Page 49 - ALG Issue 4 2019

West Midlands
Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Warkwickshire
Welcome to our new members...
Bishop's Castle Town Council Perton Parish Council Birdingbury Allotment Association Billesley Lane Allotments Dunchurch Allotment Association
16 Individual Members
REPRESENTATIVE
Mr Tom Terrence
17 Stonefield Close, Walsgrave Keep, Walsgrave, Warks CV2 2PZ 02476 621350 tterrence@btinternet.com
MENTOR
Colin Bedford
West Midlands
0845 261 3672 cbedford.nas@gmail.com
Volunteering can be interesting
(YOUR REGION NEEDS YOU...
SO LOOK FOR THE SENTENCES IN BOLD)
The second Saturday in August saw the Officers of the West Midlands Region gathering with a splendid number of others in the most easterly village in Warwickshire and the West Midlands, Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, for the Region's summer meeting. Originally a pre-Roman settlement,
it was once home, long ago, to the Rugby Racecourse, the area still being used annually for point-to-point races. Meeting in the Townsend Memorial Hall, we began with an illustrated
talk entitled ‘Not just tomatoes in the tunnel’, given by Mrs Sally Cunningham. The theme was that there are far more possibilities with a polytunnel than
the inevitable tomatoes. Using the integrated IT system, we were taken through at least 20 possibilities for the summer planting, and approximately
a dozen possibilities for the winter, starting planting in August. As well as that, there are opportunities for growing many herbs and ornamentals.
After a short interval we moved onto the business section of the meeting, hosted by Whinfield Community Allotment Association. Tom Terrence, the West Midlands Regional Representative, opened the meeting by inviting anyone interested in becoming Chairperson
to see him afterwards. The Secretary reported that the seed catalogues should now be with the associations; personal copies of the Magazine are obtainable by ordering through Head Office and new passwords etc had been issued by Corby. Sadly, the forthcoming ban on the use of Metaldehyde slug pellets had been rescinded, with the complete ban no longer taking place. He reminded the meeting to keep an eye on the Magazine and the website for details of Lantra courses on rodent control. Di Appleyard, contactable through Corby, is now responsible for publicity and advertising events such as National Allotments Week. The Treasurer,
Roger Cartwright, reported that we
were solvent and also that we were very grateful for the financial support received from Head Office regarding the National Allotment Society stand at the Gardeners' World Live Show held at the National Exhibition Centre in June. He again encouraged members to contact the Regional Secretary if they needed help with the purchase of banners or flyers for their local shows, the only stipulation being that they bear the words “supported by the National Allotment Society" and displaying the Society logo”.
The Regional Representative, Tom Terrence, confirmed that unfortunately John Outhwaite, the Deputy Regional Rep. and Gardeners' World Live stand organiser for the last 3 years, had decided to stand down due to ill health. Tom thanked John personally for all his help in making the stand the success
it had become. We are now actively looking to recruit a new Deputy Regional Rep. Anyone interested
in taking on this busy but enjoyable role was asked to contact either TT or anyone from the West Midlands Region Committee. As there would be more work in the future regarding the shows held in the region, there was a need for the formation
of a Show Committee,
made up of people who
would be involved with both Gardeners' World Live and the other shows held in the region. Anyone interested in joining this Committee was asked to contact Tom as soon as possible, as meetings with the organisers of
the Gardeners' World Live Show would
be taking place in November. The Regional Mentor, Colin Bedford, had been supporting associations from
As there would be more work in the future regarding the shows held in the region, there was a need for the formation of a Show Committee
Lichfield, Stoke and Telford, assisting sites moving from council-managed to devolved management and taking part in two radio presentations.
A question was raised from the floor regarding Pest Control. Tom explained that all pest control measures should be strictly adhered to and after a discussion, he advised that he would be more than willing to organise some LANTRA/NAS training, advising on the correct procedures to adopt. These courses would be certified, and everyone taking part would be able
to deal with any pests in the correct, legal manner. www.nsalg.org.uk/ allotment-info/lantra-nas-training- courses/ Meeting closed at 4pm with Tom thanking Whinfield Community Allotment Association for their hospitality and thanking everyone for attending.
Date and location of next meeting: AGM
Saturday 2nd November 2019 at 2pm – Venue Wellesbourne Village Hall
John McNabb, Regional Secretary
COULD YOU HELP? Volunteers please
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 49