To keep everyone as safe as possible during these difficult times, please follow these basic rules:

• When touching any community item such as the gate lock, toilet door handle, well pumps, etc – wash your hands or wear disposable gloves.
• Stay a safe distance from each other, a minimum of 2 metres.
• You can only visit your plot with members of your household, support bubble or one other person
• The same national lockdown rules apply inside these gates as outside.  Anyone caught in breach of these rules risk having their tenancy terminated.

We’re all in this together, let’s come out of it together.  Stay safe and stay well.

We are thrilled and delighted to announce that our beautiful allotments will be supporting the National Garden Scheme in 2021 on Saturday 1st May and 24th July. The first Derby City Council site to achieve such an accolade and allowing us the opportunity to support other charities doing what we love - plotting on plots (and talking!)

We are now in lockdown again. Whilst we are allowed to visit our allotments please ensure you follow the same rules as apply outside the gate.

• You must only visit your plot with people from your household, support bubble or one other person from outside your household

• Please stay at home if you are experiencing Covid 19 symptoms or have been told to self-isolate

• Always use gloves or sanitise your hands when opening and closing the gate, using the toilet, or using any of the communal facilities, pumps, etc

• Other than accessing your plot or the toilets please remain on your plot and refrain from walking around site

• If you wish to use the shop, please note we are now operating a click and collect service. We are unable to serve you unless you have followed this method so please don’t complain it’s the only way we can remain operational

• If you will be absent from your plot because of COVID-19 (or any other reason) please let the Secretary know otherwise we assume you have given up or don’t care

PLEASE RESPECT SOCIAL DISTANCING

Thank you

For the third year in succession, we are proud to announce we will be flying the much coveted Green Flag on site as we have been awarded with a Green Flag Community Award.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.

We are one of more than 2,000 sites across the country to collect the award for 2020, of which very few allotments have been recognised.

We would not be recognised but for the passion, commitment, time and energy that our fabulous volunteers give freely to the Association and its community.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to both this award and the continuing success of our allotment site.

Do you have broken or unwanted glass on your plot?

Between Thurs 15th October and Sun 18th October there will be a GLASS skip on site for all members to use.

Please note, the skip is for GLASS disposal only. Do not place any other items in the skip.

Thank you

Please be community minded, let’s work together! Anyone abusing this facility may have their tenancy terminated.

I just want to share with you all one of the many ‘hidden’ tasks completed by our group of community volunteers recently.

Concealed behind the shed of a now terminated tenant was a full trailer load of carpet and underlay, obviously from a very recent home project. This would have cost us a considerable sum to dispose of had Peter Gresham not kindly allowed us to put it in the skip he paid for recently on site.

This is not just an abuse of a plot, (and it didn’t stop with just this load of rubbish) it is completely unacceptable and an unreasonable task for the community group to have to do.

This is not a nag, merely an opportunity to show you what we sometimes have to deal with, and a request to think carefully about what you bring on site, and if you have rubbish please please take it home.

Thank you

Julia

There will be no parking on site between Thursday 6th August to Wednesday 12th August during the hours 8am until 5pm.

Alternative free parking is available during these times at Britannia Mill car park, courtesy of Derby University.

Parking will be available on site every day after 5pm.

Hi Everyone. 

This message is for anyone who uses the main car park (that’s the one where the shop and store container is) so if you don’t park your car there you can stop reading now. 

Some of you may have noticed by now that the parking bay markers have been re-painted black hopefully to make them stand out a bit more. This has been done in response to comments from a few people about some drivers not parking their vehicles inside the bay markers which, at busy times, can result in the reduction of spaces available. This is something I have witnessed myself where one car managed to take up three parking spaces by parking across the markers instead of between them. Now that our Society is increasing in numbers, at busy times the car park can get a little congested so every space is vital. Because of this I am asking drivers to park in marked bays only which then means we can maximise our precious parking area. So please, try to think of other drivers and only park between the lines. 

Your co-operation in this would be much appreciated. 

Stay well, stay healthy. 

Eric Lindley 

Chairman ARDAA.

Thank you to everyone who purchased plants from the Growing Academy this year.

Total funds raised - £1,273.19

This is a fantastic sum of money all of which goes directly into Association funds, so we all benefit!

Thank you

Elaine & Julia

Hello Lovely Allotment Folk

We’ve had an idea, oh yes another one!  To help you pass the time and to jollificate (don’t think it’s a word but it is now!!) the site over the coming months, we’ve decided to launch a competition…and better still we’re providing cash prizes.  Please get your creative juices flowing and get involved!

Have fun
Julia and Elaine
x

PS Sorry it’s for ARDAA members only but if you are on another site or growing at home why not have a play anyway

Rules for The Plot Name and Numbers Competition

1. The sign must include the plot number and the first name or last name (or both) of the plot holder/family/members

2. The sign must be visible from the footpath and secured to the plot

3. All entries must be physically on the plot by 12pm Sunday 28th June 2020

4. All entries will be judged by person/s nominated by The Potty Plotters

5. One entry per plot. (It can be a joint effort!)

6. There is no size limit! The entry can be in any/all colours and made in any medium

7. Persons entering the competition must be a member of the ARDAA

8. The entry must be the work of the member and family

9. The decision of the judge/s will be final and no correspondence will be entered into

10. The Potty Plotters reserve the right to cancel this competition or amend the rules at any stage if deemed necessary

11. First prize: £50, 2nd prize £20, 3rd prize £10

12. The winners will be notified by The Plotty Plotters at the end of Sunday 28th June 2020

To enter, just drop a note into the Community Growing Academy post box (Plot 3) to The Potty Plotters or on a message via their Facebook Page just stating your name and plot number so that all entries are judged!