top of page

Allotment info

Colerne Parish Council

Allotment Rules 2019/20

 

  1. Payment of a year’s rent to be made to the parish office by the end of April each year, if renewing, or within six weeks if taking up a plot for the first time. The rent will be £10 full plot £5 half plot per annum, and £5 deposit for allotment gate key returned on handover of allotment.

  2. An allotment tenancy either in whole or part cannot be transferred to another person (including spouse/partner/other relative) by an allotment holder without prior permission of the parish council.

  3. Plots can be shared but only one person can legally be responsible for them and for paying the rent.

  4. A tenancy is automatically forfeit if the holder moves out of the parish.

  5. Priority will always be given to new tenants. No one person shall have more than three allotment strips. 

  6. The parish council reserves the right to reclaim any allotment not worked during any three month period. It must write to the allotment holder and give them an opportunity to respond before carrying this out. The rent for the year will be forfeit. Details on inspections and complaints procedures are available from the Parish Clerk.

  7. Following notice to terminate a tenancy any items owned, including produce may only be removed from it up to and including the final day of the tenancy.  After this date it is inherited by the next allotment holder (unless otherwise agreed with the Parish Council).

  8. Written approval must be given by the parish council for any shed or similar semi-permanent structure. No permanent bases or paths to be made up. Any such unapproved structures or bases identified by the parish council must be removed.

  9. A clear strip of land two metres in width between the north and south boundary must be maintained by allotment holders adjacent to the boundary to allow for regular hedge maintenance.

  10. It is important that good husbandry takes place on every allotment to ensure that weeds and seeds do not spread to other plots. Pesticides and weed killers should be used with care and consideration for neighbours.

  11. Any stones removed from a plot should be disposed of appropriately and not discarded into hedges.

  12. Bonfire smoke is a potential hazard to motorists, other allotment holders and users of the Recreation Ground, allotment holders should be considerate when burning allotment waste.  

  13. Please use the water with care as it is expensive and on a meter.

  14. Only miniature or corded trees will be permitted on plots, no hedges or unwanted Christmas trees are permitted.   

  15. If you take a dog to the allotment please ensure it is kept under control and any mess is cleared up.

  16. No livestock can be kept on any allotment.

  17. The storing, burning or other disposal of any waste other than an allotment holder’s own allotment waste is not allowed.

  18. The parish council reserves the right to reclaim any allotment if the holder consistently breaks these rules. That shall not occur until the holder has been written to and offered an opportunity to answer the claims.

 

If you have any questions about these rules or any other aspect of your allotment tenancy then please contact the parish clerk at Old School, Vicarage Lane, Colerne, SN14 8EL,  01225 742207 or clerk@colernepc.uk or consult the Allotment Supervisor.   You can also attend any monthly meeting of the Recreation and Allotments Committee to raise a ny issue. The dates of the meetings are available from the parish clerk and are posted on the notice board in the Market Square.     The Parish Council are now members of the National Allotment Society.

 

Item 14 Amended 1.04.2014  PC A & R Committee Minutes 13/07 – 34.3

Colerne Allotment Competition Judging Criteria

The aim of the competition is to encourage as many people as possible to grow their own vegetables and fruit in a manner that reflects the cooperative spirit of our community. Individual allotment plots (if there are two plots together, each plot is marked individually not as a whole, see allotment map) are judged using the following points system and guidelines. Each of the criteria are shown with the marking scheme, together with the maximum points available. 

 

A. Cultivation and cropping 

1. Types of produce (1 point per type): 20 

2. Seasonal produce (Winter / Spring / Summer): 5 

3. Soft fruit (1 point per type): 5 

4. Attractive features (flowers and containers etc): 5 

5. Herbs (1 point per type): 5 

6. Quality of crops: 10 

7. Area of cultivation: 10. 

 

B. Husbandry 

1. Compost or manure heap (quality of): 5 

2. Annual weeds (free from): 10 

3. Perennial weeds (free from): 10 

4. Rubbish (free from): 5 

5. Labels showing variety / maturity / cropping time: 5. 

 

C. Environment 

1. Paths or roads (including outside allotment area are neatly maintained): 5 

2. Buildings (quality and condition): 5. 

 

Notes on compilation of individual plot judging 

 

Cultivation and cropping 

The underlying philosophy which governs the marks 'weighting' is to encourage the plot holder to provide a source of fresh vegetables all year round, as well as fresh fruit in season and an adequate provision of preserved or frozen produce out of season. This is reflected in: 

1. Only a point is given for each type of vegetable, but a full extra point is given for each type of winter/spring (that is, November onwards) vegetable in A2. 

2. Soft fruits, 1 point per type, includes rhubarb! 

3. Reflects the co-operative responsibility to present a pleasant 'face' to the public as a visual amenity. 

4. Herbs - drags the spud/cabbage plot holder towards 'haute cuisine'!

 

Husbandry 

1. Compost or manure heap: Neither of these should be a nursery for growing weeds! Judging should make allowances for the various stages of the breakdown into a healthy product. Look for evidence of that on the plot itself if the container is empty! 

2. Differentiation has been made between annual weeds and perennials, as annual weeds are short-term problems whereas the perennials are a nuisance (or worse) to other plot holders. This is an important differentiation! It is needed to assess whether the plot is tidy throughout the year. If couch grass, buttercups, dandelions and docks are there it is indicative of poor husbandry on a continuing basis, whereas annual weeds (which can be eradicated with a hoe) are not as serious. The two types are therefore judged separately and marked as shown. Remember - ten points means not a single weed anywhere! You should consider the effects on rare (or even common) wildlife to the extent of ignoring small patches of nettles which are used by several butterflies (Peacock, Red Admiral, Tortoiseshell and so on), and also sorrel which is host to various 'Coppers'. For example a 'hedge' (windbreak) of Michaelmas daisies gives a rich late feed of nectar which is lapped up by these butterflies before they hibernate in the greenhouses and sheds. 

3. Rubbish (free from): if it is stacked tidily for future use it is not rubbish. However, if it is just lying around it is! 

4. Labels showing variety: it will make the judge's life easier when assessing seasonal produce. 

​

Environment 

1. Paths and roads - neatly maintained: if it is a grass 'road' it should be kept cut and free of 'nasties' and if hardcore it should be weed-free without a neglected fringe! 

2. Buildings (quality and condition) This is a teaser! Not everyone has a building so we start from the premise that buildings which are well-built and well-maintained get the same mark as a well-kept bit of plot, that is, 5 points. Less points are awarded for decrepitude! To sum up: no building = 5 points; a wreck = 0 points!

bottom of page