Open Day 2017

On Sunday 2 July, Burydell Allotment site was open to the public for the first time as part of the Transition St Albans Open Food Garden programme. We advertised locally, hoping to attract local interest in our site and in allotment gardening generally. We were not disappointed – we had a large number of visitors – both via the Transition St Albans programme, and local friends and neighbours. The Committee provided refreshments for a nominal donation which was donated to Transition St Albans. They were delighted by the interest shown and the number of people who attended. We were especially pleased by the large number of you who chose to be on site and talk to passing strangers about your plot, including our very own Allotment Officer from the Council, Philip Bruce-Green, who gave up his Sunday morning (in an unofficial capacity of course!).

Fuller details as to numbers will be given in the next edition of the Newsletter.  In the meantime, I have updated the 2017 Photo folder with images kindly donated by Christine Miles. Thanks once again to all of you who helped to make it a success!

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Best Plot results and BBQ 2017

The winners this year were judged by Ayletts, who did a very difficult job given the stunning display on many of our plots. Well done to all the recipients of a coveted Ayletts voucher!

The results were announced at our annual Summer BBQ which, although enjoyable, was not as well attended by our plotholders as we had hoped. The Committee will be canvassing opinion from you as to what YOU would like by way of a social event in the summer. We have been doing the Summer BBQ for some time now and maybe it’s time for a change! If you have any ideas, please stop any one of us and let us know.

Best plot on Burydell – Plot 38 – Alyson and Adrian Fricker

Best plot Runner up – Plot 29 – Jan Castle and Pat Solomons

Best Newcomer – Plot 27a – Martin Stevens

Best Newcomer Runner up – Plot 27c – Lorraine Dogged

Your Summer Newsletter 2017 is now available!

Please go here to download your fantastic Summer Newsletter 2017! Thanks as always to our wonderful Newsletter Editor, Jan Castle.

AGM 2017 results

The BLAA AGM was held on site last Sunday 21 May at 11am – thanks to those plot holders who were able to attend. The following were elected or confirmed in post:

Kim Scrivener, Chair – for the second year of a three year term
Barbara Vernon, Secretary – for the second year of a three year term
Jan Carpenter, Treasurer – for the third and last year of a three year term
Jan Castle, Membership Secretary and Newsletter – for a further year
Gill Feakes, Committee member – for a further year

Chris Feakes, Committee member – for a further year

Derrick Davies, Committee member – for a further year

Christine Miles, Committee member – for a further year

Jim Miller, Committee member – for a further year

In addition, Kati Gatrow was nominated to become a Committee member. This was unanimously carried. As Pat is a member of the Committee by virtue of her role as Site Liaison Officer, we are now finally up to ten members which is what our Constitution requires.

The approved Minutes from the 2016 AGM were approved and will shortly be available on the website.

A member raised the issue of rats on his plot. Pat (as site liaison officer) said she would speak to the Council to see if they are prepared to help, and the Committee agreed to discuss it. Rats can be a problem on all sites and the proximity of water means we may have more of a problem than other sites. Food put down for hens will also encourage rats. The Committee regrets that it cannot provide individual assistance to plot holders who are experiencing this – or indeed any other of the challenges that face us all on our plots.  It is therefore up to plot holders to use rat poison responsibly and ensure that it presents no danger to wild life and domestic cats. We will let you know if the Council is able to help, but given their financial situation, the Committee feels that it is unlikely.

Formal notice of Annual General Meeting 21 May 2017

Please see the minutes of last year’s AGM and the agenda for this year’s BLAA Annual General Meeting which will take place at 11am Sunday 21 May on site.

Agenda 21 May 2017

Minutes of 2016 AGM

If you would like to stand for election or to nominate candidates to stand for the committee please send your nominations to Barbara by 5pm by Friday 19 May.

We look forward to seeing you there. Coffee and pastries will be provided after the meeting!

AGM date has changed!!

The Annual General Meeting has been changed to SUNDAY 21 MAY 2017. Everything else, including the time of 11am, will be the same. Don’t forget to submit your suggestion for a local good cause to benefit from BLAA’s generosity – just drop a line to me Kim.scrivener@gmail.com and I’ll add it to the list for discussion.

BLAA goes for it!

Apologies for long radio silence from the BLAA headquarters – we do have other things in our lives……

I have created a new folder called 2017 Photos. If you look you will find some photos so far of our two social events – the fantastic Quiz, held on 4 March in the Village Hall, and the Spring Brunch this morning. For various technical reasons, I can’t seem to upload all the quiz pictures, but will have another go soon.

The Quiz was won by the aptly named A Team. Well done for a high score in yet another of Chris Feakes’ fiendish quizzes. The Beeches won the wooden spoon for their valiant attempt.

Thanks to all who attended either or both events. Your support is essential to maintain the great community spirit we have on our lovely site. Upcoming events are the AGM and the Summer BBQ – more details soon!