Closure

Having complete all the physical tasks associated with the creation of the new allotment there was only one thing thing left to do, complete the paper work. The paper work was duly completed by the secretary and returned to the Lottery funding office. Confirmation was very quickly received that we had met all our obligations and the file was now closed.

Many people deserve praise and recognition for the effort and dedication but as is the way with generous people, they wish to remain anonomous.

To close this chapter before and after pictures. In the first picture below, the children are standing about where the second picture was taken eighteen months later.

The new polt were taken up on 25th July 2011 and the bottom picture was taken on the afternoon of the 24th September 2011. Well done Peter!

New paths

The materials for the funded path edges and matting was procured but then we hit the holiday season. A number of the plot holders managed to install their section of edging. This gave them a good excuse to dig deep into the plots to reveal the depth of top soil and the manure bed. One path needed special attention so a few of the members organised a work party and between the four of them dug out the where the path base would go and installed the path edging.  Another member laid out the weed matting along the paths and stapled it to the edging in readiness for the path fill.

Each of the plot holders was made responsible for carting and laying there section of path. We have a great deal of stone to use for path. It is just a question of moving it. To their credit by the middle of September all the paths were complete.

Paths

We were lucky enough to bring the project under time and under budget. It seemed a shame to give back the under spend. A phone call , an impassioned email and a nervous wait whilst the Lottery folk decided upon our submission. In a very short time the decision came back that we could spend the unused funds. We have decided to make the paths between the plots. The new plots holders have already made a start on the paths. The timber is to be delivered this week. Many hands make light work.

Avenue of blossom

The Society's Secretary has been busy of late. The would be allotment holders, on the waiting list, have been contacted and are due to visit the allotments on Saturday 25th June 2011 at 1pm to learn of their obligations and cost to being a AWAS plot holders. Since the plots are so new the range of vegetables that can be grow will be limited to those that grow above ground for at least for the first season.


It has been decided that a condition of taking a plot will that the plot holders will be required to purchase and plant a fruit tree at the front of their plot. The vision is that in ten years time their will be fine avenue of blossom in the spring and fruit in the autumn. The existing plot holders did a similar thing when the long orchard was invented. Apple, Pear, Cherry are to be the choices. Trees rather than bushes are needed.

AWAS ethos

We at Ashby Would Allotment Society have always tried to:

•       Use materials from sustainable sources
•       Use recycled material
•       Source materials locally
•       Use local commercial services

The idea is to lessen the impact of our actions, minimise the carbon footprint of the development and benefit the local community. The "new" products used were the plastic undeground perforated field drain pipe and the water trough. The trough should have a very long life. The plastic underground perforated field drain pipe is made from recycled plastic. The maximum distance material travelled was 18 miles. That was the perforated field drain pipe.

Recycled materials used were:

• Top soil
• Manure
• Perforated field drain
• Stone for French drains
• Stand for the trough
• Car park and paths

No materials were removed from site. AWAS will be continuing to plant up the bund with native trees species.

Hammered home

The last act was to mark out the plots. We had sharpened several three foot [1m] posts and laid them along the path at roughly 15 foot [5m] intervals. We decided where the paths between the plots where to be. The first post was placed. With the corner post hammered home as a datum we measured off the plots and paths, tapping a post into position. Next we went to the back of the new plots by the foot of the bund and measured off  the plots. A peg was positioned to compliment the plot makers by the path and after checking, was hammered in. We checked the alignment of the posts, at the front of the pots, and after slight adjustments the posts where hammered home, checking them against the staff so that they ended up at the same height above the path. Under a threatening cloud we finished the last post as the sun was heading for our local horizon.

Blading the soil

The top soil was delivered in batches. Each batch was bladed out with tractor's bucket. The blading compressed the soil into the manure to create a firm growing medium. All the top soil having been delivered and bladed out the plot was taking on a completed look. The farmer brought back JCB Mark to do a final dressing of the plot. The tractor bucket is not designed for fine work whereas the JCB is.

As a final act the farmer took the trouble to fill in the pot holes on the allotment drive way although it was ten winters and not the heavy machinery that cut up the drive.