Dates for your Diary
Monday 5 April 2010 - Ecclesall Sawmill, Beanpole Day/ Play Day
Beanpole Day is part of National Beanpole Week when gardeners are being encouraged to use British beanpoles sourced from UK woods rather than imported bamboo canes. The use of local beanpoles helps to support local woodland craftworkers, woodland management and wildlife.
This year the sawmill is combining the event with a Play Day of activities for young children.
For further information contact Sarah Chapman, Facilities Co-ordinator at the Sawmill - sarah.chapman@sheffield.gov.uk or 0114 235 6348.
Other Forthcoming HCAA Events
Saturday 17 April - Site clear-up up day
Sunday 9 May - Plant sale at High Storrs School
Saturday 11 September - Allotment social
Details will be posted when they are available.
Beanpole Day Event at Ecclesall Sawmill 2009
"Highcliffe Community Allotment Association ran a Beanpole Day event at Ecclesall Sawmill in Sheffield at the end of April. As well as selling beanpoles sourced from local woods there were demos of chainsaw carving, pole lathe turning and the Working Woodlands craftspeople made willow garden structures." Living Woods Magazine, July/August 2009
Vandalism
In the spring and early summer this year (2009), there was a spate of incidents of vandalism on the Highcliffe plots. In a number of separate incidents, the vandals tore down plant cages, smashed terracotta pots, trashed raised beds, uprooted plants, trampled upon seedbeds and broke any glass they could find. Tools were also removed from plots and left in the woods.
Those responsible for at least some of these incidents have now been dealt with, but vandalism is a perennial problem, so please report it when it occurs. The police will take it seriously, however small the incident. See the Home page for police telephone numbers.
Pots and plant containers smashed by vandals
Japanese knotweed alert
The dreaded Japanese knotweed is present on our site.
There is a chance it may make its way onto your plot. Please go to the Japanese Knotweed Alliance site for pictures of knotweed and information on how to eradicate it.
Other useful sites on this topic are
Thurlow Countryside Management
Links with Ecclesall Infant School
In a recent letter, Paul Cross, Deputy Headteacher, wrote about the school's plans to develop an allotment area and build links with local allotment associations. If anybody is interested in taking this further, please contact Ken: kengab@bowood12.freeserve.co.uk.
Appeal for seedlings If anybody has any extra plants or seedlings they would like to donate to this project, please contact Dot Rodman at dotrodman@yahoo.co.uk
Site survey
In October of 2007 Dave Chapman conducted a survey of the cultivation state of our plots. This was a follow up to a survey conducted in 2005.
Download results of the Oct 2007 site survey
Photos for the website
If you have a digital camera, don't forget to take some photos of your plot and produce, so we can use them in the gallery on this site.
If possible, provide 6 landscape and 6 portrait photos and crop them to 372 x 240 pixels, or 240 x 372 pixels. E-mail them to info@ctbworks.
If you agree, we may also use your photos for publicity material such as leaflets, and to support grant applications.