Radio GaGa

 

View from the allotments over the Mudchute Farm

I remember earlier in the year and the TV slot the allotment myself and Lottie featured in. Being constantly bounced from one day to the next, both before filming and once it was in the can. Ten minutes of fame and exposure then you’re gone.

I was approached to do a live radio interview on allotments. Ten minutes on COVID-19 , mental health and allotments. You must think twice as it’s easy to accept, then what? You rarely have journalists beating down your door, there are no lucrative book deals, and you are definitely not going to be booked on prime TV. Lottie my faithful whippet has already starred on the Apprentice, well she looked beautiful as she was given a pedicure and grooming whilst at her dog hotel.

So you scribble down a few points to help get messages across and then one hour before showtime you get bounced because Peter Suttcliffe has died. Can you do Monday at 1400 instead and you say yes and wonder if anyone will die on Monday morning or another news story will prevail?

Fifteen minutes to go, you sit down, check your phone and wait and wait and decide to have a cup of coffee. You take a quick drink with less than five minutes to go and burst into a small coughing fit.

The phone rings.

You compose yourself. Am I live? Am I on mute? Cough again and hope this will stop and is off air.

The programme is in your ear and they are finishing an interview and you are waiting to hear the segue, the introduction, and the next thing you hear is your name and a question you were not exactly expecting.

You have to think on your feet and in the ensuing minutes you find yourself covering many different areas; waiting lists, the history of your site, the diversity and ethnic mix, the pandemic and covering plots, the security we have attained with our 99 year lease, ACV and statuary status and poisonous plants!

You have finished and they go straight into the music ‘Summer in the City ‘ The Lovin Spoonful, and you can’t help but wonder where that link is in the middle of November.

The coffee is cold, the phone is quiet and then the researcher from BBC Radio London says thanks and that’s it.

For all those who missed it, sorry. For all those that heard it, I wish it had been longer, but the radio conveyer belt was running on, and no doubt the next person was coiled waiting to be released.   

To listen to the interview https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08ws0vw?fbclid=IwAR1YUr4-Wewg_Wiu7Suxlx0IfrKqM0a4vIq_l9GO3Na28Wat_9gVTkQzrLk and skip to 38.39 mins in and the interview finishes 45.50

Managing an Allotment During Covid 19

 

We now face a further six months of restrictions and running an allotment during this pandemic can be a thankless and complex business. Decisions must be taken that are not always popular and the allotment business has to continue. The situation will be different for Council direct managed sites to those who are self-managed and to others whose management is with third parties or less well defined. However, at the end of the day, the same changes must be met, the same decisions thought through and the same community protected.

The first challenge we all faced in March was whether we were open, closed and the rules surrounding attendance. Micheal Gove made it clear allotments were exercise and all stayed open. However, there is still the question of site management and maintenance. Whatever the position water provision needs to be maintained, gates and locks need to work and to maintain security, and the various issues that require direction and decision needed just that.

We were lucky and unlucky. Lucky in that we did not need to consult others outside and were in control of our own site, but unlucky in that the main role needed, that of Site Manager, went into self-isolation where he remains today. This means others had to step in who may not have had the experience of sometimes stopping minor issues being blow out of all proportion or the practical knowledge to maintain that which needed to keep all working and secure. The biggest issue we faced was that several our gate locks decided to give up around the same time. We had to learn how to fix and fiddle with a box of spare parts to effect security. When finally, they gave up, a quick decision had to be made to replace not just the locks but some 100 plus keys and ensure the keys and locks were secure and obviate unauthorised copies being made. Then we had to reissue keys to all under social distancing.

The most emotive issue was the decision to ban fires and BBQs. After all it was a respiratory virus and smoke could affect others on neighbouring plots who may well be asthma or have other breathing issues. We stood firm, but as time went on this decision came under increasing pressure. The situation wasn’t helped by the farm who could and did have fires under their DEFRA licence.

Decisions had to be made without committee meetings. We could have zoom meetings but not everyone on the committee was internet savvy or internet connected. Officers took the decisions needed acting under a consensus reached by email, phone and controlled by a Secretary who was herself self-isolating some two hundred miles away.

One of the early initiatives we took was to find out who was unable to maintain their plot for whatever reason; shielding, self-isolation etc . We found buddies either from the community or waiting lists to help maintain these plots such that when the plot holder returned, they would not be faced with a jungle. We also abandoned planned plot inspections and that still stands, but it was surprising and encouraging to find that the on the whole plots were attended more and maintained better than some would say they were previously.

I think I have had moore emails and calls than ever and our waiting list has exploded from being 150% oversubscribed to now being some 250% oversubscribed.

We also had to set up a visitor authorisation process. We effectively said no visitors other than children and according to the government guidelines had to ensure and social mixing and distancing was observed. Visitors were allowed but we need details and issued them with a letter accordingly. To some this may seem overkill but it was about ensure we knew who had visited and if someone had a problem knowing we could track and trace attendees.

Then comes the AGM and rent collections. We had already decided to move to cashless so that decision was a given and we also had to collect payment and distributed shares in our new cooperative company. We combined the activities and reduced the process time window and are confident that like the key distribution we shall achieve this with social distancing and good humour. 

The AGM is a bit more of a challenge. We took note of the FCA guidelines and postponed our AGM.  We have written to the FCA with some suggested options and asked for their help and guidance, but it looks increasingly unlikely that any AGM can take place before early Spring and we need to address the constitutional issues of account sign off and officer and committee elections etc. With 30% of our membership not being internet connected, many not being internet savvy, a number do not have good English skills we await FCA guidance. You may say, ‘we just got on with it,’ or ‘we did it all electronically’ but we are adamant we should not exclude members based on their lack of internet connection, unfamiliarity with conferencing tools or their ethnic background and command of English language.

So the last six months have not been easy. In many cases it has brought plot holders closer together and given all common purpose but it has given us a lot of issues and decisions to make but fortunately we have had no one catch the virus and long may that continue.

Welcome Back to the Plot

You may recall the BBC covering our programme to buddy up plot volunteers with plot holders who had to self-isolate, were shielded, or classed as vulnerable during the Covid 19 crisis. We had some half dozen plots being maintained and I took over my neighbour’s plot whilst she was locked down.

Click to read and view first blog article on TV https://londonplotlife.blogspot.com/2020/04/lottie-is-going-to-be-star-on-allotment.html

Click to read and view second blog article on TV https://londonplotlife.blogspot.com/2020/04/youre-on-allotment-tv-tomorrow-lottie.html

Now some 16 weeks later and Anna has returned, and we met up once again.

Anna was like a child in a sweetshop with her eyes darting from one plant to another examining everything on the plot and she was very pleased it wasn’t a jungle. Opening the shed which had also been in isolation took up new meaning and watching her once again become reunited with its contents was a joy.

It’s the first time in all these weeks she has ventured onto public transport or even very far out of the house. She still has yet to visit a supermarket and she is alert but safe. You can see the spring in her heels as she takes it all in.

She now plans to come a couple of times a week to ease herself back and maybe it may take some time but the plot will be looked after irrespective and even while I am away, cover has been arranged for both plots.

The one aspect I never realised at the beginning was the amount of watering and weeding two plots take.

Anna left with a broad smile and a big bag of produce.

‘What do I do with these flying saucers?’ she asked holding out some big yellow patti pans that I had picked for her.

I reply, ‘Eat them like courgettes. Slice them, cube them, grill them or steam them. They are lovely.’

‘Ok ’ she said still looking at them rather quizzically.

Lottie was pleased to see her and acknowledged her with a wagging tail and a nuzzle and she passed the sniff test. When she had left he said, ‘Nice to have her back. There’s always cake when she’s around.’

‘Did I miss the cake?’ Lottie asks.

‘No, it was just a short visit and it’s cake and a cuppa tea next time’ I responded.

‘I don’t drink tea’ she replied and flopped down disappointingly onto her cushions on the bench.

As folk start to come back onto the plots you meet old friends and although it’s just a few months, it’s different and great to meet up again. They certainly appreciate the work their buddies and that they are returning to a maintained plot since they have been away.

Next week sees the return of our Secretary who despite being in isolation a couple of hundred miles away , she has done a fantastic job managing many issues, the exploding waiting list and sorting out the National Society’s Kings Seeds process and insurance cover. Just need our Site Manager back and I can start to relax!

Managing an Allotment Site in Lockdown

So as lockdown eases will we get back to a more normal life on the allotments?

Since lockdown we haven’t had a Committee meeting and the allotments have literally been run by email, Whats App and the odd face to face. Our Secretary has been performing all the administration in isolation up North, our Site Manager has been in isolation caring for his mother and our Vice Chair has been looking after her mother, growing 400 plants for our plant swap and maintaining our community allotment. I have been juggling several balls and also maintaining my neighbour’s plot who has been in isolation. To top it all the barrels on the locks on two gates broke and we ended up having to change the locks and reissue keys top all plot holders. Lockdown has proved a hard time but the plots in the main have never looked better. Our guidelines were implemented early and have been followed by all.

All but a few plots are now being worked by their plot holders and the vast majority have been ever present throughout lockdown and although the social distance has now been reduced, this has not been a problem on the plots.

By reissuing keys and changing locks we proved to all we can change things and distribute stuff to individuals and still not compromise social distances and the health of all. We are fortunate to have a large pavilion and it looked good with a snake route of chairs for folk to follow and we also have two doors and so an entry and exit door. We also went cashless for the first time and will remain so into the future.

Three months is a long time. After all, its only just over three months since all our world’s changed with lock down. So, what will the situation be in three months from now?

In three months, we are scheduled to perform our rent collection days and the distribution of new shares and tenancy packs. We should also hold our AGM. But can we do all this, or do we need to delay and when is the last day to make that decision?

The rent collection and share payments should not prove a big issue and it is hoped that many will now be by bank transfer leaving the rest to card payments on the day. Distributing the new share certificates and tenancy packs should be a repeat should be on the same day and similar to the key distribution, not a problem to perform.

The big issue is the AGM and associated Committee meetings. First the committee must formally approve the accounts, agenda, and report to the AGM. This can be done virtually but there are several items we need to discuss and agree prior to the AGM. Again, we can do this even if this means getting the agreement offline then holding a small meeting that complies with the quorum rules. We then must issue call in notices, distribute certain papers, and comply with our nominations and election process. All sounds simple but involves lots of admin and conforming to schedule.

As an incorporated entity we don’t have the latitude we had previously to just cancel the AGM today as it must be held within 15 months of the last one so must be performed by the end of the year. We have yet to get formal guidance from the FCA on our obligations re accounts sign off and AGM actions in these circumstances.

Today, will all members be willing to attend an AGM? Can we facilitate all or must restrict numbers? Even if we get the required 25% quorum is the potential exclusive of others democratic?

Some will say, ‘Do it all by Zoom.’

But not everyone is a Zoomer, internet savvy or even connected.  There are many who rightly today wish to observe the social bubble guidelines so that presents a problem on all meetings. There is also the more vulnerable, high risk and ethnic groups who understandably would wish to avoid the risk.

With a virus which is unpredictable and could flare up at any time in any place we have a situation in which all plans must be fluid.

Finally, we are just an allotment.

Rent and distribution of shares etc. will take place but it is increasingly difficult to see an AGM at the beginning of October.

The temporary restrictions on fires will have to remain but the question of plot inspections may have to be revisited but take account of individual’s situation.

Since the lock down our waiting list has increased by some fifty people and on average we are now getting four applications a week to what was a list which was close to 200% oversubscribed

As the pubs, restaurants and cafes reopen this weekend we watch on with interest.  

Has the perception of allotments changed in the last few weeks?

There are many different perspectives of allotments, allotment folk and the value they provided to the community. Views will vary greatly, and some from outside may be far adrift from reality. The views of the value allotments give their plot holders will also differ by demographic and ethnic mix. But whatever the view held we must respect perception often trumps all.

Some views may be tainted by the length of waiting lists and in today’s instant gratification times, view allotments as elitist and plots unobtainable. Others may look through the gates and take the view that they often resemble a ramshackle shanty town. Others will look with envy at the fresh vegetables and jealously yearn for the good life. The perception will obviously vary significantly between rural and urban, suburban and inner-city sites. Some even see them as a sort of day care centre for the retired.

Over the years allotments have gone in and out of fashion. Often in times of hardship they attract attention, whilst in times of plenty and affluence they may lose that attraction.

As a result of the current Covid virus has perception of allotments changed?

One thing is very clear is that the profile of allotments and the benefits they offer has been raised. It may be increased column inches in the weekend broadsheets, or even the five-minute sound bite on TV but six months ago there would have been none.

Perhaps two things have helped to raise the profile. The first was the supermarket queues and the awakening that we as a society had become too dependent on the one stop shop, the perfect all year-round fresh food that knows no seasonality. When you start to add up the air miles and extended supply chains and things done to preserve freshness maybe you realise that there is fresh and there is fresh. The second profile raiser was the fact that allotments remained open all hours and even government ministers classed them as exercise. Later they were lauded as providing both mental well-being as well as physical exercise.

In areas of dense housing and where the shift from houses to flats often in the sky prevails, the loss of growing space or even meaningful open space is acute. Here in London’s Docklands we have the highest density of residential housing in Western Europe and everything new reaches into the sky in little boxes piled on top of each other. There is some open space but that is often managed by the estate to provide the lowest maintenance option and community gardening is rarely encouraged or provided.

It is ironic that allotments as we know them today are only some 100 to 150 years old. They were developed to provide, along with parks and libraries, a release from the industrial sprawl and to give householders a piece of land to grow on. Today the industrial sprawl has been replaced by concrete, glass and commercial and residential sprawl and yet we have less space than we did a 100 years ago or even 50 years ago. Some would suggest that we now have longer waiting lists and latent demand than at any time in the history of allotments.

I was once told by a Mayor of a borough that his colleagues were the problem and that they viewed allotments ‘as the lowest of the low.’ Well if there was ever a reason to change perception that was it.  Today even the hardest councils have had to keep allotments open and respect the benefits they give. Folk who thought gardening was something their parents and grandparents did have started to discover its many benefits and the closure of garden centres has in fact help raise awareness even further.

But perception must be changed and allotments have to continue to help that change happen. Allotments are integral to the community. They are environmental standard bearers, centres of both mental and physical well-being, educational stimulants, ethnic and social melting pots.

I often state to doubting eyes that only 28% of our plot holders are retired, only a minority are English origin and so on. These are small facts, but perception changes.

We do not judge the longest bean, the fattest leek, the straightest carrot. In fact, we celebrate the community outreach program we have and embrace environmental initiatives and projects.

Finally, I strongly believe that allotments do not stop at the fence and these physical barriers do not stop the allotments fully integrating into the community in many ways. Children may learn some basic gardening at school but where do we expect them to continue this after leaving school? Where do the disabled or long term sick go who are unable to physically manage a garden? How do we ensure social housing also has social gardening?

The city planners need to think holistically about the city-scapes they are responsible for developing and ensure that the various green and welfare needs highlighted by the current situation are not a lost opportunity. We can change not just perceptions but reality.   

Working in Lockdown at the Allotments

We are all a bit Covid 19 worn out. Newspapers cover every aspect of it starting at the front page and ending on the back Sports page. TV do not restrict it to the News but spread it across the schedules between repeats and old films and subject us to those Skype ‘talking heads’ from their own homes. It’s interesting to see what the homes look like, or what they want us to see. Zoom has become the big Social media winner facilitating exercise classes and conference calls. But has much changed down on the allotment?

It was soon made clear that allotments were exercise and could be attended but as with every allotment up and down the country we all had to quickly adapt and implement new temporary guidelines and rules. The farm which surrounds us went into lockdown around its core animal areas so restricting our site access but bringing home the need to exercise common sense and protect ourselves and others. Our allotment at the new Crossrail gardens at Canary Wharf became out of bounds and still is today. We had to work with Canary Wharf Group as we still grew the plants but could not plant them as things were on hold. It has been like growing for Chelsea, or several Chelsea’s without the show.

Meetings were cancelled and some would suggest little missed. Seed swaps and Plant swaps had to change but still were.

There were more notices pinned to noticeboards, gates and sent via email. We found ourselves generating notices as things evolved but thankfully are now able to consolidate these onto one A4 sheet (see the consolidated sheet at end of this article).

When folk were uncertain, worried, and often unable to attend their plot there was little point in plot inspections and they were cancelled.

We had to establish who was ‘shielded’, who was caring for someone in the high-risk category and who for whatever reason were wishing to stay away. We then established if those plot holders were happy for use to organise ‘buddies’ to look after their plots so when they did return it wasn’t a jungle and back to square one. Today we have around a dozen plots being looked after and authorised via our Secretary in advance. (T the top of the article is a picture of my neighbour's plot which is being looked after while they are unable to get to the plot).

We quickly restricted site access to plot holders and their children under 16. Fires and BBQs were banned. Social distancing, cleanliness processes, non-sharing of tools and use of water trough and tap guidelines posted.

One challenge many faced in the early weeks was getting compost and other essentials when the stores were closed.

Weeks later we have most of the site looking better than ever, and folk helping each other out. There have been some issues, but these have been quickly resolved and this is with our Secretary in isolation and stuck up North, out Site Manager in isolation with his mum and others juggling many challenges.

Coming out of lockdown it isn’t going to be hard. We are pleased to state that to date we have not had any casualties to the virus.  Some may choose to not come back to their plots but I expect the majority will and a new normal life will pick up.

The things we have probably learnt through this is the value allotments bring to our physical and mental health and wellbeing, the neighbours and community we can rely on to help and the privilege we have in having our plots when many others have so little space.

Applications to join have sky rocketed over the last period and surly it now time local authorities, together with housing associations, care groups, schools and others started to take a holistic strategy on use of open spaces and community growing, education and care.

Important Consolidated Notice 14/05/20 With the continuation of the current Lockdown it is important that we all follow the temporary measures that we have put in place and that are in line with both Regional and National guidelines.

YES keep working your plots, YES keep social distancing, YES use gloves if possible 

NO fires or barbecues, NO visitors

1.     No visitors are allowed without written authorisation from Secretary, (please supply plot and name details), which will not be unreasonably denied but not be brought to suite on all visits. Registered plot holders can continue to attend their plots. No social access will be granted.

2.     Children under 16 may attend with their parents as long as they reside at same house and must be supervised at all times and not go wandering around the site and onto on others plots.

3.     No fires or BBQs are permitted until further notice

4.     Over 70s or either have an underlying health issue, are pregnant, or have received a ‘shielded ‘ notice from government should notify inform the Secretary and follow guidance and information updated daily by the government and are not encouraged to attend and it will be at their own risk and they will not be insured.

5.     Social distance must always be adhered to 

6.     Please pay attention to the notice boards on entry and take note of any notices posted as information can change on a daily basis. 

7.     No Working on other plots is permitted unless authorised in advance.

8.     Gloves are recommended on entry and retained during stay.

9.     Cleanliness is vital so please do not share tools with others and only take water from the troughs and avoid touching ballcocks. Use the taps that are on site provide clean water for medicine and washing hands but please wipe the tap handle clean after use.

10.Access to upper plots is currently restricted to upper gate

If you are unable to work the plot due to government restrictions and would like someone to help maintain it then please contact the Secretary, Site 

Bees and their own Deadly Virus

Today we live in a world that has been paralysed by the Covid19 virus, but are we alone or are other species under equal pandemic attack?

It is estimated one third of the world’s crops depend on pollinators, so bees are a crucial part of the food chain. With loss of their habitat and climate change the Honey Bee is in decline, not just in the UK but globally and it now appears that this is being compounded by a virus attack which is killing their numbers and wiping out whole colonies.

A study published in the respected scientific journal ‘Nature’ has highlighted that Honey Bees are under a threat from a virus called Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV). The worker bee first shows signs of hair loss and erratic behaviour becoming somewhat discombobulated, balding and then shunned by his fellow workers before he dies.

Like Covid 19 in humans, the infected bees can carry the virus for up to six days before showing symptoms, raising the chance that they interact with others at forage sites and spread the virus to other colonies. There is no social distancing, no face mask, no glove and sanitiser.  There is also no known treatment for CBPV and beekeepers who suspect they have signs are simply advised to increase the space around the colony to create some ‘social distancing’. The undertaker bees will of course try to remove dead bees from a hive but at some point, like with the Health Service and humans they can be overwhelmed by the quantity of corpses they need to evict and may also succumb to the virus themselves.

Bees are a global farming business with colonies and queens often crossing borders. In the US only 0.7 per cent had CBPV in 2009, but by 2014 it was 16%. Italy experienced a rise from 5 per cent in 2009 to 10 per cent only a year later. China has seen a jump from 9 per cent to 38 per cent. A third of the bee population has been lost over the past decade. The disease has spread across England and Wales in only a decade and is now being reported in Scotland.

Since 2000, one sixth of the England and Wales 230,000 colonies have imported queens and analysis by a team at Newcastle University of Honey Bee imports from 25 countries suggested that the virus was nearly twice as likely to occur in apiaries using imported bees. Data collected from 24,000 beekeepers show that the virus was first recorded in 2007 in Lincolnshire.

Honeybees and Bumble bees are ‘social bees’ and are the best known or recognised bee species today and are the bees that are farmed in apiaries. However, there are some 250 species of bee in the UK with some 90% of bees being ‘solitary’ not ‘social’. Importantly there is little known today on the impact of CBPV on the 250 odd species of Solitary Bees be they mining, mason, cavity, cuckoo or leaf eating bees.

It is sobering to realise what virus attack similarities exist today between man and the bee.  

Below: Pictures of some of the little pollinators at work on the plot this year.