Bradninch Allotment Tenants' Group

WELCOME to new plot holders from the Bradninch Allotment Tenants’ Group

Who we are and what we do

Welcome to the Little Bithywind Allotment site.  The Bradninch Allotment Tenants’ Group (BATG) is an informal group of plot holders who are working with the Bradninch Town Council Allotment Committee to improve, develop and sustain our allotment site.  BATG raise issues and make recommendations to the Town Council Allotment Committee but do not have responsibility for the management of the site.  We have set up BATG to communicate ideas, promote discussion and offer informal advice to fellow plot holders.  The Town Council Allotment Committee formally manages the allotment site and in instances of site management should be directly contacted.

How we do it

Since Spring 08 the Bradninch Allotment Tenants’ Group has held regular meetings and representatives of the group have attended Town Council Allotment Committee meetings.  In a short time we have successfully worked with the committee in addressing allotment issues and developing our site for the Bradninch community.  

How to help yourself

Please be aware of the terms of your tenancy agreement. It gives clear guidance regarding the maintenance of your plot and your responsibilities in respect of your neighbours.  Don’t allow non-compostable rubbish to accumulate.  If you are new to vegetable growing our recommendation list may help you find useful books and websites.  Take advantage of your allotment neighbours and BATG, they are happy to help and advise.  If you find that you are unable to adequately keep on top of your plot, please do not let it gradually pass from being cultivated to uncultivated, and then on to being overgrown.  Instead please contact BATG or the Town Clerk and we will try to work together to hopefully help your situation.  Similarly, if you decide to give up your plot, please inform the Town Clerk immediately.  There is a long waiting list for this site; so please be consider of others by freeing up a plot that you are no longer cultivating as soon as possible.

How to help your allotment community

Maintaining your plot and adjoining paths benefits the whole of the allotment community.  Plot holders are responsible for maintaining the path above their plot.  Apply to the Town Council Allotment Committee before erecting any structure.  Don’t use sprays on breezy days and please avoid spraying your neighbours crops, many of our plot holders garden organically and wish to remain organic!  Bonfires should not be left unattended or cause any unreasonable inconvenience to other plot holders or nearby residents.

Communal facilities

The communal storage shed is provided to enable you, if needed, to store your gardening tools.  Please ask the Town Clerk for details.  The site also has a communal rotavator, access to a strimmer and other tools that may be of use to you.  Contact BATG for more information.  Help yourself to horse manure which is provided free of charge and can be found in a heap at the very top end of the site.  Water taps are dotted around the allotment site.  If you are unsure of their location, ask your neighbouring plot holders and please remember to actively conserve your water usage.

Get involved

In addition to our meetings, throughout the year the BATG organise work parties and social events.  All these events are an opportunity to meet other plot holders to share knowledge and ideas.

Discounts

Through BATG, plot holders have joined the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners (NSALG) membership scheme.  Please contact us if you would also like to sign up for just £2 per year and benefit from their quarterly magazine, free legal advice, a discount seed scheme and lots more!  Their fantastic discount seed scheme enables you to buy vegetable and flower seeds from a reputable national grower for up to ½ normal retail prices.  

Lastly good luck and happy growing!

Bradninch Allotment Tenants’ Group Contacts

General enquiries:

Sarah Le Breton, 01392 882165, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , plot 5.

General, Communal Tools and NSALG enquiries:

John Joule, 01392 882112, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , plot 21b.

Book & Website Recommendation List

Here’s a list of books and websites that BATG plot holders have recommended fornew plot holders.  We hope that they may prove useful to you.  Of course asking your fellow plot holders for help, advice, hints and tips works wonders too!  Also, please let us know if you have any recommendations that you think should be included on this list. [Compiled by Sarah, last revised Jan 2011]

Books

Vegetable and Herb Expert by D.G. Hessayon
Publisher: Expert  (2nd Revised edition April 1997)
This book could be the Holy Bible of vegetable growing! Clear, concise, helpful and descriptive, it tells you everything from crop rotation to harvesting techniques plus clear illustrations and a disease chart per vegetable.  Great for the complete novice and more experienced vegetable grower, so handy that you could easily take this with you for expert advice every time you go to your plot!

The  Allotment Book by Andi Clevely
Publisher: Collins (Feb 2008)
This book gives you detailed tables of sowing and planting times, seasonal guides, advice on selecting what to grow and even the odd recipe too.  Excellent down-to-earth advice, written concisely, accompanied by helpful and colourful illustrations.

Going Organic: The Good Gardener’s Guide to Getting It Right by Bob Flowerdew. 

Publisher: Kyle Cathie. (Sep 2007)
In Bob’s common-sense style ‘Going Organic’ proves to be an approachable, practical and pleasurable read.  This book contains all the knowledge and tips you need to solve most garden problems while becoming a more competent gardener, more naturally.

Gardening with Children by Kim Wilde
Publisher: Collins (March 2007)
Gardening with Children is bursting with fun ideas for getting – and keeping – kids interested in the outdoors.  Not just for the vegetable patch, this book contains a wide range of clearly explained projects to inspire and entertain children.

One Magic Square: The Easy, Organic Way to Grow Your Own on a 3-Foot Square  by Lolo Houbein
Publisher: Experiment Publishing (2010)
This book begins by exploring the need for sustainable and self-sufficient food growing then expertly shows how you can be a creative, adventurous vegetable grower using very little space.  Packed full of ideas and tips, great for the beginner and the more experienced gardener.

Websites

www.gardenorganic.org.uk  Garden Organic, the UK's leading organicgrowing charity, has been at the forefront of the organic horticulture movement for 50 years and is dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food.

Within the Organic Gardening Catalogue you can find everything for the organic gardener - a great range of seeds, fertilisers, composts, pest controls, weed controls, tools and books To buy direct online visit www.OrganicCatalogue.com

www.nsalg.org.uk  Representing allotments and allotment gardens nationwide, the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Ltd (NSALG) provides membership to allotment societies and allotment gardeners.  Website contains information on the services the NSALG provides as well as allotment news and related issues from throughout the country.  

www.allotment.org.uk  This website started life as an online diary and to help others growing vegetables on an allotment.  According to the author it’s now the most popular allotment site in the UK.  Follow the links to useful articles on ‘Clearing a New Allotment’ and ‘Planning the Plot’.  Also contains ‘Growing Month by Month’ a useful guide on what you should, (or could!) be doing on the plot each month and Henry's Garden Hints & Tips – containing a wealth of practical information on a wide range of subjects including ‘Defeating the Slug’, ‘Couch Grass’, ‘Natural Helpers Against Aphids’, and ’Getting Caterpillars Off Cabbages’.

www.allotmentssouthwest.org.uk The South West Counties Allotment Association (SWCAA) has been formed to promote the benefits of allotments and gardening to the wider public and to represent the public interests by providing information, advice and guidance.  Useful Allotment Basics section containing advice on topics such as ‘Make your own compost’, Green Manures’, ‘Fertilizers’, ‘Pests’ and ‘Companion Planting’.

www.rivercottage.net  Writer and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s website with detail about the River Cottage Foods business.  A website about food, where it comes from, and why that matters.  An enjoyable website, the extensive River Cottage Community section covers all things foodie including blogs, recipes, questions and groups.