WELCOME

to the website of
Roundhay Allotments and Gardens Association

RAGA NOTICE BOARD

SHOP:  Please note that all RAGA shop-related items can now be found on the shop page

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The shop closes on Saturday 12 Dec (its open 11.00 to 12.00) and will reopen on 19th January

Your Seed Potatoes and Onion Setts have arrived!!!

Patrick will be sorting them out into individually priced bundles over the next two days.

They will be in the shop available to collect and pay for by Saturday morning when the shop will be open as normal 11.00 til 12.00

Happy chitting,
Patrick

Patrick Gillett, RAGA

IMPORTANT NOTICE 18.11.20

PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE ALONG THE TOP ROAD OF THE ALLOTMENTS FOR THE TIME BEING

Drainage from Soldiers Field has made one section very boggy and one unfortunate member had to call out emergency rescue to tow his car out when it sank into the saturated ground.

WATER:  Please note that the water on the allotments is now turned off until end March 2021

COVID 19 : THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR YOUR GUIDANCE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. ANY NATIONAL OR LOCAL RESTRICTIONS IN FORCE AT THIS TIME MAY MAY WELL OVERRIDE SOME OF THESE. PLEASE ALWAYS ADHERE TO THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT ADVICE

COVID-19 UPDATE  wef 5 November 2020

From Lynne Rodgers, Leeds City Council

Dear All

Here we are again – lock-down 2 (and hopefully the last one).

As from Thursday 5 November everyone should follow the Government’s guidelines in that they should stay at home, and only leave for a limited set of reasons. These include:

·         For education;

·         For work, if you cannot work from home;

·         For exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household, support bubble or if on your own with    one person from another household;

·         For all medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm;

·         To shop for food and essentials;

·         And to provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.

Outdoor public spaces includes Allotments.

If you do visit your allotment the advice given previously should be followed:

Wash hands and keep washing your hands regularly

Cover face – wear a face covering in enclosed spaces

Make Space – stay at least 2 metres apart

Do not share any equipment

Bring hand sanitiser or wipes to site with you to clean gates/taps etc.

If you show any symptoms of the virus or any of your household are self-isolating – STAY AT HOME

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If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me and stay safe!

Kind Regards

Lynne

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Lynne Rogers, Senior Allotment Officer

Communities & Environment  - Parks & Countryside

The Arium,Thorner Lane, Leeds  LS14 3FB

Tel:  0113 378 0873    www.leeds.gov.uk

COVID-19 EXISTING ADVICE ON USE OF ALLOTMENTS UNDER CURRENT RESTRICTIONS

* 27.07.20 PLEASE NOTE THAT RAGA HAVE MADE SOME MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH CURRENT GOVERNMENT ADVICE

From: Lynne Rogers

Senior Allotments Officer

Communities & Environment

I have received a number of enquiries asking if you can visit your allotment in light of the measures set by the Government.

Government guidelines have stated that tenants can continue to visit their allotments as this is regarded as a form of exercise, as long as they abide by the following:

Limit your visits to one a day (say as long as is needed)

Keep within the current social distancing rule

Stay on your own plot

Do not gather in groups around the site

Bring hand sanitiser/gel with you (if you have any) for use on gates, locks, padlock, taps etc.

Do not use shared tools

Wash hands regularly

If you have children at home, you can bring members of the same household with you to your plot as long as no-one is self-isolating

If anything changes in the meantime I will let you know.

Kind Regards

Lynne

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FURTHER ADVICE  from Leeds Allotments Federation about coping with the corona virus emergency on your plots:

Follow Government Advice at all times, and remain at at least the current minimum social distance from other allotment holders. Don’t gather in groups. Use hand sanitiser or soap & water as you enter and leave site. Be mindful of other allotment holders who may need help if they can’t get to site regularly. If you are displaying any of the symptoms associated with Coronavirus stay away from site until you are clear & if you decide to self-isolate for 12 weeks let your committee know via email/text so they know you won’t be around for a while and won’t hassle you over your plot not being cultivated.

Please be respectful if people don’t want to engage in conversation and don’t go onto anyone else’s plot unless they invite you. This is a situation which is changing daily and we need to ensure our own and other people’s safety.

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AND from The National Allotment Society:

Following the instructions around movement and gatherings from the Prime Minister on 23 March 2020, we are consulting with central government but as we understand the situation at the moment it is still permitted to visit your plot, to take daily exercise on their own or with members of your household or support bubble. It is vitally important that you follow all the advice about social distancing and hygiene in the points below and not gather together on site.

Any plot-holder who is self isolating because a household member is ill with corona-virus should not be visiting the site.

Associations should display an advice notice on their boards. It is important that anyone attending the allotment takes care to stay the appropriate distance from others, avoid body contact and wash hands at taps, do not wash hands or use detergents in the water tanks and please pay attention to notice boards.

It is essential that no unauthorised people are allowed onto the plots for the duration of this emergency, if you do wish to bring someone to assist with work on the plot, please ensure that this is notified to RAGA Secretary.  Careful consideration should be given to introducing anyone over 70, those with underlying illness or pregnant women.

We are living through a crisis, the likes of which none of us has experienced before, not since war time has the community spirit that exists on allotment sites been more important.  Please remember to look out for one another during these very difficult times.

Members should take the following precautionary measures :

• Keep hand sanitiser on your person and wash your hands regularly

• Use hand sanitiser before opening and closing any gate locks

• DO NOT gather together for a chat even if you are 2 metres apart CLICK HERE for guidance

• Observe “Social Distancing” with each other 

• If you take your children to the plot, ensure that they stay within its confines and do not run around on communal paths and spaces.

• Do not share tools

• Minimise the contact with each other for example no handshakes

• Do not wash your hands in water troughs

• We recommend that all communal facilities are closed

• Click here for guidance if you do need to clean an area that has been visited by an infected person.

• Stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible

• If you display any symptoms of coronavirus stay at home and self-isolate for at least 14 days or until symptoms have passed.

 It is important that any plot-holders over 70 years and those with underlying health issues follow the guidance and information issued by the government.

We must all consider vulnerable families, friends and fellow plot-holders and give assistance where needed.

And a request from LCC regarding bonfires. PLEASE  COMPLY WITH THIS REQUEST, WHICH IS IN THE INTERESTS OF EVERYONE AT THIS TIME.

I have been contacted by the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Team and asked to pass on the following message to ALL allotment tenants:

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Environmental Protection Act 1990 – Section 80.

Fires on Allotments/Gardens

Smoke from bonfires can cause people with respiratory and other health conditions to suffer.  Bonfires may also be a nuisance and an inconvenience to those who wish to sit in their gardens or dry washing. This is particularly relevant at the current time where people are likely to be spending more time at home and in their gardens due to the restrictions and self-isolations in place due to COVID-19.  It may also be the case that some households may even be experiencing the symptoms of the virus and could be adversely affected by smoke.

Under the above Act smoke emitted from premises which causes a nuisance or is harmful to health is considered to be a statutory nuisance.  Anyone causing a statutory nuisance may be liable to prosecution and a subsequent fine.

We would therefore request that you show consideration to those living in your neighbourhood and do not have any further allotment/garden bonfires at this time. Any large items or wood should be stored until a time when household waste sites reopen or unwanted items collections resume.  We would recommend that you consider composting or storing any garden waste in your garden or garage until brown bin collections resume or household waste sites reopen.

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Unfortunately I do not have the facilities at the moment to write to those tenants for which I don’t have an email address therefore I would be grateful if you could pass on this message to anyone you see on site lighting a fire.  As soon as the restrictions are lifted I will let you know.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support on these additional measures we have had to put in place whilst you are on your allotment plots.

Stay Safe!

Kind Regards

Lynne Rogers, Senior Allotments Officer

Communities & Environment

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Dear All

Leeds City Council have teamed up with Great Green Systems to offer Leeds residents a 35% discount on compost bins - to claim your discount visit bit.ly/compost35

The Green Johanna is great for gardeners, you can use it to compost all your garden and food waste (even meat and dairy). It is a hot composter so it produces compost much quicker than standard compost bins and it’s also fully sealed to keep out vermin.

For more information on composting sign up to the Bin, Waste and Recycling mailing list bit.ly/BinsEmail or visit www.leeds.gov.uk/compost.”

Kind Regards

Lynne Rogers, Senior Allotment Officer, Communities & Environment

WAITING LIST:  Please note that our waiting list for allotments, probably because of the current lockdown situation, has now grown to over fifty. This means you may have to wait one or two years before a plot becomes available.  It's still worth putting your name down though as people might change their mind as the lockdown restrictions are relaxed.

SITE SECURITY

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All RAGA plotholders are required to keep the gates closed and locked at all times.

In a recent incident a visit to the site found the gates had been left wide open, and a group of 5 people, none of whom were plot holders, had driven in and parked 'to have a look around'. They hadn't a clue about keeping a distance.

This clearly makes our practice of keeping a distance when working on the site pointless if we are allowing the public to come in and wander aimlessly around.

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PLEASE BE SURE TO LOCK THE GATES EVERY TIME YOU PASS THROUGH THEM.

Welcome letter

ACCIDENTS : All accidents on site should be reported by email to

Please note that under the terms of the Constitution & Rules the RAGA committee carry out periodic inspections to ensure that plots are being kept up to a reasonable standard . The Managing non-cultivation Procedures are set out here

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THESE !!!

ALLOTMENT BREAK-INS

Please be aware that two allotment sites in North Leeds have been broken into recently with considerable damage/theft, details on the web site, and whilst on site yesterday [6/10]Steve noticed a failed attempt to break in to one of the site containers, so please keep any valuable tools etc. off site.

This advice comes via The Leeds Allotments Federation:

" It's been very worrying that in the last 4 days 2 allotment sites in North Leeds have been targeted by criminals. At Meanwood Parkside a vehicle was used to ram the gates and came on to the site where sheds were damaged and the locks of storage sheds broken and communal equipment stolen. At Ash Road a padlock was removed to gain access to the site, the storage container was broken into and tools stolen, as well as other damage on site. 

This seems to be on a different scale to the usual petty vandalism and the allotment community should be aware that there are some very determined and dangerous people who are prepared to cause significant damage to property and potentially to put us all at risk. The police have been involved at both sites. 

It is probably sensible to remove anything of value from individual plots, and to leave individudual storage facilities unlocked to reduce damage"

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• And the Roundhay Fox .....

CONTACT ROUNDHAY ALLOTMENTS

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