Sadly a lot of people are just plain selfish. We get this kind of thing on our site too, it seems if an area looks unkempt then they take it as a free dumping ground. Its very hard to control. You could try planting a thorny hedge, Hawthorn Pyracanthus Brambles etc at top of bank next to fence. If they can't see in they are less likely to treat it as a dumping ground. Talk to whoever run the site about the internal issues. You could even put up a sign stating "I am trying to clear this plot it is not a dumping ground" This may shame the internal selfish ones. That is why I say cover any areas you cannot work on yet it seems to help prevent this kind of thing.
Oh Victoria I'm so upset by your latest post. Some people are just so bloody vile
i bet it's because you are on your own and so lovely and they think they can just take advantage. It will be sad if you fall out with your neighbouring allotmenteers but think if you do not stand up for yourself immediately they will not learn. Wish I lived near you as I would come down with you and give em daggers. take care my love and keep us posted x
Thanks for your kind words guys, it is much appreciated?
I've cheered up a bit since. I've decided to have the world's most attractive and productive allotment as punishment to the slothful.
I think Iain is absolutely correct and my efforts to tidy up, separating and piling rubbish for best disposal attracted lazy people hoping they could dump their conifer tree or kitchen cabinets without me noticing...or perhaps they thought since I was going to the tip anyway, I might as well take their junk too.
I've been quite vocal about it and the main offender (that I know of) has stopped walking onto my plot, at least when I am present!
I informed the allotment dude at the council and he turned up yesterday and took 8-10 bags of rubbish away which was kind of him. At least I have recorded the incident, in case it reoccurs. He has managed to get all 4 vacant plots (out of 20) occupied and think he doesn't want to see people losing interest/becoming deheartened.
I will need to do at least one more full car tip run and now I have collapsed the heap I have spread lots of small bits of litter which will need collecting in due course. Also, there is still loads of glass...
Next tip run. I've mended the bench behind that I found in the heap, will paint it next and level the broken paving stones to make a nice seating area. Those broken slabs were dumped over the fence too - a triumph of work over idleness
This is the area I've cleared of the heap. I'm a bit concerned about the soil as the burning that had previously taken place was indiscriminate, plastics, rubber, metal, synthetics. Will dig it over in due course in case stuff is left buried and hope the weather sorts it out. Am going to have a stinging nettle bed for wildlife and a compost heap (small).
Victoria, success with council involvement. Hopefully, word will get round that the "allotment man" has paid a visit.. . they will know that you will act over their dumping rubbish.
You have done the right thing with council man. Is there a site management committee or is it all run direct from council? If there is some site management involve them too. Keep going you are doing well, if you can now concentrate on getting an area ready to sow / grow as soon as the weather permits. Once you get some crops in you will really feel you are on your way. Broad Beans & Early peas are a good bet.
There is no site management, if I can spare the energy, maybe I should form a committee? I also think the residents in the terrace behind the lane should get involved, some community spirit etc because to be honest the area is a litter strewn mess.
The only veg plans I've got for this year is some potatoes as I've ordered the GW offer. I'm just going to direct sow annual flowers in the beds this year as I'm a bit concerned about soil quality/lack of worms. In subsequent years the plan is to experiment with veg growing, but only stuff I will eat, otherwise it will be mostly fruit as I've taken a fancy to the idea of preserving stuff, trying to make jellies / easy jams.
Today I did a tip run, car smells a bit funky again now last time it took a fortnight for the smell to dissipate. Hopefully the rest of the litter I can bag up and put in my domestic bin. Some kids took some of the wood away for a den they were making (sounded more like a fortified trench to me) which got rid of some more stuff. I'll probably slowly break up the rotten rest into a nice woodlousey heap.
It occurred to me that the area I'd set aside for sloes will block the view from my 'new' bench so I've decided to put them along the boundary, obviously set back a bit due to thorns.
It's going to rain according to the BBC so will leave painting the bench til Sun.
Only 1 broken slab piece chucked over the fence since last time I visited. I'm starting to think this 'tipper is from one of the houses behind, otherwise why so many trips for small amounts of stuff?
Painted the rescued bench today. I originally thought blue but decided not to waste any of my good paint. Used up some mud brown ronseal which I have no use for in the garden
Very pleasant up there today in the sun, church bells ringing, hens clucking in a laid-an-egg way, saw a butterfly, think tortoiseshell, a wren, a male chaffinch and what was poss the female chaff hopping through the rotting wood pile. A good reason not to burn it I think.
Dug the fifth bed today, flattened the heap of plant waste and spread it around. I've started chopping up the larger bits and will cover the rest in soil when I collapse the berm, hopefully it will rot, it's all dead. Made a small composting pile but not sure how to contain it or to prevent people adding to it. I've already got cabbages, sweetcorn and sunflowers dumped, none of which were on the plot last year.
Hopefully this pic shows the 5 beds, going to dig a 6th at the far end near the bench. The compost heap is on the left of the cane in the foreground and might have the nettle patch sort of behind the cane/ to the right.
Cut my finger on a shard of glass while trying to dig up a sheet of corrugated metal. Went right through my glove and they are bramble gloves Bled quite a bit and had to staunch it with the cuff of a clean glove. Might get a first aid kit, that should prevent injury Tetanus not due til next year, the vaccine, I mean.
That's enough adventuring for today.
Just editing to say I've scrolled through the pics on the previous page and I am so pleased with the reduction in junk and litter!
Victoria Sponge wow your plot does look really clear now you done well, the bench looks nice and the little bits of slabs nicely layed out, really not good on the injury ouch
Others should know they are not allowed to dump rubish on some bodys plot
with the compost you could make a bin out of pallets or get one of the plastic bins some times people are giving them away on gumtree
I got a washing up bowl to make a small pond on my plot also put up 2 bird boxes and when I was up plot yesterday I had a blue tit check it out, been wet on and off today so not gone to plot
Yes, that's something else I want to do, make a water area for the birds. I haven't strayed far from the original plan so all seems to be heading in the right direction.
Posts
Sadly a lot of people are just plain selfish. We get this kind of thing on our site too, it seems if an area looks unkempt then they take it as a free dumping ground. Its very hard to control. You could try planting a thorny hedge, Hawthorn Pyracanthus Brambles etc at top of bank next to fence. If they can't see in they are less likely to treat it as a dumping ground. Talk to whoever run the site about the internal issues. You could even put up a sign stating "I am trying to clear this plot it is not a dumping ground" This may shame the internal selfish ones. That is why I say cover any areas you cannot work on yet it seems to help prevent this kind of thing.
Oh Victoria I'm so upset by your latest post. Some people are just so bloody vile
i bet it's because you are on your own and so lovely and they think they can just take advantage. It will be sad if you fall out with your neighbouring allotmenteers but think if you do not stand up for yourself immediately they will not learn. Wish I lived near you as I would come down with you and give em daggers. take care my love and keep us posted x
Sorry to hear about that Victoria, you stand up for yourself. Show them that you're not going to stand for it.
Thanks for your kind words guys, it is much appreciated?
I've cheered up a bit since. I've decided to have the world's most attractive and productive allotment as punishment to the slothful.
I think Iain is absolutely correct and my efforts to tidy up, separating and piling rubbish for best disposal attracted lazy people hoping they could dump their conifer tree or kitchen cabinets without me noticing...or perhaps they thought since I was going to the tip anyway, I might as well take their junk too.
I've been quite vocal about it and the main offender (that I know of) has stopped walking onto my plot, at least when I am present!
I informed the allotment dude at the council and he turned up yesterday and took 8-10 bags of rubbish away which was kind of him. At least I have recorded the incident, in case it reoccurs. He has managed to get all 4 vacant plots (out of 20) occupied and think he doesn't want to see people losing interest/becoming deheartened.
I will need to do at least one more full car tip run and now I have collapsed the heap I have spread lots of small bits of litter which will need collecting in due course. Also, there is still loads of glass...
Next tip run. I've mended the bench behind that I found in the heap, will paint it next and level the broken paving stones to make a nice seating area. Those broken slabs were dumped over the fence too - a triumph of work over idleness
This is the area I've cleared of the heap. I'm a bit concerned about the soil as the burning that had previously taken place was indiscriminate, plastics, rubber, metal, synthetics. Will dig it over in due course in case stuff is left buried and hope the weather sorts it out. Am going to have a stinging nettle bed for wildlife and a compost heap (small).
Victoria, success with council involvement. Hopefully, word will get round that the "allotment man" has paid a visit.. . they will know that you will act over their dumping rubbish.
You have done the right thing with council man. Is there a site management committee or is it all run direct from council? If there is some site management involve them too. Keep going you are doing well, if you can now concentrate on getting an area ready to sow / grow as soon as the weather permits. Once you get some crops in you will really feel you are on your way. Broad Beans & Early peas are a good bet.
There is no site management, if I can spare the energy, maybe I should form a committee? I also think the residents in the terrace behind the lane should get involved, some community spirit etc because to be honest the area is a litter strewn mess.
The only veg plans I've got for this year is some potatoes as I've ordered the GW offer. I'm just going to direct sow annual flowers in the beds this year as I'm a bit concerned about soil quality/lack of worms. In subsequent years the plan is to experiment with veg growing, but only stuff I will eat, otherwise it will be mostly fruit as I've taken a fancy to the idea of preserving stuff, trying to make jellies / easy jams.
Today I did a tip run, car smells a bit funky again now
last time it took a fortnight for the smell to dissipate. Hopefully the rest of the litter I can bag up and put in my domestic bin. Some kids took some of the wood away for a den they were making (sounded more like a fortified trench to me) which got rid of some more stuff. I'll probably slowly break up the rotten rest into a nice woodlousey heap.
It occurred to me that the area I'd set aside for sloes will block the view from my 'new' bench so I've decided to put them along the boundary, obviously set back a bit due to thorns.
It's going to rain according to the BBC so will leave painting the bench til Sun.
Only 1 broken slab piece chucked over the fence since last time I visited. I'm starting to think this 'tipper is from one of the houses behind, otherwise why so many trips for small amounts of stuff?
Painted the rescued bench today. I originally thought blue but decided not to waste any of my good paint. Used up some mud brown ronseal which I have no use for in the garden
Very pleasant up there today in the sun, church bells ringing, hens clucking in a laid-an-egg way, saw a butterfly, think tortoiseshell, a wren, a male chaffinch and what was poss the female chaff hopping through the rotting wood pile. A good reason not to burn it I think.
Dug the fifth bed today, flattened the heap of plant waste and spread it around. I've started chopping up the larger bits and will cover the rest in soil when I collapse the berm, hopefully it will rot, it's all dead. Made a small composting pile but not sure how to contain it or to prevent people adding to it. I've already got cabbages, sweetcorn and sunflowers dumped, none of which were on the plot last year.
Hopefully this pic shows the 5 beds, going to dig a 6th at the far end near the bench. The compost heap is on the left of the cane in the foreground and might have the nettle patch sort of behind the cane/ to the right.
Cut my finger on a shard of glass while trying to dig up a sheet of corrugated metal. Went right through my glove and they are bramble gloves
Bled quite a bit and had to staunch it with the cuff of a clean glove. Might get a first aid kit, that should prevent injury
Tetanus not due til next year, the vaccine, I mean.
That's enough adventuring for today.
Just editing to say I've scrolled through the pics on the previous page and I am so pleased with the reduction in junk and litter!
Last edited: 05 March 2017 14:49:35
Victoria Sponge wow your plot does look really clear now you done well, the bench looks nice and the little bits of slabs nicely layed out, really not good on the injury ouch
Others should know they are not allowed to dump rubish on some bodys plot
with the compost you could make a bin out of pallets or get one of the plastic bins some times people are giving them away on gumtree
I got a washing up bowl to make a small pond on my plot also put up 2 bird boxes and when I was up plot yesterday I had a blue tit check it out, been wet on and off today so not gone to plot
Thanks Gardengirl
Yes, that's something else I want to do, make a water area for the birds. I haven't strayed far from the original plan so all seems to be heading in the right direction.