Allotment paths are the boundaries between plots. You can’t
grow anything on them, but you have to maintain them.
On induction, the Site Manager Brian tells you, ‘The path to
the left of the plot is yours and you must keep it clear and maintained at all
times.’
You look at something that resembles a small dyke or a road
with a very heavy camber. It has a good foot of grass and weeds growing all
over it. Obviously, it was not kept ‘clear and maintained’ by the last tenant.
But you nod, agree, and turn your attention to the plot. Your thoughts turn to what
you are going to grow and the plot layout you are going to adopt. The path is
not something that will be addressed as a priority or occupy your thinking
today.
The site Manger looks at his notes of things he must cover. Paths,
tick, we move on.
Our plot paths between plots are a minimum of 18 inches wide but can be some 60-foot-long
and can come in a variety of different material.
The lucky ones inherit a flat and well laid paved path with
solid edging. The unlucky ones can inherit something resembling an overgrown
jungle with no clear edging and clearly demanding some hard work.
When you finally start on the plot you soon realise the
decision on what to do with the plot has to be taken on. What options do you have?
There is grass which obviously will need constant attention,
weeding and edging. You don’t want Wimbledon but you must have something
practicable. The questions come thick and fast. How do you cut it? Do you have
to pick up a cheap mower? Do you buy a powerless strimmer and run the danger of
spreading clipping all over your new neighbour’s plot? Do you get down on your
knees and cut it with some cheap clippers? Some would say that the only good
thing a grass path gives you is clippings for the compost bin.
There are paving slabs which if laid properly are low maintenance
and maybe only need a weeding between the slabs each season. However, if not
laid properly they can become an obstacle course and a nightmare. Mind you,
they do offer our friendly slugs and snails a quick and easy entry and exit
route between plots.
There is then the natural look of bark chippings. First you
must lay a lining and construct a gravel board edge. If you don’t, then those
chippings will go everywhere. Bark chippings may look attractive but can soon
weed up. Chippings will also need replacing as they break down. You will find
that new chippings are required annually. An alternative is gravel chippings
which are also somewhat rustic. Both chippings, especially gravel, deter the
slugs and if placed on top of lining can provide a good weed-supressed path.
However, the chippings can soon get trodden into the plot, or the plot soil trodden
into them.
My preference is artificial grass laid over a lining. It may
appear expensive and getting off cut strips harder than you imagine, but it
does look good, is practical and is low maintenance. The only thing you need is
lots of pegs to ensure it remains in place and does not decide to try to fly
off in the first high wind. Best still, slugs do not seem to like sliding over artificial
grass, but unfortunately foxes love to poo on it.
On my induction I remember asking Brian our Site Manager,
‘What about carpet? My daughter had carpet paths on her allotment and there is
always a carpet in some skip.’
Brian sways a little, draws a sharp and long intake of
breath and as if measuring out each word said, ‘No carpets allowed, they are
dangerous and not permitted.’
‘But..’ I was about to say it didn’t say anything in the
rules but found Brian’s stare from his eyes enough to realise carpets were not
to be used or discussed. On reflection I did understand his point. What may look
a very luxurious path when first laid can soon became a mudslide and slippery
hell. It is a pity I had my eyes on some lovely deep blue twist pile in a local
skip.
Then comes the question of internal paths.
Some like a fixed layout with well-defined sections, each
bordered by a path. Others like myself have a more flexible plot layout which
changes most years and needs more flexible paths. So I use scaffold planks
which double up in winter to holding down the tarpaulin that covers most of the
plot. Yes they only last a few years but are cheap and easy to come by.
I have acquired some long strips of artificial grass off
cuts. These make great internal paths and I have gone one better and attached
the artificial grass to some of the planks and now have some very posh internal
paths. A couple of paths are artificial grass on top of some lining. If they get
dirty I just wash them with a can of water and they look as good as new. It
does look nice and I bet some folk think I mow it once a week!