Category: News

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National Allotments Week

Celebrate National Allotments Week: August 12th – 18th

For over two decades, National Allotments Week, initiated by The National Allotment Society, has been a cherished tradition that encourages allotment holders across the UK to open their gates and showcase the beauty and benefits of their sites. This week-long celebration highlights the social, health, and environmental advantages of maintaining allotments.

This year, National Allotments Week will run from Monday, August 12th to Sunday, August 18th, with a special focus on biodiversity. Throughout the week, we will be sharing fantastic content from our expert partners and ambassadors, offering valuable tips on how to encourage pollinators and wildlife on your allotment.

Join BALGA’s Special Event to celebrate the week

As part of the festivities, BALGA (Baldock Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Association) will be hosting a special event on Saturday 17, August. While we are eagerly awaiting confirmation of the event location, we promise it will be an informative and enjoyable day for all attendees. Members can collect their seed catalogue.

Stay tuned for updates on the venue, and in the meantime, prepare to celebrate and learn how to make your allotment a haven for biodiversity.

Why Allotments Matter

Allotments are more than just patches of land for growing vegetables and flowers; they are vibrant community spaces that bring people together. They offer numerous benefits, including:

  • Social: Allotments create a sense of community and belonging, providing a space for people to connect, share knowledge, and support each other.
  • Health: Gardening is a fantastic way to stay active and enjoy the outdoors, which can improve physical and mental health.
  • Environmental: Allotments promote sustainable living by encouraging local food production, reducing food miles, and supporting biodiversity.

We invite everyone to join us in celebrating National Allotments Week and to explore the many ways in which allotments contribute to a healthier and more sustainable world. Keep an eye out for more details on our upcoming event and get ready to immerse yourself in the wonders of allotment gardening.

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Reduced seed Potatoes

The BALGA Members’ Shop has a sale on seed potatoes. They’re reduced to £1 per kilo.  The Members’ Shop is open every Sunday from 10am – 12 pm.

If you’re a new plotholder, why not get started with some seed potatoes?

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Working Party at NR February 2024

We had a working party at North Road on Thursday, February 22nd, to bring two plots back into use. A big thank you to the eight members who helped put the rubbish into piles ready to be removed or put on a bonfire. I know lots of you emailed back to say you couldn’t help on that date. We will need a couple more working parties to bring this plot back into use, so please look out for the next date. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Please, can we kindly ask members not to dump any further rubbish in this area because it will cost the Association more money to remove the rubbish where the money could be better spent to improve the site’ facilities.

 

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BALGA AGM 2024

We had our Annual General Meeting on January 2024 at the Community Centre in Baldock. Along with the formal business, we heard reports from various committee members about the work we completed last year.

The winners of the Best Kept Allotment Competition were awarded  their certificate and trophy by Counsellor Muir. Please see the pictures below of the tenants receiving their certificate, trophy and gift voucher for the Members’ Shop.

Adam H – Best Plot Overall
Stephen D – Best Plot at North Road
Terry and Melody –  Best Newcomer at North Road

Mick Camp, Alison Gentle, Jon Jones and Phil Charsley were all re-elected onto the Committee.  We welcome Ian Rees and Sarah Bassett who were voted onto the Committee too.

Despite the problems we’ve had with the lock at North Road, it was agreed by those present from the North Road site that the lock on the gate should not be replaced for the time being.

Membership fees would be increased from £6 to £7 for 2024/25. Allotment rents would stay the same. 

BALGA had received over £2,000 from the North Herts Lottery. This would be used to provide solar security lighting for the sites and a box for food bank donations at North Road.

An update was given on the progress of bringing back in to use 30 half-plots at the North Road site.BALGA had been liaising with Urban & Civic on the provision of allotments and expanding the facilities at the current sites as part of the expansion of Baldock.

The Committee was given the go ahead to look into changing BALGA from an unincorporated association to a co-operative. There will be more information on this soon. 

We would like to thank everyone who attended the AGM, and we look forward to sharing our progress this year.

 

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Potato Weekend 2024

This year we are once again running a pre-ordering service for members so they can place orders online for seed potatoes. Orders are placed on a ‘click and collect’ basis and are dealt with in the order they are received.

Once you have made your order, a committee member will reply within 3 days with the amount you owe. Payment is made on collection from the members’ shop or BACS before collection. Please specify the date you wish to collect your order in the order form below and it will be picked and bagged ready for you on that date.

All stock is subject to availability and stock levels are updated on a weekly basis.

Note: BALGA reserves the right to put back into stock any items not collected within 7 days of the specified collection date.

Chitting Potatoes!

If you wish to order more than one variety in each category, please use the ‘Additional Potato Order’ sections on the form.

Any additional requirements or comments, please add these to the ‘Additional Information box.

Once you have chosen your varieties, don’t forget to select a collection date before clicking ‘Submit’. A copy of your order will be emailed to you. Please print off a copy and bring it with you when you come to collect your order.

Prices are as follows:
Seed potatoes – £1.30 per kilo
Onion sets – £0.70 per 200g
Shallots – £0.70 per 200g

Click here to create your order. 

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Compost Sunday

This to let you know that the BALGA shop will be open this Sunday 4 February for compost sales. There will be a special offer this Sunday on Bloom & Grow peat free compost (the price will reduce as you order more bags)
  • 1 bag       £5
  • 2 bags     £9
  • 3 bags     £12
  • 4 bags     £15

Baldock honey will also be on sale.

The shop will then be shut until Potato weekend 24/25 February.
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AGM 2024

Our BALGA Annual General Meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 22nd January 2024 at the Baldock Community Centre in Simpsons Drive. Expect to receive copies of the agenda, minutes of 2023 AGM and other reports sent out at the very beginning of January by email or by paper delivery to those not on email. The meeting is your opportunity to hear more about your Association and all that is being done on your behalf. There will be presentations made to the winners of the Best Kept Allotment Competition 2023. There will be a pay bar and a raffle so do your best to come along and hear more. Mick

 

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North Road Car Park

The 5 spaces of the car park at North Road allotment site next to the flower meadow will be unavailable from Monday 4th November to Friday 22nd December 2023. This is to store gravel for a river restoration project. BALGA may receive some compensation for the inconvenience caused.

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