BHAF Allotment Forum
Patcham : 18th Jan 2017

Dear Allotmenteer,
We hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year!

The Brighton and Hove Allotment Federation is run by volunteer allotment holders. All plot holders are members of the Allotment Federation.
You are invited to our next Allotment Forum Meeting.
 

Wednesday 18th January 2017
6.30pm 'Surgery'
7.00pm Meeting

at Patcham Community Centre, Ladies Mile Road, BN1 8TA
If you have any items you would like to be on the agenda please email them to bhaf.contact@gmail.com
 
The BHAF sent a deputation to the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee meeting of 29.11.2016. It was our response to the proposal of a rent rise to remove the stated defecit in the allotment budget. It follows discussions at two Allotment Forum meetings as well as Committee meetings. The deputation itself and the reply can be viewed on our website here.
 
The latest 'Site Reps Discussion Workshop' on Tuesday 29th November went well and was useful to those that attended. The Site Reps role and responsibility document was finalised. The meetings identified that some Site Reps are feeling a little bit 'out on a limb'. Amidst local government cuts to services the Councils and Tenants expectations on Site Reps seem to be increasing, and responsibilities are already felt to be at a maximum level. Some Site Reps feel 'stuck in the middle'. You can read the summary of the workshop here.
 
January is perhaps the least active month for allotmenteers. But February starts getting busy again! My Purple Sprouting Broccoli is already showing signs of flowering due to the mild winter, and those first broccoli buds need nipping off otherwise you end up with one huge Broccoli 'Cauliflower' instead of lots of nice little sprouts. Apple trees should be pruned now while they are dormant well before the buds start to appear. We have plenty of monthly tips for us all here and here on our website.

We havent had many people telling us 'their stories' on our website for a while, but perhaps now there is a small break in the allotment year, some of you might have time to upload pictures and stories to this section on our site. Just log in or register and you can go ahead and make your own page on the site. Please do! You might be an inspiration for others or have some warnings of what not to do or just have some photos to share. Also dont forget our Facebook page and share your pictures from last year of your harvests, wildlife or flowers. 

 
OTHER ALLOTMENT NEWS
 
Farm Terrace Allotments in Watford lose the battle to save their historic site.
The fight by campaigners to save the 100 year old Farm Terrace Allotments in Watford was lost this week. The ruling at The High Court puts allotments up and down the country under threat.
http://www.bhaf.org.uk/page/watfords_farm_terrace_allotments
 
Oldest Allotments in London under threat
Northfields Allotments in West Ealing is London’s oldest surviving allotment site. It now faces the threat of development from the housing. Support the campaign by the Ealing Dean Allotment Society to try and save it.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-london-s-oldest-allotments
 
“Nationally, this National Allotment Society survey suggests that two thirds of allotment holders pay rents of under £50 a year,”
 
Our precious allotments are being destroyed – it’s time to get our hands dirty
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/
 
Follow us on Facebook for Regular updates https://www.facebook.com/BHAFpage 
 
 
Allotment Forum Details
The meeting is in 2 parts; the first half hour, beginning at 6.30pm, is an informal surgery where people have an opportunity to speak to BHAF members or the Council Allotment Officer on a one-to-one basis over a cup of tea.  This allows individual and personal issues to be dealt with more quickly and efficiently. 
 
The second part of the meeting begins at 7pm and relates to more general and city-wide allotment issues.  If you have a problem/question or an item for the agenda, come and talk to us during the surgery and we will do our best to help.
 
There is free parking at Patcham Community Centre and on surrounding streets. 
For those travelling by bus, the 5 and 5A buses stop within 2 minutes walk of the centre (The Ladies Mile bus stop). 
 
Timetable details can be found here:
 
We look forward to seeing you.
Best Regards,
Mark Carroll
for
BHAF Committee.
 
 
 
Brighton and Hove Allotment Federation  www.bhaf.org.uk