News
AT LONG LAST - NEW ALLOTMENTS GET GREEN LIGHT
After what seems to have been years of painstaking negotiations Edinburgh Leisure has transferred ownership of two of the city's many derelict bowling greens back to the Council for transformation into allotments and community gardens.
Consultation with residents has resulted in plans for more allotments at Victoria Park, expanding the existing site, itself a former bowling green, so locals can “cultivate their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers”. However respondents said the individual growing spaces should be “balanced with community gardens to benefit a broader range of residents and ensure inclusivity”.
Revamping the former bowling green could also see the pavilion turned into a café, public toilets, and community space, including a community growing area, a multi-use gathering space with sensory planting, seating, and swales to address flooding.
Plans for allotments at the other site under review, St. Margaret's Park, did not meet the residents' approval. Instead there will be urban growing areas, natural play space, a garden, and nature-friendly interventions.
Elsewhere we hear that the small allotment site at Newcraighall, created within a new major housing development, will be joined by an additional separate site.
So, good news. However, let's not get too carried away. The number of people getting a chance to grow their own food is tiny compared to the burgeoning waiting list, which now stands at close to 10,000. We don't yet actually know how many plots will be created at Victoria Park. Were you to apply for an allotment today and no-one already on the list dies or indicates they are no longer interested the current turnover rate would see you being given a plot around the year 2080. Maybe unrealistic, but people in Edinburgh getting plots now wait for around 15 years. Even 2040 feels like a long way in the future.
After what seems to have been years of painstaking negotiations Edinburgh Leisure has transferred ownership of two of the city's many derelict bowling greens back to the Council for transformation into allotments and community gardens.
Consultation with residents has resulted in plans for more allotments at Victoria Park, expanding the existing site, itself a former bowling green, so locals can “cultivate their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers”. However respondents said the individual growing spaces should be “balanced with community gardens to benefit a broader range of residents and ensure inclusivity”.
Revamping the former bowling green could also see the pavilion turned into a café, public toilets, and community space, including a community growing area, a multi-use gathering space with sensory planting, seating, and swales to address flooding.
Plans for allotments at the other site under review, St. Margaret's Park, did not meet the residents' approval. Instead there will be urban growing areas, natural play space, a garden, and nature-friendly interventions.
Elsewhere we hear that the small allotment site at Newcraighall, created within a new major housing development, will be joined by an additional separate site.
So, good news. However, let's not get too carried away. The number of people getting a chance to grow their own food is tiny compared to the burgeoning waiting list, which now stands at close to 10,000. We don't yet actually know how many plots will be created at Victoria Park. Were you to apply for an allotment today and no-one already on the list dies or indicates they are no longer interested the current turnover rate would see you being given a plot around the year 2080. Maybe unrealistic, but people in Edinburgh getting plots now wait for around 15 years. Even 2040 feels like a long way in the future.
ORANGE PEEL - REIMAGINED
Pulpfriction Cocktails are offering allotments in Edinburgh their orange peels, a byproduct of their freshly squeezed orange juice. This will break down in compost to add nutrient and structure to your soil.
If you're interested, contact Toni & Jack at 07720763124 or Instagram: @Pulpfriction_cocktails
Pulpfriction Cocktails are offering allotments in Edinburgh their orange peels, a byproduct of their freshly squeezed orange juice. This will break down in compost to add nutrient and structure to your soil.
If you're interested, contact Toni & Jack at 07720763124 or Instagram: @Pulpfriction_cocktails
COUNCIL ALLOTMENT UPDATE - JUNE 2024
Inverleith combined their AGM with a "skip weekend". More like a "skip 2 hours", really, as that was how long it took to fill it to the brim. One wonders where all that junk comes from. After the AGM there was a social drinks and nibbles session.
Some plotholders have volunteered to set up an informal system of mentoring to new plotholders and assisting anyone struggling on their plots. Lots of complaints are flying about concerning the number of slugs and snails this year. It seems the mild winter has allowed them to keep reproducing... and now they're hungry.
Lady Road enjoyed a visit from Stuart Swarbrick and the Ferry Road shredder "on tour". 2 builder's bags were filled with material for composting or mulching.
Intense rain in the last week of May resulted in major flooding of the site on the 23rd and 24th. Lesser floods occurred in the days following. However, the damage was not as bad as might be expected - probably due to a steady rise rather than flash flood. Nevertheless, this was reported to Scottish Water and the Council. It was suggested the culvert from the site under Lady Road be inspected.
Warriston is another flood-prone site, especially those plots down by the Water of Leith. This time the river came over a retaining wall. It is only 18 months since the last flood in this area. The water was about 2 feet deep, which is less than last time, but ruined seedlings and small plants and caused water damage to sheds and greenhouses. About 11 plots were affected and it took a few days for the water to drain away. Click here for recent images of Water of Leith flooding including the unfortunate Warriston plots.
Inverleith combined their AGM with a "skip weekend". More like a "skip 2 hours", really, as that was how long it took to fill it to the brim. One wonders where all that junk comes from. After the AGM there was a social drinks and nibbles session.
Some plotholders have volunteered to set up an informal system of mentoring to new plotholders and assisting anyone struggling on their plots. Lots of complaints are flying about concerning the number of slugs and snails this year. It seems the mild winter has allowed them to keep reproducing... and now they're hungry.
Lady Road enjoyed a visit from Stuart Swarbrick and the Ferry Road shredder "on tour". 2 builder's bags were filled with material for composting or mulching.
Intense rain in the last week of May resulted in major flooding of the site on the 23rd and 24th. Lesser floods occurred in the days following. However, the damage was not as bad as might be expected - probably due to a steady rise rather than flash flood. Nevertheless, this was reported to Scottish Water and the Council. It was suggested the culvert from the site under Lady Road be inspected.
Warriston is another flood-prone site, especially those plots down by the Water of Leith. This time the river came over a retaining wall. It is only 18 months since the last flood in this area. The water was about 2 feet deep, which is less than last time, but ruined seedlings and small plants and caused water damage to sheds and greenhouses. About 11 plots were affected and it took a few days for the water to drain away. Click here for recent images of Water of Leith flooding including the unfortunate Warriston plots.
ASBESTOS REMOVAL IMPACTS COUNCIL ALLOTMENT BUDGET
The urgent need to remove asbestos recently identified on a number of plots across the city will unfortunately severely impact the allotment budget for Council sites this year. The exact cost is as yet unknown but it has proved impossible for money to be sourced from elsewhere.
The material, in the form of corrugated sheeting, is likely not hazardous if left alone but can cause serious or fatal disease if it becomes damaged and fibres are inhaled. Now it has been uncovered it will need to be removed safely and disposed of appropriately - and expensively.
Leaving the material in place is not an option. Improvements to the Lady Road water supply are unaffected as this is under way but all other projects are suddenly "on ice".
The urgent need to remove asbestos recently identified on a number of plots across the city will unfortunately severely impact the allotment budget for Council sites this year. The exact cost is as yet unknown but it has proved impossible for money to be sourced from elsewhere.
The material, in the form of corrugated sheeting, is likely not hazardous if left alone but can cause serious or fatal disease if it becomes damaged and fibres are inhaled. Now it has been uncovered it will need to be removed safely and disposed of appropriately - and expensively.
Leaving the material in place is not an option. Improvements to the Lady Road water supply are unaffected as this is under way but all other projects are suddenly "on ice".
COUNCIL ALLOTMENT UPDATE - APRIL 2024
The urgent repairs to the pillar at the entrance to Ferry Road allotments were carried out swiftly. Too swiftly, it turned out. The fine workmanship was rather spoiled the following week when the road was dug up and the disturbance cracked the repair. You couldn't make it up.
The recent hiatus in trade waste bin uplifts seems to have worked its way through the system and the service has restarted visiting allotments. The backlog means that bins are refilled almost instantly and at Inverleith the spillover wasn't pickled up, leaving a ghastly mess. However, we are again heading in the right direction. Slowly.
Midmar plotholders are enjoying a spring seed swap initiative. A good initiative which could easily be replicated elsewhere.
The transformation of Stenhouse continues apace. With the wildlife area complete and seating installed attention turns to the area inside the gate which has been tidied up and prepared with cardboard and woodchip ready for a mini-orchard.
Saughton Mains are now in possession of Bridgend's old chipper. It is likely to be busy shredding woody material in the city's largest allotment site.
And finally... FEDAGA now has 2 apple presses and scratters which we will make available to member sites this autumn.
The urgent repairs to the pillar at the entrance to Ferry Road allotments were carried out swiftly. Too swiftly, it turned out. The fine workmanship was rather spoiled the following week when the road was dug up and the disturbance cracked the repair. You couldn't make it up.
The recent hiatus in trade waste bin uplifts seems to have worked its way through the system and the service has restarted visiting allotments. The backlog means that bins are refilled almost instantly and at Inverleith the spillover wasn't pickled up, leaving a ghastly mess. However, we are again heading in the right direction. Slowly.
Midmar plotholders are enjoying a spring seed swap initiative. A good initiative which could easily be replicated elsewhere.
The transformation of Stenhouse continues apace. With the wildlife area complete and seating installed attention turns to the area inside the gate which has been tidied up and prepared with cardboard and woodchip ready for a mini-orchard.
Saughton Mains are now in possession of Bridgend's old chipper. It is likely to be busy shredding woody material in the city's largest allotment site.
And finally... FEDAGA now has 2 apple presses and scratters which we will make available to member sites this autumn.
CREATING A WILDFLOWER MEADOW
Michael Muirhead of Wester Hailes writes: At a FEDAGA meeting last year, Graham Stone, Professor of Ecology at University of Edinburgh passionately presented on the benefits of native wildflower meadows and the importance they have for sustaining our populations of bees. Graham is behind the creation of many of wildflower meadows that you see in our public parks around Edinburgh and its environs. Graham’s presentation was extremely interesting and informative - we have over 100 species of bees in Scotland, some of which are short tongued and some are long tongued. This is important as these different categories of bees depend on a range of types and shapes of flowers to feed on - which can all be found in the variety of a wildflower meadow. For further information on bee tongues and what they use them for, click here.
Following this presentation, we decided to sow a wildflower meadow in Wester Hailes Allotments. We had a grassy area measuring about 5m by 15m bordering the railway fence - this was an area of land that wasn’t really suitable for turning into a plot and was occasionally used for parking on.
The first task was to remove the grass from the area and as many of the perennial weeds as possible. We didn’t want to use weed killer, both from an environmental perspective as well as being rather impatient to sow the seeds! So we decided to remove the top few inches of grass and soil from the area and dig out the perennial weeds (apart from the ones we missed!) in preparation for sowing.
We started the work on the 1st of April 2023 and above is a picture of the area before we started (note the frost!)
We spent the next 4 weeks preparing the ground and, after quite a bit of raking, it looked like this on the 3rd of May ready for sowing. We also decided to include a stumpery in one of the corners.
We wanted to sow native wildflower seeds that would provide flowers for both short tongued and long tongued bees throughout much of the period up to October and we purchased a seed mix from Scotia Seeds, which included a combination of annual (30%), biennial (10%) and perennial (60%) flowers.
In mid-June, 6 weeks after sowing, a carpet of green was beginning to get established and the meadow looked like this and after a further 3 weeks, it was showing a blaze of colour - pictured at the head of the page - with many bees visiting the meadow. It was lovely to see them and hear their buzzing.
If you want a wild flower meadow like this (click here for a how-to) choose a patch of land that is not suitable for cultivation. Poor soil works best. Given the extremely wet winter we've had the recommendation to sow in the autumn looks like bad advice. This story proves that preparing now and sowing soon will bring swift rewards - for you and your pollinators.
Michael Muirhead of Wester Hailes writes: At a FEDAGA meeting last year, Graham Stone, Professor of Ecology at University of Edinburgh passionately presented on the benefits of native wildflower meadows and the importance they have for sustaining our populations of bees. Graham is behind the creation of many of wildflower meadows that you see in our public parks around Edinburgh and its environs. Graham’s presentation was extremely interesting and informative - we have over 100 species of bees in Scotland, some of which are short tongued and some are long tongued. This is important as these different categories of bees depend on a range of types and shapes of flowers to feed on - which can all be found in the variety of a wildflower meadow. For further information on bee tongues and what they use them for, click here.
Following this presentation, we decided to sow a wildflower meadow in Wester Hailes Allotments. We had a grassy area measuring about 5m by 15m bordering the railway fence - this was an area of land that wasn’t really suitable for turning into a plot and was occasionally used for parking on.
The first task was to remove the grass from the area and as many of the perennial weeds as possible. We didn’t want to use weed killer, both from an environmental perspective as well as being rather impatient to sow the seeds! So we decided to remove the top few inches of grass and soil from the area and dig out the perennial weeds (apart from the ones we missed!) in preparation for sowing.
We started the work on the 1st of April 2023 and above is a picture of the area before we started (note the frost!)
We spent the next 4 weeks preparing the ground and, after quite a bit of raking, it looked like this on the 3rd of May ready for sowing. We also decided to include a stumpery in one of the corners.
We wanted to sow native wildflower seeds that would provide flowers for both short tongued and long tongued bees throughout much of the period up to October and we purchased a seed mix from Scotia Seeds, which included a combination of annual (30%), biennial (10%) and perennial (60%) flowers.
In mid-June, 6 weeks after sowing, a carpet of green was beginning to get established and the meadow looked like this and after a further 3 weeks, it was showing a blaze of colour - pictured at the head of the page - with many bees visiting the meadow. It was lovely to see them and hear their buzzing.
If you want a wild flower meadow like this (click here for a how-to) choose a patch of land that is not suitable for cultivation. Poor soil works best. Given the extremely wet winter we've had the recommendation to sow in the autumn looks like bad advice. This story proves that preparing now and sowing soon will bring swift rewards - for you and your pollinators.
COUNCIL ALLOTMENT UPDATE - MARCH 2024
Water taps on Council allotments will be turned on again at the end of the month. As the winter was generally mild it is hoped the number of bursts will be minimal.
Urgent wall repairs are required at the Ferry Road entrance. There is a yawning gap big enough for a man's hand between the wall and the gatepost that we are told is visible on Google Street View. (Look for the ivy creeping through.) Not quite "visible from space" but still impressive, in a bad way. We are reassured the Allotment Officer is now "on it".
Some sites have experienced poor-to-non-existent trade waste uplifts recently. This seems to happen twice each year as the routes change from winter to summer and then back again. It seems to be unbelievably difficult to ensure that the fresh roster has access to the list of allotment clients. We are assured that after a rumpus was kicked up the service will resume toot suite.
There are currently a large number of new plotholders being given access to their long-awaited plots, especially at Saughton Mains and Craigentinny. The Allotment Officer is even working Saturday mornings to ensure people are welcomed on to their new allotment in a typically brisk and efficient manner.
Sadly, the Council bid for a number of new composting toilets has failed but those in need at Inverleith will soon have relief. There are to be permanent toilets installed at Inverleith Park (and Leith Links, too). Hang on in there! It is anticipated that the Saughton Mains composting toilet will be installed in May.
The imminent Lady Road water upgrade will now take place in two phases. First, the new taps and posts will be positioned, then the extension to the present system will be added.
Water taps on Council allotments will be turned on again at the end of the month. As the winter was generally mild it is hoped the number of bursts will be minimal.
Urgent wall repairs are required at the Ferry Road entrance. There is a yawning gap big enough for a man's hand between the wall and the gatepost that we are told is visible on Google Street View. (Look for the ivy creeping through.) Not quite "visible from space" but still impressive, in a bad way. We are reassured the Allotment Officer is now "on it".
Some sites have experienced poor-to-non-existent trade waste uplifts recently. This seems to happen twice each year as the routes change from winter to summer and then back again. It seems to be unbelievably difficult to ensure that the fresh roster has access to the list of allotment clients. We are assured that after a rumpus was kicked up the service will resume toot suite.
There are currently a large number of new plotholders being given access to their long-awaited plots, especially at Saughton Mains and Craigentinny. The Allotment Officer is even working Saturday mornings to ensure people are welcomed on to their new allotment in a typically brisk and efficient manner.
Sadly, the Council bid for a number of new composting toilets has failed but those in need at Inverleith will soon have relief. There are to be permanent toilets installed at Inverleith Park (and Leith Links, too). Hang on in there! It is anticipated that the Saughton Mains composting toilet will be installed in May.
The imminent Lady Road water upgrade will now take place in two phases. First, the new taps and posts will be positioned, then the extension to the present system will be added.
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LAURISTON FARM PODCAST
BBC Radio Scotland has produced an interesting podcast about the urban farm project at Lauriston Farm. Click here to listen in.
One of the founders, Lisa Houston talks to Mark Stephen about the fortuitous creation of one of the UK's largest urban agroecology farms. The site is zoned into 3 themes: food, community and biodiversity. There are 50 allotments on the farm (now FEDAGA members) and Lisa talks about why they have been developed as they are - differently to traditionally run allotments.
Those of you who have recently taken possession of an unkempt and weedy plot should pay attention to find out the easiest way of taking control of your plot with minimal effort.
BBC Radio Scotland has produced an interesting podcast about the urban farm project at Lauriston Farm. Click here to listen in.
One of the founders, Lisa Houston talks to Mark Stephen about the fortuitous creation of one of the UK's largest urban agroecology farms. The site is zoned into 3 themes: food, community and biodiversity. There are 50 allotments on the farm (now FEDAGA members) and Lisa talks about why they have been developed as they are - differently to traditionally run allotments.
Those of you who have recently taken possession of an unkempt and weedy plot should pay attention to find out the easiest way of taking control of your plot with minimal effort.
COUNCIL ALLOTMENTS RENT - 2025
The City of Edinburgh Council has set the 2025/26 budget and next year's rents will be:
Full Plots: £161; Half Plots: £81 and Quarter Plots: £40.
The increase is pegged to the RPI.
Next year's invoice should be sent out electronically and will considerably streamline the annual invoicing procedure which seems to have remained essentially unchanged since Cammy Day's grandfather was a boy.
The City of Edinburgh Council has set the 2025/26 budget and next year's rents will be:
Full Plots: £161; Half Plots: £81 and Quarter Plots: £40.
The increase is pegged to the RPI.
Next year's invoice should be sent out electronically and will considerably streamline the annual invoicing procedure which seems to have remained essentially unchanged since Cammy Day's grandfather was a boy.
SMALL GRANTS FOR 2024
FEDAGA has approved the bids for Small Grants administered under the Gilbert Clark Fund. A little over £1000 will be paid to the following sites:
▪Baronscourt: Strimmer and battery packs.
▪Chesser Crescent: Water butt and guttering.
▪Ferry Road: Urinal bucket, wheel for barrow, communal gardening equipment.
▪Inverleith: Tripod steps, lopper saw, padlock.
▪Portobello East Junction: 2 wheelbarrows.
▪Saughton Mains: 5 sets of chipper PPE.
▪Stenhouse: Wheelbarrow.
▪Warriston: Gas burner, hedge trimmer, trestle table.
▪West Mains: 3 wheelbarrows, 4 flasks, water butt and accessories.
All these items are for communal use and will enable members to look after their sites better, be it cutting grass or pruning overhanging trees. More sites enjoy the benefit of a chipper on site and the PPE is essential for safe use. Some items, such as flasks, gas burners and tables are to enable community events to take place.
The grants are doubled up by contributions from each site and where appropriate equipment may be loaned out to other member sites by agreement. For example, Inverleith are happy for their tripod steps to be used elsewhere - if you are able to transport them.
FEDAGA has approved the bids for Small Grants administered under the Gilbert Clark Fund. A little over £1000 will be paid to the following sites:
▪Baronscourt: Strimmer and battery packs.
▪Chesser Crescent: Water butt and guttering.
▪Ferry Road: Urinal bucket, wheel for barrow, communal gardening equipment.
▪Inverleith: Tripod steps, lopper saw, padlock.
▪Portobello East Junction: 2 wheelbarrows.
▪Saughton Mains: 5 sets of chipper PPE.
▪Stenhouse: Wheelbarrow.
▪Warriston: Gas burner, hedge trimmer, trestle table.
▪West Mains: 3 wheelbarrows, 4 flasks, water butt and accessories.
All these items are for communal use and will enable members to look after their sites better, be it cutting grass or pruning overhanging trees. More sites enjoy the benefit of a chipper on site and the PPE is essential for safe use. Some items, such as flasks, gas burners and tables are to enable community events to take place.
The grants are doubled up by contributions from each site and where appropriate equipment may be loaned out to other member sites by agreement. For example, Inverleith are happy for their tripod steps to be used elsewhere - if you are able to transport them.
ALLOTMENTS BAD? - NOT SO FAST!
The January 2024 FEDAGA Newsletter carried a story about a report titled "Carbon Footprint Of Homegrown Food Six Times Greater Than Those Grown Conventionally"
The report treats urban food growing very negatively and we feel it unfairly ignores a few important factors that make commercial agriculture harmful to the environment. As our members have noted -
▪When a single high carbon contributor to the data is removed most urban farms are carbon-competitive with conventional farms;
▪Allotment soils have over 30% more carbon than arable farmland (and 25% more nitrogen too)*; and
▪Allotments produce between 4 and 11 times more yield by weight than farmland, depending on the experience of the allotmenteer.*The report's author was interviewed for BBC Radio 4's More Or Less programme broadcast on 7th February. Click here and scroll forward to 20 minutes in to hear what he had to say.
▪Sources: RHS, Which? Magazine and The University of Sheffield.
The January 2024 FEDAGA Newsletter carried a story about a report titled "Carbon Footprint Of Homegrown Food Six Times Greater Than Those Grown Conventionally"
The report treats urban food growing very negatively and we feel it unfairly ignores a few important factors that make commercial agriculture harmful to the environment. As our members have noted -
▪When a single high carbon contributor to the data is removed most urban farms are carbon-competitive with conventional farms;
▪Allotment soils have over 30% more carbon than arable farmland (and 25% more nitrogen too)*; and
▪Allotments produce between 4 and 11 times more yield by weight than farmland, depending on the experience of the allotmenteer.*The report's author was interviewed for BBC Radio 4's More Or Less programme broadcast on 7th February. Click here and scroll forward to 20 minutes in to hear what he had to say.
▪Sources: RHS, Which? Magazine and The University of Sheffield.
COUNCIL ALLOTMENT UPDATE - JANUARY 2024
FEDAGA and officials from the Council's Parks and Greenspace (including allotments) met up recently to discuss progress. To kick off on a positive note the Allotment Officer noted a marked reduction in bonfires across the allotment estate since shredders were introduced to more sites. He agreed in principle that the Council would provide funding from the allotment budget for servicing of the machines. Most large sites now have their own shredder (Ferry Road, Inverleith, Redhall, Warriston and West Mains) with the old shredder at Leith Links being looked at with a view to renovation and reintroduction into service.
Saughton Mains will soon take custody of the shredder at Bridgend, which is no longer required. There is a large quantity of material there waiting to be shredded and this will avoid unnecessary burning. Risk assessments, insurance and liability cover for all will be examined. Shredders can only be operated by trained volunteers using PPE.
Costs incurred through increased water charges are rising alarmingly which must come from the Council's meagre allotment budget. There is the real likelihood of water meters being introduced to more sites. ICB water tanks are to be supplied to Stenhouse and Warriston to aid water harvesting. Meanwhile, the Lady Road supply will be improved soon.
We're still reeling from the 12% hike in Council allotment charges that landed on the doorstep last month. Better news for next year. If the Council agrees to recommendations 2025 will see a mere 5% rise. Also, the invoice system will be upgraded allowing for electronic billing - reducing costs which we anticipate will be diverted into improvements "on the ground".
The prospect of new sites being created to address the mammoth waiting list is not good. Presently, expansion of Victoria Park allotments (on again, off again, on again?) seems to be the only game in town. More housing at Newcraighall might be accompanied by a new allotment site - but that's probably some way away yet. We are still holding a candle for Balgreen/Pansy Walk. Up in the air might describe this best.
Composting toilet provision for Saughton Mains should emerge blinking into the light this year. Hold on if you can.
FEDAGA and officials from the Council's Parks and Greenspace (including allotments) met up recently to discuss progress. To kick off on a positive note the Allotment Officer noted a marked reduction in bonfires across the allotment estate since shredders were introduced to more sites. He agreed in principle that the Council would provide funding from the allotment budget for servicing of the machines. Most large sites now have their own shredder (Ferry Road, Inverleith, Redhall, Warriston and West Mains) with the old shredder at Leith Links being looked at with a view to renovation and reintroduction into service.
Saughton Mains will soon take custody of the shredder at Bridgend, which is no longer required. There is a large quantity of material there waiting to be shredded and this will avoid unnecessary burning. Risk assessments, insurance and liability cover for all will be examined. Shredders can only be operated by trained volunteers using PPE.
Costs incurred through increased water charges are rising alarmingly which must come from the Council's meagre allotment budget. There is the real likelihood of water meters being introduced to more sites. ICB water tanks are to be supplied to Stenhouse and Warriston to aid water harvesting. Meanwhile, the Lady Road supply will be improved soon.
We're still reeling from the 12% hike in Council allotment charges that landed on the doorstep last month. Better news for next year. If the Council agrees to recommendations 2025 will see a mere 5% rise. Also, the invoice system will be upgraded allowing for electronic billing - reducing costs which we anticipate will be diverted into improvements "on the ground".
The prospect of new sites being created to address the mammoth waiting list is not good. Presently, expansion of Victoria Park allotments (on again, off again, on again?) seems to be the only game in town. More housing at Newcraighall might be accompanied by a new allotment site - but that's probably some way away yet. We are still holding a candle for Balgreen/Pansy Walk. Up in the air might describe this best.
Composting toilet provision for Saughton Mains should emerge blinking into the light this year. Hold on if you can.
ANNUAL REPORTS - Summary of reports and responses at this year's AGM.
President’s Review of 2023
Isn’t it good to get back to being able to do this?!!
I think the last few years has really taught us the value of our allotments for growing food but also to be able to meet and chat to people. We are very lucky.
The waiting list in Edinburgh is now around 6,500. The annual turnover figure is around 100 each year – which makes the current expected waiting time, if you join the list now, 55 years. We are VERY VERY lucky.
Our monthly Management Meetings have been mostly replaced with Zoom meetings. We did hold a meeting at Redhall in July, rather chilly it was too but thanks to Paul Kerr for arranging.
Thanks are certainly due to Liz Grace and our Management Committee for their wise council in helping improve sites to make the allotment experience better for everyone.
I think Zoom will stay at least for the majority of meetings. We’ve got used to the comfort of our homes which has meant more attendees, shorter meetings and no travelling. The only downside is that virtual meetings become a bit of a challenge for keeping minutes. More thanks are due to Paul for performing this essential role in keeping us right.
We continue to be frustrated that the Council’s Allotment Service have not resumed regular strategy meetings. The good news is we do tend to resolve issues via email these days but will continue to try to get a date…soon.
Our membership is now 1,447 plotholders, all being sent the monthly newsletter. The newsletter will help you keep up to date with what is going on in your Federation and to take advantage of advice, discounted seeds along with events and visits.
I really enjoy reading it and hope you do too. Ernie Watt is our newsletter editor and webmaster. On behalf of all your readers… Thank You Ernie, you do a brilliant job.
Our relationship with the Allotment Service remains very positive. Ian Woolard now attends a couple of meetings a year which gives us the opportunity of a Spring and Autumn review which makes a great difference to resolving problems and prioritising maintenance.
Our committee meetings continue to align our meeting agenda to our constitution. As I’ve said before, our constitution has quite simple objectives:
The co-ordination of Allotment Associations, the protection of their interests and the improvement of their conditions.
So, the first thing we discuss is site reports. What problems are being encountered, can we help, are there precedents? Anyone gets a say, but most importantly there is time to try to seek resolutions.
Our small grants scheme, now named after our legendary Gilbert Clark, continues and has completed its third year. It has already helped many sites build communal composting bins, buy wheelbarrows and generally improve sites. Dave will give some details in his report.
Planning applications affecting sites are monitored by Alison Hewitt, Sites at Northfield and West Mains are both active with plans that could overshadow or flood their respective sites. Thanks to her and to our members who monitor and comment on these applications.
We are also involved in maintenance at sites to ensure we get value for money. Jan Bradbury, has taken this job over from Neiria McClure to keep Ian Woolard on his toes. Thanks to you both.
Our constitution continues -
To stimulate interest in and to encourage a commitment towards horticulture in allotments
Our show is back! This year we partnered with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society (aka ‘The Caley’) following a successful Lottery grant application. We wanted to combine a traditional show with help to enable anyone to grow food at home. John will tell you more later. Thank you, John and his team of helpers for such a successful show. I must confess to only arriving at the show at the eleventh hour so am keen to hear his report too.
We have been involved in Edible Edinburgh; Edinburgh’s food growing strategy. Margaret Williamson represents Edinburgh’s allotment community at meetings and exhibitions. Sadly funding from the Council seems to have ended but we are hopeful it can restart. Our thanks to Margaret for this and her help at the show.
We also enjoyed a fascinating talk entitled ‘Urban Spaces - Better Places For Pollinators’ by Professor Graham Stone. Thanks to Alan Gordon for arranging this. This was held over Zoom and attracted a lot of interest from our members. It revealed that allotments and gardens are by far the best places to find pollinators. This contrasted with the doomsday scenario in China where uncontrolled pesticide use has left an environment where crops have to be hand pollinated. Well done us for helping the bees help us.
Finally, our constitution has as its last objective -
To purchase, on a co-operative basis, supplies for the use of the members of the Federation
I hope you take advantage of our seed scheme which is generously provided by Kings Seeds. This year we made orders valued at just over £10,000. Our plotholders only paid 55% of that and another 10% was returned to sites as an additional commission.
Alison Hewitt looks after trading and has put together a report on the scheme and the changes she’s made to both improve it. More from our Trading Officer later.
Thanks again to Alison and all the volunteers who arranged the incredible effort that is rewarded in savings to you and commissions to site funds. We’re back in the BB HQ again for this mammoth task, thanks to Pamela McKay and the Boys Brigade for putting up with us.
There are a couple of items we ought to be considering over the next twelve months. Should we become a SCIO? That’s a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It allows us to enter into contracts, employ staff, incur debts, own property, sue and be sued. It also means individuals on our committee cannot be held liable for any debts, as is the case now. If you’ve experience of doing this and could help, please let us know.
Secondly, quite a few years ago a leaflet was produced with details of what the Federation stood for and did. It’s now way out of date, it predates the Internet, so we’d like to update it. Again, if you have skills in creating an attractive and informative leaflet then please let us know.
It is good to see so many familiar faces here and I trust you are all enjoying the healthy exercise, fresh food and the community spirit that we’ve realised are so important to our health.
The Federation certainly wants that to continue and thanks to our devoted committee and site representatives, I’m confident that it will.
President’s Review of 2023
Isn’t it good to get back to being able to do this?!!
I think the last few years has really taught us the value of our allotments for growing food but also to be able to meet and chat to people. We are very lucky.
The waiting list in Edinburgh is now around 6,500. The annual turnover figure is around 100 each year – which makes the current expected waiting time, if you join the list now, 55 years. We are VERY VERY lucky.
Our monthly Management Meetings have been mostly replaced with Zoom meetings. We did hold a meeting at Redhall in July, rather chilly it was too but thanks to Paul Kerr for arranging.
Thanks are certainly due to Liz Grace and our Management Committee for their wise council in helping improve sites to make the allotment experience better for everyone.
I think Zoom will stay at least for the majority of meetings. We’ve got used to the comfort of our homes which has meant more attendees, shorter meetings and no travelling. The only downside is that virtual meetings become a bit of a challenge for keeping minutes. More thanks are due to Paul for performing this essential role in keeping us right.
We continue to be frustrated that the Council’s Allotment Service have not resumed regular strategy meetings. The good news is we do tend to resolve issues via email these days but will continue to try to get a date…soon.
Our membership is now 1,447 plotholders, all being sent the monthly newsletter. The newsletter will help you keep up to date with what is going on in your Federation and to take advantage of advice, discounted seeds along with events and visits.
I really enjoy reading it and hope you do too. Ernie Watt is our newsletter editor and webmaster. On behalf of all your readers… Thank You Ernie, you do a brilliant job.
Our relationship with the Allotment Service remains very positive. Ian Woolard now attends a couple of meetings a year which gives us the opportunity of a Spring and Autumn review which makes a great difference to resolving problems and prioritising maintenance.
Our committee meetings continue to align our meeting agenda to our constitution. As I’ve said before, our constitution has quite simple objectives:
The co-ordination of Allotment Associations, the protection of their interests and the improvement of their conditions.
So, the first thing we discuss is site reports. What problems are being encountered, can we help, are there precedents? Anyone gets a say, but most importantly there is time to try to seek resolutions.
Our small grants scheme, now named after our legendary Gilbert Clark, continues and has completed its third year. It has already helped many sites build communal composting bins, buy wheelbarrows and generally improve sites. Dave will give some details in his report.
Planning applications affecting sites are monitored by Alison Hewitt, Sites at Northfield and West Mains are both active with plans that could overshadow or flood their respective sites. Thanks to her and to our members who monitor and comment on these applications.
We are also involved in maintenance at sites to ensure we get value for money. Jan Bradbury, has taken this job over from Neiria McClure to keep Ian Woolard on his toes. Thanks to you both.
Our constitution continues -
To stimulate interest in and to encourage a commitment towards horticulture in allotments
Our show is back! This year we partnered with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society (aka ‘The Caley’) following a successful Lottery grant application. We wanted to combine a traditional show with help to enable anyone to grow food at home. John will tell you more later. Thank you, John and his team of helpers for such a successful show. I must confess to only arriving at the show at the eleventh hour so am keen to hear his report too.
We have been involved in Edible Edinburgh; Edinburgh’s food growing strategy. Margaret Williamson represents Edinburgh’s allotment community at meetings and exhibitions. Sadly funding from the Council seems to have ended but we are hopeful it can restart. Our thanks to Margaret for this and her help at the show.
We also enjoyed a fascinating talk entitled ‘Urban Spaces - Better Places For Pollinators’ by Professor Graham Stone. Thanks to Alan Gordon for arranging this. This was held over Zoom and attracted a lot of interest from our members. It revealed that allotments and gardens are by far the best places to find pollinators. This contrasted with the doomsday scenario in China where uncontrolled pesticide use has left an environment where crops have to be hand pollinated. Well done us for helping the bees help us.
Finally, our constitution has as its last objective -
To purchase, on a co-operative basis, supplies for the use of the members of the Federation
I hope you take advantage of our seed scheme which is generously provided by Kings Seeds. This year we made orders valued at just over £10,000. Our plotholders only paid 55% of that and another 10% was returned to sites as an additional commission.
Alison Hewitt looks after trading and has put together a report on the scheme and the changes she’s made to both improve it. More from our Trading Officer later.
Thanks again to Alison and all the volunteers who arranged the incredible effort that is rewarded in savings to you and commissions to site funds. We’re back in the BB HQ again for this mammoth task, thanks to Pamela McKay and the Boys Brigade for putting up with us.
There are a couple of items we ought to be considering over the next twelve months. Should we become a SCIO? That’s a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It allows us to enter into contracts, employ staff, incur debts, own property, sue and be sued. It also means individuals on our committee cannot be held liable for any debts, as is the case now. If you’ve experience of doing this and could help, please let us know.
Secondly, quite a few years ago a leaflet was produced with details of what the Federation stood for and did. It’s now way out of date, it predates the Internet, so we’d like to update it. Again, if you have skills in creating an attractive and informative leaflet then please let us know.
It is good to see so many familiar faces here and I trust you are all enjoying the healthy exercise, fresh food and the community spirit that we’ve realised are so important to our health.
The Federation certainly wants that to continue and thanks to our devoted committee and site representatives, I’m confident that it will.
Treasurer’s Report
Firstly, would like to thank John Grace and Alison Hewitt for their work on checking the accounts.
I continue to attempt to reduce the money held in FEDAGA accounts. My aim is to have about £10,000 held in total. This should be enough to cover all our financial activities year on year.
Everyone should have had a copy of the financial report sent to their email account. There a few here available if required.
Headline figures asset held at the end of the financial year was £13,152.89 down from £15,489.29 the previous year. This large drop was caused by the paying out, of the return to site monies for two years in this financial year. This was due to the late payment of the City Of Edinburgh Council (CEC) subscription returns into the FEDAGA bank account.
The trading and CEC returned just under £5000 to sites. This breaks down into CEC subs, potatoes, onions, shallots, Garlic and Leeks. Further details will be presented in Alisons report. Fees returned remained at £2.00 for CEC sites and £1 for affiliated sites. Next year’s returns will be agreed a future Committee meeting.
One of the ways to reduce our account balance is the Gilbert Clark Foundation Fund (GCFF). In this financial year FEDAGA have sponsored 10 (9 projects paid out in this financial year) to the sum of £1435.86 Target funds £2000 a £500 underspend. Total spent £2685.36 by both FEDAGA and Sites fund matching. I would encourage all sites to look at what they need and apply for funding. The project invested in the following diverse items. Wheelbarrows, notice board, catering facilities, Pop-up Gazebo, demolition tools, incinerators and raised beds. (some of which can be borrowed).The fund will again be run this year in November, details on how to apply and the budget will be set out then.
Continued problems are being experienced with returning monies to site which either do not have bank accounts or a committee to pay their fees to. The outstanding amount is £ 628.26. I would encourage all sites to contact me to discuss ways of obtaining this money. The easiest way to obtain funds is to organize a bank account and money will be paid directly, if that’s not possible organise a site committee, if that’s not possible call a meeting and agree to spend the money on the sites needs. Minimum requirements are the signed receipt for what has been spent and 3 signatures to validate spend on the community needs. Examples are wheelbarrows, compost, materials for building, communal tools etc.
Any money not spent by the end of this financial year will be reabsorbed into the FEDAGA accounts… be warned.
Proposal by Dave Roberts that the underspend monies from the trading schemes which could not be paid to sites with no Bank Account, should go into the Gilbert Clark Foundation to be made widely available to other sites through the grant scheme.
Seconded by Stuart McKenzie. No dissenters from the floor. Motion carried.
Vivienne Swann suggested that a special article on the Gilbert Clark Foundation Grant scheme could go in the FEDAGA Newsletter informing sites how they could go about applying for a grant.
One question from the floor enquiring if the annual accounts had been fully audited . The constitution states the accounts be inspected and yes, they have been fully checked by John Grace and Alison Hewitt.
Trading Secretary Report
This is now my third year as Trading Secretary and I am still learning. As ever, the aim of the trading scheme is to offer high quality discounted goods to FEDAGA members. It hopes to return a small percentage of money raised, back to sites to use as they wish. Any profit after this is used to fund initiatives like the Gilbert Clark Foundation Fund.
Last year saw the change from 2kg bags of potatoes down to 1kg. This was generally well received, although a few people wanted to buy more at the shop as they felt they didn’t have enough. The size of the onion bags was reduced to 250gm from 500gm and this seemed to prove popular.
This year we decided to reduce the number of potato varieties from 22 to 16 to try and reduce the amount of surplus needing to be sold in the shop. Unfortunately the choice we were given by the supplier, had fewer organic options, and the prices had risen significantly from the previous year. Although more expensive at £2 or £2.25 this is still a competitive price compared to on line sellers who charge on average £6.99 plus postage costs. The wholesale price of onions, shallots, garlic and leeks have all increased as well this year, which has to be reflected in our prices and a small commission on sales has been paid back to sites this year. The main objective being to supply you, the members, with the best value possible.
The Excel order form remains a challenge for some. If you’re not a Microsoft user, please save it as a PDF for me and I will be able to read that. Thanks to Dave, I’ve learnt how to remove zeros, so the form can be printed out and filled in by hand. The form this year managed to fit onto one page which saved printing costs for people who don’t use the online version. For the first time for many years, there were no substitutions made, everybody got what they ordered. The early issue of the order form seems to have helped with this. Deliveries this year were straightforward, and they arrived when they said they would, despite me managing to put my home postcode on the form as they both start with EH6.
We used the Boys Brigade premises here on Ferry Road to sort and distribute our potato and onion orders. It was perfect, warm, dry, secure, rodent free, and with coffee as well. Perfect for collecting your site orders as there is a car park and wheelbarrows to transport your goods. Thank you so much Pamela McKay for being so welcoming. We thought for a while we might not be able to use it next year, and had started looking around for something comparable, luckily it became vacant again, so we will be here again in February. I would like to thank all the people who helped with deliveries, weighing onions, sorting potatoes, organising the collections and staffing the shop.
The FEDAGA shop will be open to sell surplus potatoes, onions and shallots in February, Leeks in June and Garlic in October. Please watch your notice boards and newsletters for details.
There have been fewer orders made this year and I would be keen to hear feedback from sites about the reasons. Is it the price increases, or is it fewer potato varieties being offered, smaller bags? If I know, I can address any issues. I contacted the sites which had smaller orders and there have been a few suggestions, but no obvious themes. If anyone has any thoughts or wants anything else added to the order, please contact me at FEDAGA Trading, [email protected].
There are still sites that do not take part in the trading scheme or do not have a trading representative which is a shame for the people who would like to order. It takes a bit of time and commitment, and if you do want to do it, your fellow plotholders would be very grateful.
I would like to thank the people on the sites who have collated, collected and distributed orders. Thanks also to Stuart McKenzie, Dave Roberts and Ernie Watt for help and advice, and everyone else who has contributed in any way.
Annual Show Report
Click here for the full report, including tables and a diagram (sorry, we're unable to reproduce this in full here).
John Grace and Margaret Williamson spoke to the report with an audio/visual presentation.
VS enquired regarding community outreach for the Annual Show. Suggested that if FEDAGA were repeating the same format at Saughton Park next year then FEDAGA could involve community gardens such as Bridgend. JG commented that the decision on this yerars Lottery grant application only came through at the end of July which didn’t leave much time to make all of the show arrangements for September.
Michael Muirhead enquired if the show in partnership with the Caley this year was a one-off or would be repeated next year. John Grace said we have had a meeting with the Caley and they are keen to have the event again.
Firstly, would like to thank John Grace and Alison Hewitt for their work on checking the accounts.
I continue to attempt to reduce the money held in FEDAGA accounts. My aim is to have about £10,000 held in total. This should be enough to cover all our financial activities year on year.
Everyone should have had a copy of the financial report sent to their email account. There a few here available if required.
Headline figures asset held at the end of the financial year was £13,152.89 down from £15,489.29 the previous year. This large drop was caused by the paying out, of the return to site monies for two years in this financial year. This was due to the late payment of the City Of Edinburgh Council (CEC) subscription returns into the FEDAGA bank account.
The trading and CEC returned just under £5000 to sites. This breaks down into CEC subs, potatoes, onions, shallots, Garlic and Leeks. Further details will be presented in Alisons report. Fees returned remained at £2.00 for CEC sites and £1 for affiliated sites. Next year’s returns will be agreed a future Committee meeting.
One of the ways to reduce our account balance is the Gilbert Clark Foundation Fund (GCFF). In this financial year FEDAGA have sponsored 10 (9 projects paid out in this financial year) to the sum of £1435.86 Target funds £2000 a £500 underspend. Total spent £2685.36 by both FEDAGA and Sites fund matching. I would encourage all sites to look at what they need and apply for funding. The project invested in the following diverse items. Wheelbarrows, notice board, catering facilities, Pop-up Gazebo, demolition tools, incinerators and raised beds. (some of which can be borrowed).The fund will again be run this year in November, details on how to apply and the budget will be set out then.
Continued problems are being experienced with returning monies to site which either do not have bank accounts or a committee to pay their fees to. The outstanding amount is £ 628.26. I would encourage all sites to contact me to discuss ways of obtaining this money. The easiest way to obtain funds is to organize a bank account and money will be paid directly, if that’s not possible organise a site committee, if that’s not possible call a meeting and agree to spend the money on the sites needs. Minimum requirements are the signed receipt for what has been spent and 3 signatures to validate spend on the community needs. Examples are wheelbarrows, compost, materials for building, communal tools etc.
Any money not spent by the end of this financial year will be reabsorbed into the FEDAGA accounts… be warned.
Proposal by Dave Roberts that the underspend monies from the trading schemes which could not be paid to sites with no Bank Account, should go into the Gilbert Clark Foundation to be made widely available to other sites through the grant scheme.
Seconded by Stuart McKenzie. No dissenters from the floor. Motion carried.
Vivienne Swann suggested that a special article on the Gilbert Clark Foundation Grant scheme could go in the FEDAGA Newsletter informing sites how they could go about applying for a grant.
One question from the floor enquiring if the annual accounts had been fully audited . The constitution states the accounts be inspected and yes, they have been fully checked by John Grace and Alison Hewitt.
Trading Secretary Report
This is now my third year as Trading Secretary and I am still learning. As ever, the aim of the trading scheme is to offer high quality discounted goods to FEDAGA members. It hopes to return a small percentage of money raised, back to sites to use as they wish. Any profit after this is used to fund initiatives like the Gilbert Clark Foundation Fund.
Last year saw the change from 2kg bags of potatoes down to 1kg. This was generally well received, although a few people wanted to buy more at the shop as they felt they didn’t have enough. The size of the onion bags was reduced to 250gm from 500gm and this seemed to prove popular.
This year we decided to reduce the number of potato varieties from 22 to 16 to try and reduce the amount of surplus needing to be sold in the shop. Unfortunately the choice we were given by the supplier, had fewer organic options, and the prices had risen significantly from the previous year. Although more expensive at £2 or £2.25 this is still a competitive price compared to on line sellers who charge on average £6.99 plus postage costs. The wholesale price of onions, shallots, garlic and leeks have all increased as well this year, which has to be reflected in our prices and a small commission on sales has been paid back to sites this year. The main objective being to supply you, the members, with the best value possible.
The Excel order form remains a challenge for some. If you’re not a Microsoft user, please save it as a PDF for me and I will be able to read that. Thanks to Dave, I’ve learnt how to remove zeros, so the form can be printed out and filled in by hand. The form this year managed to fit onto one page which saved printing costs for people who don’t use the online version. For the first time for many years, there were no substitutions made, everybody got what they ordered. The early issue of the order form seems to have helped with this. Deliveries this year were straightforward, and they arrived when they said they would, despite me managing to put my home postcode on the form as they both start with EH6.
We used the Boys Brigade premises here on Ferry Road to sort and distribute our potato and onion orders. It was perfect, warm, dry, secure, rodent free, and with coffee as well. Perfect for collecting your site orders as there is a car park and wheelbarrows to transport your goods. Thank you so much Pamela McKay for being so welcoming. We thought for a while we might not be able to use it next year, and had started looking around for something comparable, luckily it became vacant again, so we will be here again in February. I would like to thank all the people who helped with deliveries, weighing onions, sorting potatoes, organising the collections and staffing the shop.
The FEDAGA shop will be open to sell surplus potatoes, onions and shallots in February, Leeks in June and Garlic in October. Please watch your notice boards and newsletters for details.
There have been fewer orders made this year and I would be keen to hear feedback from sites about the reasons. Is it the price increases, or is it fewer potato varieties being offered, smaller bags? If I know, I can address any issues. I contacted the sites which had smaller orders and there have been a few suggestions, but no obvious themes. If anyone has any thoughts or wants anything else added to the order, please contact me at FEDAGA Trading, [email protected].
There are still sites that do not take part in the trading scheme or do not have a trading representative which is a shame for the people who would like to order. It takes a bit of time and commitment, and if you do want to do it, your fellow plotholders would be very grateful.
I would like to thank the people on the sites who have collated, collected and distributed orders. Thanks also to Stuart McKenzie, Dave Roberts and Ernie Watt for help and advice, and everyone else who has contributed in any way.
Annual Show Report
Click here for the full report, including tables and a diagram (sorry, we're unable to reproduce this in full here).
John Grace and Margaret Williamson spoke to the report with an audio/visual presentation.
VS enquired regarding community outreach for the Annual Show. Suggested that if FEDAGA were repeating the same format at Saughton Park next year then FEDAGA could involve community gardens such as Bridgend. JG commented that the decision on this yerars Lottery grant application only came through at the end of July which didn’t leave much time to make all of the show arrangements for September.
Michael Muirhead enquired if the show in partnership with the Caley this year was a one-off or would be repeated next year. John Grace said we have had a meeting with the Caley and they are keen to have the event again.
The Edible Garden Series is a series of growing skills workshops designed for anyone who wants to grow their own veg at home or on their allotment. It is brought to you by The Caley and has been developed from feedback gathered at the recent Edinburgh Allotment Show.
The first workshop, Recycling Organic Matter, on is on 18th November, 10am to 12noon in the McHattie Room at Saughton Park, and is all about composting.
Cost of this workshop is:
Caley Members £25.00
Non-members £30.00
You can also book the series of 6 workshops in advance and get a discount of 10% on the booking price:
Caley Members £135.00
Non-members £162.00
A list of the workshops including topics covered can be found here.
To book, please email [email protected].
The first workshop, Recycling Organic Matter, on is on 18th November, 10am to 12noon in the McHattie Room at Saughton Park, and is all about composting.
Cost of this workshop is:
Caley Members £25.00
Non-members £30.00
You can also book the series of 6 workshops in advance and get a discount of 10% on the booking price:
Caley Members £135.00
Non-members £162.00
A list of the workshops including topics covered can be found here.
To book, please email [email protected].
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ALLOTMENT REPORT LAUNCHED AT MIDMAR
Midmar was the stage for the launch of the Allotments and Community Growing Report. We were lucky to get a window of dry, clear weather for the event and a rainbow even sat above us. Hopefully, that will be a good omen. The Report sets out the direction the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee wants the Scottish Parliament to take to realise the ambitions of the Community Empowerment Act as regards allotments. In a nutshell it recognises the significant demand is not being met and access to land remains a challenge. It calls for better leadership from Government and looks at ways of solving the problems that result in waiting lists in Edinburgh of 14 years and rising. Recommendations include: ▪Better data collection from and grant support to local authorities. ▪Recognising the importance of allotments in good food strategies and biodiversity goals. ▪Regular reviews of waiting lists to better link people with what they actually want. ▪Simplifying planning requirements to make food growing and community asset transfers easier.There is an excellent report by the Edinburgh Reporter here which includes a short video of the launch featuring Ariane Burgess, the Committee Convenor, and John Grace, Chair of Midmar Allotments Association (pictured). Click here to read the full report. |
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FEDAGA Goes To Holyrood
Stuart McKenzie, FEDAGA President, plus representatives from Scottish Allotments, Glasgow Allotments Forum and the Community Growing Forum spoke to members of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee at the Scottish Parliament in May 2022.
Stuart spoke on
1. the value of allotments,
2. the growing waiting list in Edinburgh,
3. the need for communication to those on the waiting list and
4. the likely cost of creating a new site.
All representatives said how ineffective the Community Empowerment Act (CEA) is and how any group wishing to create a site is tied up in red tape from the word go - which is of course assuming the group had managed to form in the first place.
Participants all found the exercise quite an odd experience answering questions from the Convener and occasionally the committee but getting very little feedback at all, or any discussion apart from at the very end when the East Lothian MSP Paul McLennan actually got enthusiastic about community involvement in food growing. Maybe that's just the way these committees work.
The delegation was excluded from any follow-up discussion so we have no idea what happens now. Perhaps they will come up with a statement of where we are, listing some of the problems. Whether they do anything to sort them will remain to be seen.
We live in hope!
Limitations of the Community Empowerment Act Exposed
Earlier in May, Stuart spoke to civil servants monitoring implementation of the CEA and gave the view from Edinburgh. You will recall that this legislation is intended to improve the provision of allotments so that no-one waits for more than 5 years for a plot. There are currently 5496 people waiting for an allotment in Edinburgh. We heard recently of someone taking up the offer of a plot after waiting 15 years.
Stuart comments that since the CEA was enshrined in law little has been achieved in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Allotment Strategy says new sites will be created by communities themselves yet no attempt at forming those communities has been made.
Waiting Lists Growing Out Of Control
In recent years, particularly since the pandemic, the number of people asking for an allotment has increased dramatically. However, the number of people waiting is a blunt piece of information. Perhaps it would be better to monitor the annual turnover of tenants. For a site like Inverleith which has around 800 on the waiting list, there were 8 new plotholders this year. At this rate the real waiting time can be theoretically calculated at about 100 years. Surely that is an excessive amount of time for anyone to wait?
Once an applicant gets on the list, nothing happens. We suggest that it might be a good idea for the local authority to provide information and learning opportunities for people while they wait. Then they will have a basic idea of what is involved in successfully tending an allotment. Perhaps they could also get the opportunity of achieving a qualification before they get an offer. After all, does the Royal and Ancient allow complete beginners out onto the fairway at St. Andrews?
Stuart McKenzie, FEDAGA President, plus representatives from Scottish Allotments, Glasgow Allotments Forum and the Community Growing Forum spoke to members of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee at the Scottish Parliament in May 2022.
Stuart spoke on
1. the value of allotments,
2. the growing waiting list in Edinburgh,
3. the need for communication to those on the waiting list and
4. the likely cost of creating a new site.
All representatives said how ineffective the Community Empowerment Act (CEA) is and how any group wishing to create a site is tied up in red tape from the word go - which is of course assuming the group had managed to form in the first place.
Participants all found the exercise quite an odd experience answering questions from the Convener and occasionally the committee but getting very little feedback at all, or any discussion apart from at the very end when the East Lothian MSP Paul McLennan actually got enthusiastic about community involvement in food growing. Maybe that's just the way these committees work.
The delegation was excluded from any follow-up discussion so we have no idea what happens now. Perhaps they will come up with a statement of where we are, listing some of the problems. Whether they do anything to sort them will remain to be seen.
We live in hope!
Limitations of the Community Empowerment Act Exposed
Earlier in May, Stuart spoke to civil servants monitoring implementation of the CEA and gave the view from Edinburgh. You will recall that this legislation is intended to improve the provision of allotments so that no-one waits for more than 5 years for a plot. There are currently 5496 people waiting for an allotment in Edinburgh. We heard recently of someone taking up the offer of a plot after waiting 15 years.
Stuart comments that since the CEA was enshrined in law little has been achieved in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Allotment Strategy says new sites will be created by communities themselves yet no attempt at forming those communities has been made.
Waiting Lists Growing Out Of Control
In recent years, particularly since the pandemic, the number of people asking for an allotment has increased dramatically. However, the number of people waiting is a blunt piece of information. Perhaps it would be better to monitor the annual turnover of tenants. For a site like Inverleith which has around 800 on the waiting list, there were 8 new plotholders this year. At this rate the real waiting time can be theoretically calculated at about 100 years. Surely that is an excessive amount of time for anyone to wait?
Once an applicant gets on the list, nothing happens. We suggest that it might be a good idea for the local authority to provide information and learning opportunities for people while they wait. Then they will have a basic idea of what is involved in successfully tending an allotment. Perhaps they could also get the opportunity of achieving a qualification before they get an offer. After all, does the Royal and Ancient allow complete beginners out onto the fairway at St. Andrews?
The Battle of Priorities in Edinburgh: Yellow = golf courses. Pink = allotments. (graphic: Edinburgh Live).
We note that the pandemic more than doubled the number of people wanting an allotment. Supply did not double to match this. The Edinburgh citizenry, dwelling as many do in tenements and apartment blocks, deserve a chance to join us working the soil to grow some of their own food.
Squeezing Quarts Into Pint Pots
One of the side-effects of the under-provision of allotment plots is that the legal definition of size, 250 square metres, has effectively been abandoned. As full-size plots are vacated, they are divided in two. The result is that people do not have adequate space to practice crop rotation, build a shed and/or greenhouse, make compost and have permanent beds for fruit. There are now 1659 plotholders on Council sites - a great many more than before, but squeezed on to pretty much the same area of land. The recently created sites at Newcraighall and Piershill are small and only accommodated 29 applicants. This contribution, although welcome, barely touches the sides.
It is also worth considering that existing allotments are not necessarily situated where there is greatest demand. Allotments were established where land was available at the time. The Act has not enabled Councils to plan as one might expect them to do when providing facilities. Edinburgh Council's position, despite their legal requirement, is that there is no budget for additional allotment provision. And there has been nothing done to enable local communities of wannabe-allotmenteers.
Time To Convert Pipe Dreams Into Reality
We must regrettably recognise that allotments are among the services that Councils generally have little interest in prioritising - despite the legal requirement and common-sense urgency of providing opportunities to exercise outdoors and grow food for your family. The mental and physical returns are undeniable. Edinburgh's allotment strategy has identified potential land for allotments yet the planners are reluctant to utilise anything defined as "Common Good Land" as the necessary perimeter fence results in "exclusive use" and that is not acceptable.
In conclusion, if we want more allotments then the Scottish Government must fund their creation. The Act was wrong to put the responsibility on perennially cash-strapped local authorities. The benefits of allotment food production are well established and now the ambition of the Community Empowerment Act must be belatedly realised. FEDAGA is determined to bring this aspiration into reality.
We note that the pandemic more than doubled the number of people wanting an allotment. Supply did not double to match this. The Edinburgh citizenry, dwelling as many do in tenements and apartment blocks, deserve a chance to join us working the soil to grow some of their own food.
Squeezing Quarts Into Pint Pots
One of the side-effects of the under-provision of allotment plots is that the legal definition of size, 250 square metres, has effectively been abandoned. As full-size plots are vacated, they are divided in two. The result is that people do not have adequate space to practice crop rotation, build a shed and/or greenhouse, make compost and have permanent beds for fruit. There are now 1659 plotholders on Council sites - a great many more than before, but squeezed on to pretty much the same area of land. The recently created sites at Newcraighall and Piershill are small and only accommodated 29 applicants. This contribution, although welcome, barely touches the sides.
It is also worth considering that existing allotments are not necessarily situated where there is greatest demand. Allotments were established where land was available at the time. The Act has not enabled Councils to plan as one might expect them to do when providing facilities. Edinburgh Council's position, despite their legal requirement, is that there is no budget for additional allotment provision. And there has been nothing done to enable local communities of wannabe-allotmenteers.
Time To Convert Pipe Dreams Into Reality
We must regrettably recognise that allotments are among the services that Councils generally have little interest in prioritising - despite the legal requirement and common-sense urgency of providing opportunities to exercise outdoors and grow food for your family. The mental and physical returns are undeniable. Edinburgh's allotment strategy has identified potential land for allotments yet the planners are reluctant to utilise anything defined as "Common Good Land" as the necessary perimeter fence results in "exclusive use" and that is not acceptable.
In conclusion, if we want more allotments then the Scottish Government must fund their creation. The Act was wrong to put the responsibility on perennially cash-strapped local authorities. The benefits of allotment food production are well established and now the ambition of the Community Empowerment Act must be belatedly realised. FEDAGA is determined to bring this aspiration into reality.
Edinburgh Council Draft 2030 Climate Strategy
“The draft strategy outlines how the City of Edinburgh Council will work with citizens, communities and public, private and third sector organisations across the city to deliver a net zero, climate ready Capital by 2030.”
With the recent Edinburgh flooding (let alone far greater disasters in other parts of the world) this consultation is very appropriate.
Some allotment sites are more vulnerable than others. Lady Road suffers frequent inundations from the Pow Burn (with added sewage). Saughton Mains has in the past been flooded by the Water of Leith. Carrick Knowe and Bridgend also suffer from inadequate drainage. Last month we wrote about the springs welling up under West Mains that have caused flooding concerns especially with neighbouring residential development on the cards.
The Council is running online workshops/Q and A sessions, open to all, the final one of which is on 2nd September (9-11am). To participate, click here.
This is your chance to have your say on a city-wide approach to reducing Edinburgh’s greenhouse gas emissions as part of plans to tackle climate change in the Capital.
The strategy will focus on creating the right policy, regulatory and infrastructure conditions in the city to support net zero behaviour change and it calls on residents, community groups and private, public and third sector organisations to work collaboratively to achieve the city’s ambitious climate goals.
It also lays out key areas where collaboration and partnership will be supported to deliver on Edinburgh’s climate targets and further outlines how people, communities, businesses and organisations in Edinburgh can be supported and encouraged to take climate action – and stresses the need for everyone to work together to invest in a better future for the city.
You can read the draft 2030 Climate Strategy and an executive summary as well as participate in the consultation by going to the consultation web page. The consultation ends on 12th September.
Consultation responses will form the basis of a finalised strategy which will be published in November to coincide with COP26 being hosted in Scotland.
“The draft strategy outlines how the City of Edinburgh Council will work with citizens, communities and public, private and third sector organisations across the city to deliver a net zero, climate ready Capital by 2030.”
With the recent Edinburgh flooding (let alone far greater disasters in other parts of the world) this consultation is very appropriate.
Some allotment sites are more vulnerable than others. Lady Road suffers frequent inundations from the Pow Burn (with added sewage). Saughton Mains has in the past been flooded by the Water of Leith. Carrick Knowe and Bridgend also suffer from inadequate drainage. Last month we wrote about the springs welling up under West Mains that have caused flooding concerns especially with neighbouring residential development on the cards.
The Council is running online workshops/Q and A sessions, open to all, the final one of which is on 2nd September (9-11am). To participate, click here.
This is your chance to have your say on a city-wide approach to reducing Edinburgh’s greenhouse gas emissions as part of plans to tackle climate change in the Capital.
The strategy will focus on creating the right policy, regulatory and infrastructure conditions in the city to support net zero behaviour change and it calls on residents, community groups and private, public and third sector organisations to work collaboratively to achieve the city’s ambitious climate goals.
It also lays out key areas where collaboration and partnership will be supported to deliver on Edinburgh’s climate targets and further outlines how people, communities, businesses and organisations in Edinburgh can be supported and encouraged to take climate action – and stresses the need for everyone to work together to invest in a better future for the city.
You can read the draft 2030 Climate Strategy and an executive summary as well as participate in the consultation by going to the consultation web page. The consultation ends on 12th September.
Consultation responses will form the basis of a finalised strategy which will be published in November to coincide with COP26 being hosted in Scotland.
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Growing Locally: Edinburgh's First Food Growing Strategy
Edinburgh Council has launched its first Food Growing Strategy. Click here to read it. The strategy is called Growing Locally and it has three main aims: ▪To grow more food in Edinburgh; ▪To encourage people to buy and eat more locally grown food; and ▪To promote sustainable food across the city.The initiative is a response to the climate emergency and the Council's aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The Council is keen to include allotments and community gardens in the strategy and is committed to finding more land for food growing. There is a specific undertaking to provide more allotments. There are now around 4300 people on the allotment waiting list and it is important that as many as possible are part of the process. Where appropriate they will be invited to join an "interest" group who can take forward projects for new allotment sites with Council support and guidance. The "garden share" scheme was paused during the pandemic but should be restarting soon. This is another way of putting people in contact with land they can utilise for food growing. Also, consideration will be given to providing resources that match what individuals actually want or can manage. For some it may be sufficient to provide access to a raised bed. FEDAGA welcomes this initiative which if fully realised will be of great benefit to both community and environment. |