Page 44 - ALG Issue 4 2020

Yorkshire
Yorkshire and parts of Humberside
A job well done at Hartley Lane
The story started 10 years ago when the local council started to let two
plots to a market gardener. He put up polytunnels and laid out his plants on platforms made from bread baskets, and made staging in his polytunnels from old pallets. He never threw anything away, just piled up old pots/ trays etc. in mounds all over the plots. He left four years ago with no prior warning, leaving everything in a mess. The council told us for years that they were taking him to court to fund the clean-up and nothing must be touched. They took photos and kept us updated on the progress, with a promise that the place would be tidied up and cleaned by the time they turned over the plots to an alliance to run. It never happened!
The alliance was left with the problem. Meanwhile, the allotment members
decided that enough was enough. With John Callaghan leading a team of willing volunteers, the place was cleared. Polytunnels removed, plastic pots and trays were sent to a recycling firm – all 24-ton bags worth! The weeds, sapling trees, brambles and
ivy were removed, and the weed suppressant pulled up. An extension to the carpark was made out of one of the plots. Planings were donated by Tarmac. Experienced volunteers from the site helped with laying the planings and compacting them. The other plot is still being tidied but will shortly be in a state to re-let. Everything else was funded from open days and donations from the plotholders.
This all took a month of the plotholders time but was well worth it in the end. The plots are now a useful part of the
This all took a month of the plotholders time but was well worth it in the end
site instead of an eyesore. We also have a promise from the recycling firm that they will recycle all our old pots, water barrels and containers in the future.
A VISIT TO HARTLEY LANE
Four years ago, this corner of the Hartley Lane allotment site was deserted and derelict as the local authority deliberated about who would pay to clear it up. The allotmenteers eventually took matters into their own hands and within weeks had created an extra plot and doubled their carparking space. All the plastic has been recycled and they now intend to save and recycle old watering cans. Plastics such as empty tomato and fertiliser containers will be washed; old plant pots and packaging will also be added to the recycle pile. Many congratulations to secretary John Callaghan and his team for their hard work.
Mike Farrell, Yorkshire Regional representative
44 Allotment and Leisure Gardener