Present: Mrs E Smith (Gore Rd), Mr R Howard (Gore Rd), Mr J Rowden (Bean), Mr T Humphries (Dartford Rd), Dr R Wiltshire (Research Officer), Mr R Johnson (Secretary).

1. Apologies for Absence: Mr M Still, Mr R Stone.

2. Minutes of the 36th Meeting of the Committee: Accepted.

3. Matters Arising from Minutes of the 36th Meeting:

6bii) It was reported that financial approval was given to the container bed project at Dartford Road and it is now under construction.

4. Research Officer's Report:

a) Attended ARI Steering Group Meeting on 8th May.

b) Provided ongoing support to Bethan Stagg, the ARI Development Worker.

c) Participated in broadcasts on allotment issues on BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show (2nd May), BBC Radio London Venessa Feltz Show (27th May) and BBC Radio Newcastle (28th May).

d) Provided advice to a journalism student from City University, a Journalist from The Times, and following the article in The Times on 27th May (p.3) to journalists from The Observer and the Financial Times.

e) Attended RHS Conference on Horticultural Federation at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire 26-27th April and launch of David Crouch's new book Art of Allotments in Nottingham on 1st May.

f) Paper entitled "Thinking the Undiggable" delivered at the University of Reading Allotments Conference (31st May).

g) Talks to be given on behalf of Tring Town Council on its new allotments strategy (11th June) and at the London Green Party's Allotments Conference at City Hall on 31st July.

h) Posted information on QED Allotments Group on new DBC Community Connects Website.

i) Since the last meeting advice on allotments in Local Agenda 21 and related issues has been given to plotholders in Sheffield and a therapeutic gardening project in Sydenham.

5. Joint activities with other QED Groups:

a) QED Pollution and Waste Management Group: No Report.

b) QED Health Group: No Report

c) QED Biodiversity Group: No Report.

6. Dartford Show 2003: No new information reported.

7. Visits and Conferences:

a) University of Reading Allotments Conference - Mr Stone to provide report at the next meeting.

b) Conference on Horticultural Federations at Harpury College - Dr Wiltshire's report circulated with the agenda for this meeting.

8. Any Other Business:

a) Responsibility for Local Agenda 21 at Dartford Borough Council has changed due to the recent elections. Mr Howard to contact Mr Simon Bull at DBC to appraise him of the work being done by QED in Local Agenda 21.

b) The AGM for the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens is to be held in Bristol on 7th July, anyone from QED wishing to attend should contact Dr Wiltshire for details.

c) A new book The Allotment Movement in England 1793-1873 by Jeremy Burchardt has recently been published and QED has the opportunity to purchase copies at a discounted price, the committee agreed that approval to purchase two copies should be submitted to the QED Steering Group.

d) Mr Howard reported that due to the fact that all the sheds on the Gore Rd site have been stolen he is seeking a grant from DBC to replace them. Dr Wiltshire gave advice on funding strategy and sources of funding from his experience working on the ARI Project.

9. Date of Next Meeting: The next meeting will be Monday 1st September 2003 from 8.00 pm at the Princes Sports and Leisure Centre.

End: Return to the QED Allotments page ...