Minutes of the 11th Meeting of the Dartford Allotments Steering Committee

at Princes Sports and Leisure Centre on Monday June 29, 1998 from 8.00 pm

Present: Mr W Mundy (Kent Beekeepers), Mrs P Still (QED Health Group), Ms P Swaran (QED Health Group), Mr J Rowden (Bean), Mr A Hewitt (W Dartford A. & G.S. & Temple Hill Wine Circle), Dr R Wiltshire (QED Steering Group), Mr R Johnson (Secretary).

1. Apologies for Absence: Mrs S Morey (Editor QED Newsletter), Mr R Stone (Swanscombe), Mr B Ringrose (Wilmot Rd), Mr W Hamilton (Marcet Rd), Mr G Laidlaw (Dartford Rd), Mr P Fry (Kent Beekeepers), Mr R Howard (KAGC).

2. Minutes of the Tenth Meeting: Accepted.

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Tenth Meeting

3a) National Spring Clean: Mr J Rowden (Bean) was presented with a certificate by the Mayor for his Associations participation in the scheme.

3b) Waste: As a result of the waste leaflet distributed to local businesses, offers of timber and materials have been received.

3d) QED Website: Pages have been added for Wilmot Road and Uplands Allotments (Birmingham), Sale Horticultural and Allotment Society have copied the format and requests for information via the Internet have been received from Brighton and Hull.

3e) Publicity: Twelve mentions in the press including:-"Amateur Gardening" (Website/Community Gardens Conference/Submission to Parliamentary Enquiry), "Gardening News" (Website). Kentish Times is to start a regular feature on garden issues.

5) Allotment Watch: The scheme currently underway at the Gore Road site is to be re-located, this will be discussed at a future meeting. The QED sign for Marcet Road has been ordered.

6b) NFCF: Dr Wiltshire will attend the AGM.

7) B&Q Quest Scheme: The proposal by this committee for the grant to provide tools for horticultural therapy groups is continuing.

8) Uplands Allotments: To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Uplands Allotments in Birmingham are hosting an arts festival on 1st August, a coach is to be arranged to what will be an interesting day out.

9) Year planner: The DBC year planner will be distributed free to all households in the Dartford area.

4. Participation in the DASC

The chairman circulated a letter discussing QED Allotments involvement in the Darenth Country Park Project and the decision of Dartford Road Allotments to suspend involvement, the matter was discussed and this position endorsed by the committee. The committee has been informed by letter from the Secretary of Dartford East AGA that at present their site has no representation on the DASC.

5. Chair of the DASC

It was agreed that Dr Wiltshire will continue as chairman of DASC.

6. Participation in the Darenth Country Park QED Project

No future commitments over and above those which has already been made will be entered into until the security situation is improved.

7. Presentation on the Shell Better Britain Campaign Open Day in Bradford (May 20)

Mrs P Still and Ms P Swaran (QED Health Group) gave an enthusiastic account of their visit where a small piece of urban land has been converted into a community garden site. This land provides a community "focus" where Asian women whilst growing herbs and vegetables can meet outside the home environment and topics related to health and nutrition can be discussed amongst themselves and with health and education professionals. It is hoped that similar focus groups can be started in the North Kent area and the committee supports the concept of community gardening to help disadvantaged groups.

8. Dartford Festival

Mr W Mundy (Kent Beekeepers) showed the committee the portable hive that will be used together with examples of display material. It is understood that the Temple Hill Wine Circle will be providing a display for the Saturday only. QED Waste Group will provide a stand featuring recycling and composting and QED Health Group wil feature healthy eating. The allotments group will finalise details of the stand at an informal meeting at 10 King Edward Avenue on Monday 13th July.

9. SERPLAN

Chairman to draft a document for circulation to the committee for comment.

10. Any Other Business

Committee members were informed that the Bexley Garden Festival will be held on 5/6th September at Hall Place, Bourne Road, Bexley.

11. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting has been arranged for Monday 7th September, from 8.00 pm, at the Princes Sports and Leisure Centre.

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