Fairacres Road allotments – Notes for guidance

Revised April 2021

Welcome to the allotments! We hope you enjoy your time here. As well as these guidance notes, please read the Constitution, Rules and the Health and Safety Statement available on our website. We are an association and as such, along with having a plot to cultivate, there are certain obligations to help maintain the whole site. Therefore, members are expected to help with mowing paths, pruning hedges and joining working parties. You are expected to contribute a minimum of 2 hours a year to working parties.  Do check your plot regularly so as to keep on top of it. Weeds grow very fast! The committee regularly inspects the site and may contact you if they have any cause for concern.

PLEASE:

• Keep your plot cultivated and weed free (during the growing season 75% shall show evidence of preparation or crop production). Make sure your plants do not overhang paths.
• Leave paths clear of all bags, tools, weeds, stones etc.
• If your plot borders a hedge, you are required to prune it.
• Maintain the soil fertility with regular use of compost or manure.

Keep all paths round your plot mown and the edges trimmed. You obviously share this task with neighbouring plot holders, but do not assume they will cut them. There is a petrol strimmer and lawn mowers in the shed for communal use. If unsure, contact the committee for guidance on using the equipment safely. If there is a fault or problem with any joint equipment, please let the committee know.

The use of petrol driven equipment (lawnmowers and strimmers) is restricted to between the hours of 8.00am and 8.00pm

It is advisable to have a proper CONTAINER FOR COMPOST on your plot that is kept covered to stop weeds from continuing to grow. An uncovered mound is not recommended as it is a continuing source of weeds.

• Green waste and annuals should be composted
• Perennial weeds, such as bindweed and couch-grass, usually continue to grow if put on a compost heap. It is better to bag them in large rubble bags and take to the tip.
• Woody cuttings from fruit bushes may be burned if dry.

Please keep bonfires to an absolute minimum. They should not be used as your normal method of weed disposal. Do not burn any wet or green material. We need to be considerate of local residents and asthma sufferers. If you are going to have one, ensure the wind is blowing away from residential areas, where possible use an incinerator and please ensure any bonfire is completely out before you leave it.  Refer to the Oxford City Council website for further information

We ENCOURAGE people to work organically. If you need to cover part of your plot for a while, either use cardboard/newspaper/ plastic and mulch. Do not use carpet as it contains toxic chemicals and can become embedded with weeds.

You must ensure the gate and the shed is locked at all times. Keep tools out of sight. We periodically have trouble with break-ins.

The polytunnels are for everyone’s use for starting off seeds. Please follow the notes for guidance that are displayed.

Your children are welcome on the allotments but are your responsibility and must not be unaccompanied. They must not cross or go on to other people’s plots, use the petrol strimmer or petrol lawn mowers (this equipment should not be used by persons below the age of 18 years old) or play with hose pipes. Please be aware there are many potential hazards on site.

Whilst we want the site to be a fruitful and growing place for all, the committee reserves the right to terminate a plot holder’s contract should the rules of the association not be observed.

Watch out for announcements on the notice board, website or sent by email. Happy digging!

Whilst we want the site to be a fruitful and growing place for all, the committee reserves the rights to terminate a plot holder’s contract should the rules of the association not be observed.