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GOSPORT SITES AND WARDENS.
- For more information on Gosport’s allotment
sites, wardens and vacant plots contact Leisure Services, Gosport Borough
Council. Tel: 023 92545729
- For a complete detailed list including how to apply for a plot
and aerial photos of sites click here
UP-DATED INFORMATION FOR THE ELSON and GOSPORT SITES.
Please note that the
water will be turned off at the end of October for the Winter
until March.
Bonfires are now
allowed between certain times. See your site notice board for details.
JANUARY 2003
A reminder it is now time to renew your membership to G.A.H. &
G.A. This can be done at any of the site stores. We would welcome any new
members too.
At the time of writing there are plots available on most sites.
Please telephone Gosport Council, 023 92545729 for further information.
MARCH
A reminder that on the 18th of March the G.A.H. & G. Assoc.
has arranged an evening with Mr Trim from the National Vegetable Society, at
H.E.D.C.A. Coombe Road, Elson, Gosport at 7.30 pm. Mr.
Trim advises on fruit and vegetable growing and is a NVS show judges. This
should be a very interesting evening and everyone with an interest in vegetable
growing is welcome. Admission is free to members and £l. to non- embers.
Light refreshments included.
The Gosport Borough Council 'Coastline' has included in this
month’s edition an article 'Growing for Health' by the G.A.H. & G.
Assoc. If you have missed it and would like a copy please email growingforhealth@saundersallotment.co.uk
Our evening on the 18th with Mr Trim from the N.V.S. was very
enjoyable with about 100 attending. Our sincere thanks to all who helped to
make our first social evening such a success; it has given us plenty of
thoughts for future events.
APRIL
A reminder the G.A.H. & G. A. will be holding its annual
A.G.M. on Tuesday 15th April at 7.30 pm at H.E.D.C.A. Coombe Road, Gosport.
Members and non-members are welcome. Do come along and air your views.
The work relaying and levelling of our main paths at Elson are now
nearly completed. This has made a great improvement to our site making it much
easier for plot holders to drive to their plots to load and unload etc.
SEPTEMBER
The sale of 10 plots at the Camden site has now been completed by
Gosport Borough Council and work has started on the new Doctors Surgery.
The G.A.H. & G.A. held their usual stall at the Alverstoke Michaelmas Fayre on
Saturday 27th and raised just over £200 from the
sale of produce donated by plot holders grown on their allotments. A very
successful and enjoyable day was had by all.
OCTOBER
An Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting was held by the Borough
Council on Monday 13th October when it was agreed that a working party of 3
councillors will be set up to look into the whole aspect of allotments within
the Borough of Gosport. It was agreed that the Councillors report back to the
Committee within 6 months.
NOVEMBER
On the use of 'wood chippings saga', we have now received further
favourable reports from RHS, Wisley and also the Arboricultural Association. These will be passed to the
Borough Council and we hope this matter will soon be brought to a satisfactory
conclusion.
JANUARY 2004d
A reminder it is now time to renew your membership to the
GAH&G Assoc. This can be done at any of the site stores for £2.50.
New members are very welcome at just £3.00 for the first year.
By now all plot holders will have received a letter from The
Gosport Borough Council outlining their plans to hold a public meeting on 18th
February (venue to be arranged) with regard to 'Borough -Wide Review of
Allotments'. It is very important that as many plot holders as possible attend
this meeting to ensure that our views are made known. This will have an
important bearing on the future of our allotments in Gosport. Please ensure all
forms are returned as soon as possible.
FEBRUARY.
The public meeting with regard to 'Borough - Wide Review of
Allotments will be held at Gosport Town Hall at 6.30 pm. on the 18th February.
Over
a 100 plot holders attended the meeting with some 40 or so having to be turned
away because the Council Chamber was limited to the number it can hold and it
would have contravened the Health and Safety Regulations. However, a lively
debate was held with many points raised. The councillors now have until June to
prepare their report and make their recommendations to the Council.
MARCH
A summary of the salient points and concerns raised at the public
meeting on 18th February, has been issued by the
Borough Council and can be read by clicking here.
APRIL
The G.A.H. & G.A. AGM was held on the 13th. Approx 20 members and the committee attended. Changes to
the committee were nominated and accepted. Mr David Gatrell
is now President, Mr Steve Broughton is Chair Person and Mr Jim More is
Vice-chair Person. Other posts remain the same.
It was agreed to increase the membership subscription to
£3.00 per person as from January 2005.
JUNE
Due to the local elections held earlier this month we are still
waiting for the Councils report on the public meeting held in February.
Councillors Train and Clinton held their seats but Councillor Russell did not.
We have been assured this will not effect
the outcome of the report. A copy will be passed to the G.A. & D.A. as soon
as it becomes available.
JULY
'Alive and Kicking' will again be held this year on July 24th at
Walpole Park and the G.A.&G.A. will be holding
their usual stall. No selling is allowed at this event, it will be promotional
only.
AUGUST
The results of the Gosport Allotments Working Group Scrutiny
Committee are now available and can be read by clicking the link below.
SEPTEMBER
Despite a damp and windy day the G.A.&
G.A. held their usual stall at the Michaelmas Fayre
in Walpole Park on the 18th September. The sum of approx. £260 was raised
from the sale of produce and plants donated by plotholders.
OCTOBER
ALLOTMENT WORKING GROUP
On the surface it might seem that the report of the Allotment
Working Group has faded into oblivion. In fact it was formally submitted to the
Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 5th August 2004, and was generally
well received by members with only slight changes.
Copies of this report were left at each of the allotment stores
for you to see and read.
It now means that the next stage in the Gosport Council's process is to place
the report before the Community and Environment Board.
This meeting, will be held on
Monday 1st November 2004 at 6.00 p.m. in the Council
Chamber at the Town Hall.
It is vital that as many plot holders as possible attend this meeting.
Please support your Committee.
NOVEMBER
As reported in The News on Tuesday 2nd November 2004,
Allotment-holders will have a say in a revamp of up to £200.000 for plots
across Gosport.
The cash has come from the sale of part of Camden allotments in Whites Place to
make way for the new Forton Medical Centre in Forton.
Now Gosport Borough Council wants to plough the funds back into fruit and
vegetable plots to improve security and encourage more people to take up gardening.
Allotment owners will join a panel of councillors to decide how the money
should be spent.
The cash could be used to tidy up the allotments as well as stepping up
security to combat vandalism. The initiative follows a year-long review of
allotments in the town after plot-holders complained the council wasn't
proactive enough in promoting them and that a generation was being 'by-passed'.
There is currently 157 vacant plots of the 11 sites in
the borough.
JANUARY 2005
The year has started with the unwelcome news that 21 sheds on the Elson
site have been broken into also the site stores at Brockhurst.
Nothing of value was taken - just sheer vandalism. The police have been
informed. Items were removed by the police in the hope of matching a DNA test.
MARCH
12th of the month and a delivery of wood chippings arrived at
Elson. This I understand was at the request of one of our plot holders to
Gosport Borough Council. I hope that now this will be readily available to all
plot holders in the future.
APRIL
The G.A.H. & G.A. AGM was held on Tuesday 19th April. It was
agreed that subscriptions would be raised to £4. per
person from January 2006.
The first meeting of the Allotment Stakeholders Group was held on
Thursday 21st April at 6.30pm.
The group comprised of 3 elected Members from Gosport Borough
Council, 3 representatives from the G.A.H. & G.A, 1 representative from the
Diocese Allotments and 2 representatives from Non-Association Plot Holders.
The object of the meeting was to elect a Chairman and
Vice-Chairman. Discuss the Objects and Terms of Reference and to agree on the
frequency of meetings.
It was agreed that Security at all allotments sites is the first
priority. Estimates will be obtained for new locks etc.
The next meeting will be held on May 26th at 6.00 pm at the Town
Hall.
MAY
May 26th - Allotment Stakeholders Consultative Group met to
discuss the Provision of Security at Gosport's allotment sites. The
recommendations were
(a) the Community and Environment Board be requested to approve
the provision of new, improved padlocks and keys together with security signage
at all allotment sites owned by Gosport Borough Council at an estimated cost of
£7,940; and
(b) the Rectory Allotment Site be
included in this project subject to the resolution of any legal considerations,
and that the Borough Solicitor be requested to investigate the legal
implications of the inclusion of the Rectory Allotment Site.
JUNE
June 13th - the Community and Environment Board met and it was
agreed that the recommendations of May 26th be carried out. Full details can be
read on the Gosport Borough Council's web site at www.gosport.gov.uk
OCTOBER
October 6th - At the Community and Enviroment
Board meeting a local Bee keeper was invited to attend to inform the committee
on the advantages of keeping bees on an allotment. It was agreed to ask as many
allotment holders as possible whether they objected or not and report back at the
next meeting. Full details can be read on the council's web site as above.
A reminder that all seed orders should be returned to your store
man by 21st October.
DECEMBER
A reminder that subscriptions to the Gosport Allotment Holders
& Gardeners Association are due for renewal on 1st January 2006
at the increased rate of £4.00 per person.
JANUARY 2006
Some welcome news to start the New Year.
Vandals have many times damaged sheds and dug up plots at Camden
Allotments. But now Gosport Borough Council is to spend £34,700.00
replacing the flimsy wooden perimeter fence with a 1.8m steel bow top railings.
New security locks are to be fitted to all sites. Work will
commence in June.
Plotholders have been asked
to let the Borough Council know of their views as to the provision of Bees on
allotments.
APRIL
The G.A.H. & G.A. held their AGM on 13th April and were
pleased to elect and welcome new Vice-Chairman Mr Peter Almond. It was also
agreed there should be a new 'family subscription' as from 2007.
JANUARY 2007
A reminder that subscriptions are now due and can renewed at any
of the site stores
£5.00 per member plus £1.00 for any additional family
member. New members are always welcome.
The G.A.H. & G. A. are to stage their
first display stand at this year’s Southsea
Show. If you are interested in helping with the supply of fruit and vegetables
please contact your site store person for further information.
The distribution of new site security keys will commence from 29th
January. See your rental renewal invoice for details.
MARCH
Summer Show schedules are now available at your site stores.
The G.A.H. & G. A. Annual General Meeting will be held on
April 10th at 8. pm at HEDCA, Coombe Road, Gosport.
MAY
Most of the allotment sites now have waiting lists. Anyone
interested in taking on a plot should contact the Council for site details.
http://www.gosport.gov.uk/sections/your-council/council-services/leisure--amenities/allotments
Bonfires are to be banned at all sites from 30th July. More skips
will be provided to dispose of anything that is not compostable.
Work is to start at the beginning of June at the Elson site to
install security fencing along the playing field side.
AUGUST
A new security fence has been erected along the playing field side
of the Elson site.
NOVEMBER
Bonfires are now being allowed from 5.30pm till 10.00 pm until the
end of January 2008.
There is now a long waiting list for plots at Elson.
2008
There
will be a plant and gardening sale at the Elson site stores at the end of
April; final date to be arranged. Any surplus plants, gardening accessories you
may have, please bring them along and we will sell them for you deducting just
10% as a donation towards the Associations funds.
The
year has passed relatively quietly. Both the plant sale and the Annual Flower
and Vegetable Show were a great success and the 2 gardening talks held in March
and October continue to be very popular with a good turn-out of more than 50 at
each evening. Two more will be arranged for 2009; details to be announced
later.
A
small amount of vandalism was reported with sheds being turned over at Elson
and some vegetables being destroyed.
The
badgers continue to be an unsolvable problem.
Seeds
and gardening sundries can now be purchased from Thompson and Morgan at half
price. The new 2009 catalogue and order forms are now available at your site stores.
2009
For an update on the Gosport Borough Council Allotment Group
Stakeholders Consultative Group see the Winter
2008 Newsletter
There
are new times for bonfires now - see your allotment site gates for details.
OCTOBER
The Summer Show in August was again very successful this year with
an increased number of entries and visitors.
It was decided to hold a further show in October - The Pumpkin Fayre, with the inclusion of preserves and cakes. This was
very well supported and the children’s entries of pumpkin carvings were
delightful. Pumpkin soup was served and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves;
An event which will be held again next year. Dates and
times for both shows will be announced in the 2010 newsletters.
DECEMBER
Badgers are continuing to be a problem at Elson and it was
requested that the local badger representative would advise to see if anything
could be done to alleviate the problems of crops being destroyed and latrine
digging which are now becoming a health hazard. Unfortunately little help could
be offered.
A reminder subscriptions are due from the
1st January 2010.
2010
Both the 2 shows were very well supported again this year; seeing
an increased number of exhibits to the summer show. Due probably to the very
dry summer pumkins were in short supply this year but
exhibits at the Pumpkin Fayre were made up with a
variety of new classes including home-made wines. Show schedules will be
available for the 2011 shows by the end of March.
The new Stores at Brockhurst have been
completed and the new Stores hut for Elson should be installed early in 2011.
We now have a new Warden at Elson Mr Peter Almond who is very keen
to help with any problems you may have. His telephone number will be displayed
on the site notice board or he can be contacted on his plot no. 5A.
The usual reminder to continue to enjoy the benefits,
subscriptions to the G.A.H.& G.A. are due by the
1st January 2011.
2011
A new stores is to be built at Elson as
soon as the old one has been dismantled. Steve should now be able to hold more
stock without the risk of it being damage by the damp and vermin.
The G.A.H. & G. A. AGM will be held on April 19th at H.E.D.C.A
at 7.30pm. Do come along and have your say, your views and opinions do count.
The new Store arrived at Elson in March - see below.
2012
The G.A.H. & G. A. continues to thrive. The 2 annual gardening
talks on a variety of subjects are very well attended; the Summer Show and the Pumkin Fayre in October last year
are also now well established and the number of entries
increase each year with an exceptional standard of produce being
displayed. Anyone can enter these shows, please look out for forth coming
information and dates later in the year. The annual coach trip to Poole in 2011
again was enjoyed by all and we look forward to this year’s trip to be
announced soon.
Membership is still only £5.00 plus £1.00 for each
additional family member which includes 4 newsletters and free entry to the
talks so please come and join us; or remember to renew your membership as soon
as possible at any of the sites stores to take advantage of the excellent range
of gardening products, cheaper seeds, seed potatoes, onion sets etc.
Peter
Almond the Warden at Elson and Vice-chairman to the G.A.H. & G.A. has
decided to step down at the end of the year. He will also be giving up his
plot. Peter as worked tirelessly
for us during his time as warden and we are sorry to see him go. We wish him
well in all he does for the future. Applications
for the post of Vice-chairman will be available in next year’s AGM
Newsletter; and applications for the post as warden should be made direct to
Gosport Council.
2013
A reminder that subscriptions are now due to continue
to enjoy the benefits of belonging to the Gosport Allotment Holders &
Gardeners Association. New members are always very welcome; contact your site
store person for details.
A reminder that if you forgot to place your
seed order last Autumn with Kings orders can still be made
at discount prices through Thompson & Morgan and Marshalls. Ask your store man
for details.
The annual coach trip to Hampton Court Flower
Show in 2012 was enjoyed by all even though we started the day in torrential
rain the sun came out by the time we reached our destination. Details of this
year’s trip will be in the announced in the next newsletter.
New arrivals in stock at the store. 
January, 2012
The new much improved store at Elson arrived in March
2011 and Steve, our store man now has it fully
stocked all on display and priced. Anything you cannot find do
please ask I am sure he can obtain it for you from the main stores at Brockhurst; Steve is on site most days willing to help with
anything you might need.
Onion sets now available at 90p per pound and
shallots at £1. per lb.
Broad Beans - Aquadulce
Claudia also during January.
Seed potatoes. - If you were too
late to place your order in October there will be a good selection still available
at your stores in January/February.
A selection of soft fruit and fruit trees can be ordered through
your local store man for Autumn/Winter planting; new list will be available at
the end of the summer.
Autumn Onion sets will be available approx
next November.
SKIP –THE NEXT ONE WILL BE ON SITE AT ALL ALLOTMENT
SITES IN MARCH.
Good Value - White Fleece
18 gm 2 metres wide @ 70p per metre
also 2 metre wide
netting @ 60p per metre. Ideal for keeping birds and
butterflies off your crops.
Black ground cover fabric also available at
competitive prices.
Please support your local stores.
Topical Tip:
Put a few knobs of charcoal in your water butt to keep the water
fresh and clean. Tie in a piece of netting with a small weight to stop it from
floating to the top.
Happy
Gardening
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