butcher’s Arms, Canton.
For information – the custom-and-practice working site plan
Following the recent articles, reminding plot holders that tyres and other polluting items aren’t allowed on allotment sites, a lady tenant reports, that after booking her appointment, she took six tyres in her hatchback to the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Lamby Way. (Click link for map.)
She says that disposal there is very straightforward, with a skip for tyres accessible by car. It’s the furthest one. She did wonder if she’d be allowed to take as many as six, but it appears that the staff there are very reasonable, and unless it seems that it could be a commercial operation trying dispose of its waste for free, they won’t interfere unduly. However, we’d be interested to hear how others get on too.
Whatever, there really doesn’t seem to be any reason to delay the getting rid of these things.
