Page 48 - ALG Issue 2 2019
P. 48

 Unpack your
member
benefits
Do you make the most of your National Allotment Society membership? Whether you are an individual, an association committee member or a parish council, we have a basket brimming with benefits to support you to manage, develop or cultivate your plots.
LEGAL
The services of a lawyer can be vital; allotment gardening is enshrined in legislation and a phone call or email to our in-house lawyer and assistant will deliver initial legal advice on a range of issues. We cover tenancy agreements, leases, land disputes, rent rises, health and safety, environmental, contract and company law and data protection. We can also advise on how to form and run an association, give advice on what to do if your site is under threat and offer help on how to deal with governance disputes.
We protect allotment land - any councils who are considering selling allotment land are obliged to seek
the opinion of the National Allotment Society; this enables us to ensure
that statutory allotment sites are not disposed of unfairly, alternatives are considered and that local authorities uphold their duty to provide allotment land. If disposal is granted, the
Society can act on the site’s behalf to make sure that plotholders are fairly compensated, any alternative provision is adequate, and meets the statutory requirements.
INSURANCE
All fully paid up affiliate and individual members of NAS are eligible to contract in to our free allotmenteers’ liability insurance scheme. This scheme offers £50k liability cover
to all member plotholders accused of accidently causing injury or damaging property. Bespoke allotment association insurance cover is available through Shield Total Insurance, offering our members a 25% discount on all policies taken out. Whether your association needs public liability insurance, cover for your trading hut or a policy which covers for theft of money, Shield can help you. Members are also welcome
to take advantage of Shield’s full range of services at preferential rates – these include caravan, home, car and tent insurance, with £25 cashback on car and home insurance.
TRAINING
Feedback from National Allotment Society member allotment sites has revealed a pressing need for training for those volunteers who work hard to maintain allotment sites in a
safe and productive condition. As a result, we have now teamed up with Lantra, a leading award-winning body for land-based and environmental training courses and qualifications to offer specialised training for allotment holders. See page ? for details of
the first "Responsible and Effective Control of Commensal Rodents" courses.
We also offer governance training for association committees and have been working in partnership with county associations of local councils to offer allotments management training for parish clerks.
SEED SCHEME
Reliable seeds at rock-bottom prices! Each year Kings Seeds produce a special NAS Members catalogue
for both individuals and association members. The prices in this catalogue are already discounted by 40% on mail order prices - there is an additional 5% discount on a first order for individuals. There are further discounts on bulk orders totalling 22.5% for associations. • Early Bird discount (November
closing date) – 7.5%
• Society discount – 10%
• Large order discount – 5%
• Carriage free on Association orders
over £40.00
• Individual members carriage just
£1.75.
Kings Seeds have been growing fruit, flower and vegetables seeds for over 125 years. They supply the UK’s best- known brands. Each packet comes with a no-quibble guarantee and Kings Seeds will offer free help and advice
to all National Allotment Society members.
Kings Seeds will offer free help and advice to all National Allotment Society members
            INFORMATION
Our quarterly members magazine is a lively collection of gardening advice, horticultural and allotment news and information from around the regions. Associations receive 1 copy per 10 members. Members’ articles and letters are welcomed for publication. We also send out a quarterly e-newsletter. Our attractive website is full of useful information with downloadable resources, a retail discount booklet and a members’ only section that contains a link
to a digital copy of the magazine, a facility to order Kings Seeds online and members only information. The Facebook page is a dynamic source of information and comment.
Our Horticultural Adviser is on hand to answer allotment gardening queries. Aaron Hickman
is Head Gardener at a large private estate in Yorkshire. Aaron also works as a stand in ‘gardening expert’ on BBC Radio Leeds, gives private talks and lectures and advises members of the public at the Harrogate Flower Shows. Contact via natsoc@nsalg.org.uk.
48 Allotment and Leisure Gardener





























































   46   47   48   49   50