Author: A Place To Grow Your Own

It’s been noted during tests, that because the site is on a gentle slope, when the water is turned off, and troughs at the bottom tend to refill, this causes back-suction into the system via the leak and may draw groundwater into the pipework.

For this reason, water taken directly from any trough float valve is not drinking water.

Tests carried out by volunteers have narrowed down the deduced position of the leak to a short section of pipe, and the Council have been informed of this. Accordingly, we hope that repairs happen soon.

Update: PPAA have now heard that Allotments Officer has raised a ticket for repairs, and a contractor is expected to contact soon. It’s also been confirmed that a proportion of the logged wastage was attributable to an issue at the old bowling green, which is fed by the same meter.

PPA Website Team

As Cardiff Council’s Allotments Page says, and mentioned in February’s article on this topic:-

“Carpet, tyres, PVC windows and doors, asbestos sheeting and household waste are restricted items and should not be brought onto any allotment sites. You can get rid of these items at a recycling centre.“

The Council also say that AstroTurf is covered by this restriction, and all would appear to come under Clause 27 of our Tenancy Agreements:-

“27. The tenant must at all times observe and comply with all enactments, Statutory Instruments or bye laws affecting the allotment.”

There’re quite a few plots on PPA with this stuff still on them, and it all needs to go as soon as reasonably possible. Fortunately, Lamby Way household waste and recycling centre will take – we’re informed – “multiple” tyres at any one time* per household free of charge, and there’s effectively no limit on things such as old carpet. Other centres will take things other than tyres. However, please, no one be tempted to fly tip anywhere on site.

Some well-intentioned people brought some of this onto site in the belief that they were usefully “upcycling” waste, but research has shown that as e.g. tyre rubber and synthetic carpet decay or break down, they pollute the soil with nanoparticles etc., and no plot with them on can be claimed to be organically-gardened either.

*C-to-C ask that tyres be brought to Lamby Way centre in a car – pedestrian and cycle access is not permitted. The staff there say that as long as it’s clear that the tyre disposal isn’t part of a commercial operation, they may take up to six tyres per household, on an allotted visit.

PPA Website Team

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

It’s harvest time, and many growers will have more than they can eat for the time being.

Sue Waring – on Plot 60 PPA – is a volunteer worker for this charity. They cook free meals on a Wednesday evening, and would be grateful for any spare produce that plot holders might have.

Sue says that those with crops to give can contact her to make arrangements, or just leave it in the greenhouse on Plot 60. However, also to let Sue know if they have done this by the form below, so that she can collect the food before it spoils or is eaten by animals.

To contact Sue by email, please use this form:-

Thank you Sue.

PPA Website Team.

Cardiff Council’s “Understanding The Allotments Rules” guide says that children must be supervised at all times.

For this reason, plot holders are, quite reasonably, not required to make their gardens completely free of any conceivable hazard to children. It’d be unduly onerous to impose this burden upon them too. This wouldn’t, however, excuse any patent recklessness on anyone’s part, naturally.

Typically, there may be improvised structures, using materials such as sharp corrugated metal on plots, or agrichemicals on them. There might be glass cold frames – through which a child could fall.

Additionally, PPAA’s understanding of correspondence received this morning from their insurer is, that if anything should happen to children who went off-plot, then they wouldn’t be covered under its Public Liability insurance. The parents/guardians would be seen as negligent by the insurance company, as the children weren’t supervised – as instructed by the Council.

Parents and grandparents are well-represented on PPAA Committee, and they fully understand that busy parents, especially during the school summer holidays, may find it difficult to tend their gardens without bringing their children with them. However, lately, there’ve been a number of instances of completely unsupervised children ranging the whole site, often on cycles. This, combined with the fact that too many drivers don’t keep to the 5 mph site limit, is a cause for concern. Children have also been seen going behind brick cubicles, where all manner of things might have been fly-tipped, before volunteers could discover and remove them.

There’ve also been reports of minor – non-malicious – incidents of mischief, of just the sort that children might do. (For instance one plot holder said that someone had fiddled with their ornamental and humorous display of second-hand spectacles by a track.)

PPAA empathise fully with parents and grandparents as to the demands of childcare, and at the same time getting on with what needs to be done, but thought that it was timely to publish this post. However, they also wholeheartedly support educating kids, as to what’s involved in producing our food, and perhaps – we’d all hope – inspiring future gardeners.

Happy gardening – and family life – to all!

PPA Website Team

The apparatus installed on PPA site last spring turned out to be very useful and helpful, and led to PPAA’s being able to report serious offences, along with evidence identifying the offenders. They were also able to address specific acts, such as fly-tipping by identifiable plot holders. Furthermore, some plot holders who’d been the victims of persistent vexatious interference with their plots noted that this had also stopped during this time.

Sadly, but perhaps predictably, that apparatus itself has now been stolen, and – equally dismally – some plot holders report a resumption of disturbance to their plots. Fortunately the devices weren’t greatly expensive, but nonetheless such offences are a very unwelcome nuisance.

Given the possible implications of these facts, from now, on neither the nature nor the siting of surveillance equipment will be announced, and these’ll likely often be discreet and vary.

There’re adequate notices outside the gates and around the site to comply with e.g. privacy laws in these things.

PPA Website Team

The expression “organic” gardening’s come to mean growing using only naturally-occurring materials and substances as fertilisers – as well as for pest and weed control, along with other manual or mechanical methods – which replace the use of synthetics. It’s not a condition of any Cardiff allotment that gardeners grow in this way, but plenty do, and many more do so in a practical, if not absolutist way too.

Organic growers will also often have a keen interest in environmental and ecological things – for instance be re-wilding activists – and have their own ethical angle, which can lead them to be vegetarian or vegan too.

The common – and sometimes unkind – caricatures of such people have led many to be misled, about what an organically-gardened plot would look like, and on the part of people taking on a plot to garden in that way, perhaps a mistaken idea, as to what one should look like, along with a sense of needing to conform to that. (That is, that it’d be a tangle of all manner of wild plant life, and of everything which goes with that – including exasperated neighbours, despairing at the myriad pests, seeds, and roots, which find their way onto their plots from it.)

Let’s recognise then, that if a plot’s going to be productive of food – as the Allotments Acts ask – then it’s unavoidable that there’s to be effective pest and weed control on it.

So, on a productive organic plot, typical methods would be the removal of, and constant disturbance of, the habitats for pests. That’d mean, for instance, that there wouldn’t be any dense patches of weeds close to crops, from which armies of slugs and snails would otherwise come to eat the produce. Along with this, if the ground were frequently hoed and raked to kill weeds organically, then at the same time, most slugs and their eggs living in the loose soil would also be destroyed.

Alec and Angie’s plot beside the spine road is one of the most efficiently productive on site, and this is exactly the approach that they take. The regular use of hoe and rake is made easier by their keeping the soil in good, workable condition with the frequent digging in of well-rotted manure*, and recycled compost from their heap.

Bought fertilisers can be organic too, such as fish, blood, and bone, although vegetarian gardeners may understandably avoid some of these. Naturally-occurring dressings, such as gardener’s lime (mainly chalk, actually), the phosphorus-containing guano, and, for magnesium, Epsom salts, are also generally acceptable for the organic gardener.

Apart from its use as a fertiliser and soil conditioner, manure’s also hard to beat as a weed-suppressant mulch. Put on in a layer about 100mm (four inches) thick, after harvest and weeding, it’ll prevent the survival of the great majority seedlings which germinate beneath it, by sheer thickness and impenetrability. This’ll steadily rot until the next growing season, and at the same time soil life will also break it down, and mix it in with the soil.

Happy gardening – and eating!

*For the purist, allowing manure to rot for a good period before use – ideally two seasons – ensures that any veterinary medicines – or hormone weedkiller residues in the hay eaten by horses – will have been broken down by microorganisms and reduced to insignificant levels. (The RHS advice is that this is less important if the manure is simply to be used as a mulch, rather than being dug in.)

PPA Website Team

Hogweed – and its near relatives – are endemic on and around PPA site. It’s a member of the carrot family, and quite a few of these, but notably hogweed, are capable of causing skin injuries, such as blisters and rashes. These may be picked up by handling the plant material, allowing its hairs or prickles to penetrate the skin, or by the splatter of semi-liquid material when strimming. The harmful effects are greatly increased by exposure to light. Common hogweed is not as virulent a danger as its giant sister – which may grow to the height of a lamp post – but it contains exactly the same toxins, albeit in lower concentrations.

The blisters and sores can be nasty, and leave long-lasting marks on the skin. It can be a particular danger if splatter should enter the eyes in sunny weather, so when strimming anywhere near this plant we should cover up well and wear a full face visor. PPAA Committee volunteers, and plot holders, have recently been hurt by both of these means.

Left alone the plant is harmless, and its flowers are a great source of nectar for bees. However, it is a prolific seeder, and its deep tap roots – it’s sometimes called cow parsnip* – can make it hard work to eradicate by non-herbicidal methods.

*The folk name cow parsley is usually applied to anthriscus sylvestris or wild chervil, but is also sometimes used for a range of plant genuses of this family of similar appearance e.g. wild carrot, and so on.

PPA Website Team

The other day I found a greenfinch – I think – trapped inside our cabbage netting. I’ve no idea how it got in, the mesh is too small and it’s well-pegged down, but there must have been a gap somewhere. Fortunately I was able to release it easily enough.

Today I came across what appeared to be a sparrow hawk, trapped in a neighbour’s netting, but this had quite large gaps at the bottom, and it was easy to see how it had got in. Again it was no problem to release it.

If I personally have come across five or so cases like this in this one season, then it must be very common on the site.

So this is a general heads up, for everyone to make sure that there aren’t any ways for birds to end up inside our nets. Any unused net should also be bagged – an old carrier bag, anything will do – or boxed, and not left lying around for hedgehogs to become entangled in it.

This said, netting, when used with care, is a far better way to protect our food from the cabbage white butterfly, and from pigeons, than insecticide sprays and bird scarer kites are.

MP

Bamboo can be an attractive garden subject, and also produce useful canes, but this article in the press – and other recent media coverage – reminded us, that there can be problems, and that a few years ago, the then site rep noticed that several plot holders had this growing on their plots.

Bamboo isn’t a broadleaf, nor a conifer, nor a willow tree, and so the Tenancy Agreement doesn’t seem to cover it. It is, in fact, a kind of grass. This uncertainty has led to problems for councils and tenants alike, with councils one moment directing committees to tell plot holders in no uncertain terms to remove their bamboo, only apparently to change their minds shortly afterwards. Furthermore, if the council failed to make clear to the plot holders concerned that they had issued the earlier directive, then this in turn could lead to problems between tenants and committees, or their members, whom the former might assume to have been needlessly bothering them.

As the article makes clear, bamboo – when not constrained, e.g. in a planter, sunken or otherwise – can be a serious invasive problem.

Cardiff Council are presently holding Working Group meetings to examine reform to the terms of allotment tenancies, and to the fees and charges relating to them. A PPAA Committee member is one of its attendees, and at the last meeting the Chair of Cardiff Allotment Holders’ Association (“CAHA”) proposed that bamboo and other invasive non-native species be expressly added to the list of subjects which may not be planted or maintained. (Whether that might be implemented remains to be seen, however.)

Whatever, for the time being, if anyone has this growing on their plot, then they need to make sure either that it’s properly controlled as outlined, or to remove it completely.

(Any container needs to be proof enough so that the spreading roots or underground stems – rhizomes – don’t escape through any holes to invade neighbouring plots etc.)

PPA Website Team