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Issue Number 7 |
Spring 2000 |
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ALLOTMENTS AND THE COMMUNITY SAFETY STRATEGY The security of persons and property, an important issue for many allotment gardeners, is addressed in the QED Allotments Group's response to Dartford's Community Safety Strategy. The QED Allotments Group is considering the purchase of postcode stamping equipment to be made available for use by all gardeners on and off the Borough's allotment sites as a deterrent to thefts of garden tools and an aid to recovery of stolen property. We are also exploring the opportunities for "Allotment Watch" schemes and other safe but effective means for enhancing site security. Key partners in the Community Safety Strategy include Dartford Borough Council, Kent County Council and Kent County Constabulary. DARTFORD'S ORGANIC LINK As part of its effort to encourage the greater use of organic methods in gardening the QED Allotments Group organised a coach trip to "Potato Day" at the Henry Doubleday Research Association's Organic Gardens at Ryton on February 6. HDRA's founder, Lawrence D Hills, grew up in Tower Road, Dartford and started his long career in horticulture in Central Park, stocking the long-vanished fish ponds which are to be restored if plans to regenerate Central Park go ahead, a fitting tribute to Dartford's historic link with the organic gardening movement. STAR PUMPKIN GROWERS Congratulations to the children of Wentworth School, winners of the Great Dartford Pumpkin Competition organised by the QED Allotments Group in partnership with with the QED Waste and Pollution Group, Kent County Council and Uplands Allotments Association, Handsworth. HORTICULTURAL THERAPY PROJECT AT DARTFORD ROAD A generous grant from QED and support from the QED Health Group has enabled work to begin on raised beds for the enjoyment of gardeners with physical disabilities at Dartford Road Allotments. The formal opening of the beds by Dartford's Member of Parliament will take place during the site's "Open Day" on Saturday June 24. The hard work behind this project comes from volunteers at Dartford Road whose work has attracted international attention, notably from visiting environmental groups and horticultural therapists from Japan. INTO THE FEDERATION OF CITY FARMS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS The QED Allotments Group has joined the FCF&CG, a national organisation dedicated to supporting urban regeneration through community-led farming and gardening. A delegation from QED attended a Community Gardens Conference organised by the FCF&CG in London last autumn, and Dartford Road has provided a member of the FCF&CG's Board of Management. EAT ITALIAN? GROW ITALIAN! For a catalogue of tomato, lettuce and other wonderful vegetable seeds imported from Italy's premier seed suppliers, Franchi, contact "Seeds of Italy", 260 West Hendon Broadway, London NW9 6BE (0208-930-2516 italseeds@tesco.net). UPDATE: Now buy on-line at www.seedsofitaly.sagenet.co.uk NO FT, NO ALLOTMENTS ... Recent articles in the Financial Times and elsewhere have helped to bring the work of the QED Allotments Group to a wider audience, and to enquiries about how a future for allotments can be secured through Local Agenda 21 from local authorities and allotment groups around the country. More in the Fourth "Annual Report" to be published in the autumn Newsletter. NEWS FROM LOCAL SOCIETIES ...
HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN QED ALLOTMENTS Details of QED Allotments meetings are available from our Secretary, Robert Johnson (01322-229298). Items for the Newsletter should be sent to the editor, Richard Wiltshire, at 10 King Edward Avenue, Dartford DA1 2HZ (01322-409184). If you would like to participate in one of the other QED groups, please contact Phil Kessel at Dartford Borough Council, Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1DR (01322-343250) for further information. For enquiries regarding the QED website visit www.btinternet.com/~richard.wiltshire/ or e-mail rw3@soas.ac.uk. Current QED groups include Biodiversity, Health, Transport, Waste Management and Pollution, and the Newtown and Swanscombe & Greenhithe Community Groups. DARTFORD FESTIVAL ALLOTMENT COMPETITION 2000 Congratulations to last year's winners, John & Jan Bourne and Alan Reynolds (Dartford Road Allotments) and David Pearson and son Matthew (Bean Allotments). This year's competition will again be for three trophies: the Borough Shield, the Villages Cup, and the Fred Brown Cup, which will be awarded at a prizegiving ceremony at the Civic Centre in the autumn. Judging will take place on the weekend of July 8-9, 2000, and will be in the hands of a senior officer from the allotments federation in Bexley, who has been asked to give consideration to the following criteria: (i) crop quality, (ii) crop planning, (iii) good husbandry, (iv) waste management within the plot, (v) use of organic methods, and (vi) visual amenity. If you have an allotment in Dartford and would like to take part, please print and return the slip below, and await further details. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ To: Dartford Festival Allotment Competition, 10 King Edward Avenue, Dartford DA1 2HZ. I would like to enter the 2000 Allotment Competition: please send me further details. Your Name: ____________________________________ Allotment Site: _________________ Your Home Address: ______________________________________ Phone Number: _______ Were you gardening on this site before January 1, 1998? YES/NO (Please delete as appropriate)
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