Guidance on Inspecting Allotment Plots
First Draft
Historically
Sutton Council with the assistance of allotment Site Representatives and
Allotment Committees and Associations have inspected sites annually, and tenants
of uncultivated plots have receive a non-cultivation notices. This allows the
tenant 28 days to bring the plot back into cultivation. If a plot remains
uncultivated after 28 days, without good reason, a notice to quit will be
issued.
Idverde
took over the management of the London Borough of Suttons Allotments from
February 2017 and they continue the monitoring of allotment plots with the
assistance of Site Representatives and Allotment Committees and Associations.
1.
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Minimum
cultivation level.
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Allotment Site Reps &
Allotment Committees are often asked “what is non-cultivation?” or
alternatively what does cultivation mean when applied to Allotments. It’s one
of those things that you know it when you see it – but is tricky to define. So
after some research, to establish how other allotment providers define it.
We’ve taken the best of all their ideas to come up with these guidelines for
plotholders and Site Reps, Committee Members and Idverde the Allotment
Management Company
Traditional
allotment gardeners may want to cultivate the entire plot and plant rows of
vegetables and flowers. Others may have a lawn with beds of produce. Some
gardeners have made complete gardens with a lawn, flower borders, summerhouse,
a bench in the sun, a vegetable patch and even a swing for the children. All
these styles of gardening are acceptable and the Parks Service wants gardeners
to cultivate their plots in whatever way they find suits their needs.
The London Allotment Officers’ Forum suggests
that a plot that is less than 75% worked could be defined as an uncultivated
plot. Allotment law stipulates that
there should be evidence of at least 25% of the plot worked within the first 3
months, and at least 75% of the plot should be worked within the first year,
and thereafter.
Assessment note:
A)
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Paths
allowing plot access and between beds are counted as cultivated land. Such
paths may be grass, chippings, paving stones or bricks. They should not be
more than three feet wide
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2
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Full cultivation,
definitions and allowable crops
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The 75% of each plot available for open cultivation should be
fully cultivated within a complete growing season.
Assessment notes:
B)
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Full cultivation is taken to mean at least
one or more of the following:
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i
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The plot is in readiness for growing
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ii
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The plot is well stocked with growing
produce relevant to the time of year
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iii
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The plot is in the process of being
prepared for the following crops or season
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C)
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Allowable
crops include vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs
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Small
fruit trees and bushes are acceptable as long as they are maintained and do
not cast a shadow on the neighbouring plots
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It is the tenant’s responsibility to keep the
plot free of weeds that cause a nuisance to adjoining tenants.
Assessment note:
D)
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Essential elements of a weed-free plot are:
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i
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Removal
of weed seed-heads before the seed has set
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ii
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Control of pernicious and invasive weeds which spread via root
extensions (e.g. couch grass, mares tail) or from runners (e.g. brambles &
bindweed)
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iii
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Removal
of long grass or detritus that may harbour pests e.g Mice, rats, slugs, &
snails
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4.
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External paths / Internal Paths
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Paths between plots and on plots that are not
maintained by idverde must be kept trimmed and free of obstructions.
Assessment note
E)
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This is normally the responsibility of the
plot-holder except where associations organise communal mowing of grass
paths.
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F)
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Idverde cut the main paths monthly between
March and October, it is expected that plot holders will follow suite and
that grass paths will be cut every 4 - 5 weeks.
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5.
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Cultivation
and wild-life Areas
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It is recognised that conserving wildlife is
an important secondary function of allotments. However wildlife areas and
features should be managed within a cultivation setting.
Assessment note
G)
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An uncultivated area left to go wild is not
a managed wild-life area
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6.
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Frequency
of Site Inspections
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Where
sites are bring inspected by Site Reps or Allotment Committees the evaluation
of plots is normally being undertaken on a regular basis throughout the
invoiced year from the 1st October to the 30th September
as these people go to and from their respective plots.
They see
which allotment holders are working and clearing their plots for winter and
adding manure etc. they also see those that don’t do anything after the harvest
is in. Allotment sites with committees often start their monthly meetings on
site when the weather improves around March. It is up to the individual
allotment sites to decide when they will inspect the plots.
Historically
it has been requested that more than one inspection be undertaken during the
year but the council resources have not allowed for this to happen. Idverde
have suggested that if the inspections were not all undertaken at the same time
that it would be easier for them to handle, this actually is beneficial because it allows a longer review period.
The
date of the inspections has been historically agreed at the meetings, ideally
inspections have been scheduled after the Easter Good Friday holiday and before
the Early May Bank Holiday as this allows the Early May Bank holiday and the
later Spring Bank Holiday for action to be taken by the plot holder.
This
year Good Friday is on the 30th March so some allotment sites will be looking to undertake their first inspections in April, as if the plot holders are notified and they see the
inspections taking place they can plan to catch up over and between the bank holidays.
Early
Bank Holiday Monday 7th May 2018
Spring
Bank Holiday Monday 28th May 2018
Those
undertaking the inspection are to take photographs from appropriate location(s)
to show why the plot holder warrants the serving of a Cultivation Notice. The
plot number may be added to the photograph or alternatively a chalk or white
board can be used to identify the plot number if this is not evident in the
photo.
After 28
days follow up photographs are to be taken from the same advantage point and at
the same angle as the original photograph, again with the plot number shown and
supplied to Idverde so they may determine if a non-cultivation notice is to be
served on the plot holder.
8.
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What
to do if you receive a non cultivation letter
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If you
receive a letter informing you that following and inspection that your plot was
found to be in an unsatisfactory state of cultivation, and to ensure that your
plot is at least 75% cultivated ensuring that any rubbish/ weeds are removed
within 28 days from the date of the letter, please don’t ignore it?
There is a
reply slip at the bottom of the letter that gives you the opportunity to
respond to Idverde by selecting and ticking the appropriate tick box
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I intend
to cultivate the plot within 28 days
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I am
interested in giving up part of my plot (only
applicable to full plots)
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I wish
to give up my plot
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Ideally
you will respond by working your plot and bringing it into an acceptable
standard within the 28 days, however we do realise
you have a life outside the allotment and there may be Mitigating
circumstances and reasons for not cultivating your allotment plot for a temporary period of time
which might include:
·
Hospitalisation
for surgery or other serious complaints
·
Short-term
medical complaint where advice has been given by a medical practitioner that
physical work is not advisable
·
Death
of a close family member
·
Being
posted abroad on active military service
· Caring for an ill partner
Even if a
plotholder falls under one of these mitigating circumstances Idverde would
expect the plotholder to ensure all long vegetation on the plot to be kept down
to ensure that other allotment holders are not affected by weeds. Have a word
with your Site Rep who may be able to put you in touch with people who can
strim your plot for a fee.
It was
decided in 2011 at the Allotment Group meeting that the same medical reason
could not be used two years in a row.
This
letter explains that it is necessary to give you formal notice terminating your
tenancy of the council plot as it has not been cultivated satisfactorily since
the non-cultivation notice was sent giving you 28 days to reply to it and bring
the plot back into cultivation.
It
will request that all your crops and tools etc. are removed, as the plot will
be offered to the next person on the waiting list. Any equipment remaining on the plot one month
after the date of this letter will revert to the ownership of the Parks Service
and will be for the new tenant to take ownership or dispose off.
You
will also be requested to return the key to Idverde at the Cheam Depot.
