Plot Inspections – Bridge Allotment Association

Like all other Allotment Societies/Associations, Bridge Allotment Rules and Regulations require plot inspections to be carried out by members of the committee on a regular basis – at least twice a year. If problems are apparent or a neighbour complains an inspection will be carried out as quickly as possible.

All tenants are expected to understand that poor standards of cultivation are unfair, not only to those on the waiting list but can also negatively impact other plots, e.g by allowing the spread of weeds, other vegetation and disease.

The Committee recognises that taking on an allotment can be a big commitment. One of the most difficult issues for the Committee is issuing guidance letters (after plot inspections) when plot holders have not achieved the 75% cultivation standard, as detailed in the rules and regulations. The Committee does its utmost to apply the standards fairly and recognises that every tenant has their own personal circumstances that impact on and can influence their ability to attain the agreed standards. However, it is acknowledged that the Association has to be managed in a professional way and that every plot holder has to share that responsibility.

The majority of tenants meet the standards by regularly tending their plot (throughout the year) and keeping it in cultivation, weeds under control and maintaining the soil in a healthy and fertile state. For those tenants that fall short of the standards a guidance letter will be sent, setting out the improvements that are required and details of the re-inspection timeline. This gives the tenant an opportunity to address the issues and hopefully lead to improvements on their plot. If the plot holder fails to comply with the required improvements it may lead to the termination of their tenancy.

Cultivation of the plot is the main focus of the inspection but Committee members also consider health and safety issues – such as obstructions and poor maintenance of paths, ensuring cane toppers are in place, etc.

Understanding the 75% cultivation rule

For the purposes of clarification, the ‘process of cultivation’ consists of the act of preparation of the soil and growing of:

Permanent and annual vegetables, herbs and fruits, salads, winter manure crops, annual and perennial flowers/companion planting and fully maintained internal pathways and regular maintenance of them.

Guidance to help with understanding the 75% cultivation requirement:

Cultivation refers to the whole cycle of activities needed to produce a crop, from digging it over in the winter, manuring, sowing, weeding, watering, harvesting and back to digging. Here are some of the things we would expect to see on your plot.

In the main growing season:

Fruit, vegetables and flowers
Grass paths mowed and trimmed – both shared and main paths adjoining your plot
No weeds going to seed
No weeds such as bindweed, fat hen, couch grass or brambles invading the plot
the plot is tended regularly to ensure that diseases, such as blight (in potatoes and tomatoes) or white rot (in onions and garlic) are identified early and dealt with and crops are watered sufficiently

In the winter months:

The above (but obviously less fruit, veg and flowers)
Growing areas being prepared (these may be covered to suppress weeds)
Beds dug over ready for the winter frost
Or if ‘no-dig’ methods are being used – a clean bed with no weeds
Green manures being grown
Green waste material being composted
Other waste materials being removed

Cultivation area

New tenants can sometimes take on an overgrown plot and it may take some time to get it all under control, so we have set some targets which we think are reasonable. A new tenant should have at least 25% of their plot cultivated in their first three months on site. We would then expect up to 50% of their plot to be cultivated after 6 months of taking tenancy. By 12 months we would expect 75% cultivation. In year two and beyond a minimum of 75% of the plot should be cultivated. During the first year of your tenancy you must demonstrate continuous progress towards full cultivation.

If you cannot commit the time necessary and you are struggling to keep your plot cultivated, talk to a Committee member or write to the Committee at the earliest opportunity.