Post by jane on Sept 16, 2021 17:38:41 GMT
Hi
I am completely overwhelmed by the amount of posts on the forum about wildflowers and wildlife and protecting our environment and conservation and consultations etc etc….. its hard to know which post to answer… so I have chosen this one but probably some of my comments would have been better posted on another post…. Apologies.
I have been away for 10 days on holiday and subsequently illness and have returned to find that the world has moved on and construction at the front of the site has begun….. on something that I am not convinced we actually agreed…. Or wanted.
As I understand it from the post on the gate from HHTC following the consultation, a small area was to be designated and prepared for future seed planting to provide a wildflower area that looks attractive and enhances pollinators within our boundaries. This seems to have grown into an area with boundaries of rather hefty logs, posts and a trellis soon to be erected also. Has the plotholder at No.1 been consulted on the trellis and the soon to be wildlife area…..? I hope so – as this will surely have an impact on them.
The council has also mentioned that the tenant responsible maintains the area “as described” – but that was not defined. I note that David is asking for volunteers to take part in this exercise. I am afraid I, for one, will not be volunteering.
The allotments for me have always been my “happy place” free from politics and the pressures of the world and indeed everyday life. We are all concerned for the health of our planet – and I think as allotmenteers we are doing more than most. I certainly have always gardened organically and with pollinators and bugs in mind and I know many of my friends on the site have done likewise. But now I feel under pressure from the barrage of information– and as keen gardeners, with respect, we already know this and are doing our best! I feel rather preached at……
I know that most active allotment holders are already taking wildlife and pollinators into account and providing a rich habitat for them. We have been running a healthy and happy allotment site for many years. We formed a “committee” a few years back to bring everyone together and to hold socials so that we could meet each other and swap tips and sorrows…. now I feel this under threat from this “campaigning”.
We have a community garden which is a lovely and special thing to have (thanks to the Council) so that we can all meet together – but it has been kept going by a handful of allotment folk – and I suspect a wealth of new volunteers for further projects will similarly be a struggle. We are all busy people and many like me want to come to the allotments for relaxation and therapy as well as providing nutritious food for our families. We need somewhere we can chill……
When I answered the initial consultation I said that perhaps we could use part of the community garden for wildflower planting – something that would be easy to introduce. I also suggested something simple along the lines that the council are already providing on our verges around town (which are lovely and thank you again)…… so where has this enormous project erupted from? And why?
Your ideals are noble David and clearly you are experienced in your work with Al Gore etc etc – but perhaps put them to best use on your allotment to start off with – I am sorry but I think the development at the entrance to our site is a mistake and this whole thing has got way out of control.
I am completely overwhelmed by the amount of posts on the forum about wildflowers and wildlife and protecting our environment and conservation and consultations etc etc….. its hard to know which post to answer… so I have chosen this one but probably some of my comments would have been better posted on another post…. Apologies.
I have been away for 10 days on holiday and subsequently illness and have returned to find that the world has moved on and construction at the front of the site has begun….. on something that I am not convinced we actually agreed…. Or wanted.
As I understand it from the post on the gate from HHTC following the consultation, a small area was to be designated and prepared for future seed planting to provide a wildflower area that looks attractive and enhances pollinators within our boundaries. This seems to have grown into an area with boundaries of rather hefty logs, posts and a trellis soon to be erected also. Has the plotholder at No.1 been consulted on the trellis and the soon to be wildlife area…..? I hope so – as this will surely have an impact on them.
The council has also mentioned that the tenant responsible maintains the area “as described” – but that was not defined. I note that David is asking for volunteers to take part in this exercise. I am afraid I, for one, will not be volunteering.
The allotments for me have always been my “happy place” free from politics and the pressures of the world and indeed everyday life. We are all concerned for the health of our planet – and I think as allotmenteers we are doing more than most. I certainly have always gardened organically and with pollinators and bugs in mind and I know many of my friends on the site have done likewise. But now I feel under pressure from the barrage of information– and as keen gardeners, with respect, we already know this and are doing our best! I feel rather preached at……
I know that most active allotment holders are already taking wildlife and pollinators into account and providing a rich habitat for them. We have been running a healthy and happy allotment site for many years. We formed a “committee” a few years back to bring everyone together and to hold socials so that we could meet each other and swap tips and sorrows…. now I feel this under threat from this “campaigning”.
We have a community garden which is a lovely and special thing to have (thanks to the Council) so that we can all meet together – but it has been kept going by a handful of allotment folk – and I suspect a wealth of new volunteers for further projects will similarly be a struggle. We are all busy people and many like me want to come to the allotments for relaxation and therapy as well as providing nutritious food for our families. We need somewhere we can chill……
When I answered the initial consultation I said that perhaps we could use part of the community garden for wildflower planting – something that would be easy to introduce. I also suggested something simple along the lines that the council are already providing on our verges around town (which are lovely and thank you again)…… so where has this enormous project erupted from? And why?
Your ideals are noble David and clearly you are experienced in your work with Al Gore etc etc – but perhaps put them to best use on your allotment to start off with – I am sorry but I think the development at the entrance to our site is a mistake and this whole thing has got way out of control.