Present: Mr J Rowden (Bean), Mr M Still (Tredegar), Mr R Stone (Chair), Dr R Wiltshire (Research Officer), Mr R Johnson (Secretary).

1. Apologies for Absence: Mr T Humphries, Mr W Munday.

2. Minutes of the 40th Meeting of the Committee: Accepted.

3. Matters Arising from Minutes of the 40th Meeting:

4h) Research officer was unable to attend the National Qualification for Community Food Workers Advisory Group Meeting on 23rd March at Stratford, due to work commitments.

4i) Research Officer was unable to give presentation to the International Sustainable Development Research Conference 29-30th March in Manchester, due to work commitments.

6) As the officers have now been appointed at the Dartford Road site Groundwork can now contact Mr M Shakides, the new secretary.

7) Steering Group is to be asked to fund a replacement for the Borough Shield, if agreed the competition will run in 2005.

9b) In a letter Mr Munday Chairman of Dartford Branch of Kent Beekeepers stated that the beekeeping facility on the Tredegar Allotment Site is known as the "Bedonwell Apiary".

4. Research Officer's Report:

a. Attended Greater London Allotments Forum Steering Group Meeting February 4 and Allotments Conference on July 23 at City Hall (running a workshop at the latter), London Food Links Working Group Meetings (February 9 at Sustain and June 23 at London City Hall), Food Access Conference at London City Hall March 5, launch of Sustain's "Bread Street" report at London City Hall March 8, and London Parks and Green Space Forum Meeting at London Guildhall, June 27.

b. Gave a presentation to allotment holders March 24 at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives in Sutton, and keynote address to International Kleingarten Symposium in Shigamura, Japan (August 27).

c. Attended consultants meeting for the ODPM's national survey of allotments, city farms and community gardens, April 16 at Eland House in Westminster.

d. Gave written advice to the National Qualification for Community Food Workers Advisory Group.

e. Attended ARI Steering Group Meetings on April 20 (at EFF HQ) and Mudchute Allotments (July 8), ARI Mentor Exploratory Day on April 24 (Birmingham), Mentor Interviews (Leytonstone, May 27; Faversham, July 24), Round 3 Grant Evaluations (June 9 and 22), Leeds ARI Regional Seminar (July 13), and ARI Mentor Training Day in Leicester (August 4-5)

f. Attended FCFCG Annual General Meeting in Bristol (July 3)

g. Visited allotment sites in Uppsala, Stockholm, Malmö and Copenhagen May 10-17 in cooperation with the Swedish and Danish allotment federations.

h. Since the last meeting of the DASC, advice on allotment issues given to plotholders in Canterbury, Cardiff, Glasgow, Hull, Ilkeston, Mansfield, Ramsgate, Sidcup and Torquay, to community gardeners in Clapham, to Newbury Town Council, to journalists with The Independent, BBC Radio Wales, Endomol Productions, Bloomberg News, the Kent Messenger group and Horticulture Weekly, to students at the Open University and the University of Lincolnshire, and to Merseyside Constabulary.

i. Since the last meeting of DASC, items on the work of ARI and/or the QED Allotments Group have appeared in the Allotment and Leisure Gardener, Horticulture Week and Local Council Review, and QED's contribution has been credited in Chris Opperman's Allotment Folk. A column on allotments has been contributed to London Food Link's Jellied Eel newsletter.

5. Future of QED Allotments: After discussion it was agreed that the two major sites not represented on the committee would be contacted in order to provide them with information about QED Allotments in order that they could choose to have closer ties and perhaps provide representation on the committee.

6. 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.

7. QED Newsletter: Research Officer stated that he will attempt to have it ready for distribution at the end of November. Items for inclusion to Dr Wiltshire ASAP.

8. Dartford Festival Allotments Competition 2004: Report expected at the next meeting.

9. Visits and Conferences: Dr Wiltshire is to attend the London Assembly Green Group Reception at City Hall on 4th October.

10. Any Other Business:

a) Mr Still recorded a tribute to the late Mr Swaisland on behalf of QED Allotments.

b) Dr Wiltshire reported that there is a steering group matter with regard to the Tredegar site which has still to be discussed.

c) The committee noted with gratitude the assistance given by Mrs S Woodfall the Environmental Promotions Officer at DBC.

11. Date of Next Meeting: The next meeting will be on Monday 1st November 2004 from 8.00 pm at the Princes Sports and Leisure Centre.

End: Return to the QED Allotments page ...