AGM 2019

– summary.

Our 2019 Annual General Meeting was held on 25 October at the Meanwood Institute.  For the official record, read the minutes.  Here is a summary.

Chair’s Report

The 2019 growing year brought us a cold, dry spring and wet summer, with an early appearance of potato blight in July. Some fruit crops were very good. Rats and squirrels were a big problem, and many corn crops were completely wiped out.

The Committee met five times this year.

Sue Stones has stepped down as Secretary. Big thanks to her for all her excellent work and creative input.

Our events this year included

  • The plant B&B was on 3rd June and was a great success, the quality of plants was again excellent.
  • Our autumn show on 8th September, judged by our own Gillian North.
  • A visit from Moorlands School on 25th September.
  • An apple juicing day on 28 September.
  • Several work parties:
    • Erection of our communal poly tunnel,
    • Bonfires,
    • Work on the coppice area.

Volunteers do a lot of important day by day work around the allotments: cutting grass, maintaining the hedges, looking after the composting toilet, letting out plots, collecting rents, maintaining our web site and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram presence.

Trustees’ Report

The Trustees do three plot inspections each year on about 1st of March, June and September, with three follow up inspections six weeks after. The committee meets each time to decide what to do about any problem plots.

There were 5 inspections between March and September, looking mainly at Health and Safety and Cultivation. There were 4 evictions. Several plots improved after warning letters.

Security: There were several break-ins, though the new fence and gate seem to help. It seems likely that leaving the code unscrambled is the cause of the break-ins, so it is important to remember to scramble the code.

Paths should be kept clear, and ideally at least 80cm wide to allow for safe passage of people, mowers and wheelbarrows.

Treasurer’s Report

Election of Officers and Committee

All officers and committee members stand down each year, but are eligible for re-election. Officers and Committee were elected for 2020 as follows:

PostNamePlot
ChairJoe Foster30 + 31B
SecretaryJayne Harnett15BL
TreasurerStephan Petzold26B + 26TR
Plot LettingRosie Hall12B + 23B
Ness Clarke20T
Mary Davies10BR
Glenn Drury6T
Tom & Trina Evans-Cheung20BL
Chris Foren26TL + 32BL
Giles Foster20T

Prize Giving

Best plots were judged by Brian Jenner of Hayley’s Field Allotments on 13 July. This year there were categories for full, half and quarter plots, as well as best newcomer.

Best Plot1st2nd3rd
Full PlotRos Dunlevey, plot 37Joe Foster, plot 30Peter Blakey, plot 13
Half PlotChris Thirkill, plot 14BMalcolm Slade, plot 8R
Quarter PlotJayne Harnett, plot 15BLJessica Johnson, plot 3BLBen&Sophia Hepworth, 38BL
NewcomerJessica Johnson, plot 3BL

Ros Dunlevey’s plot was best overall, so she holds the shield this year.

The Autumn Show, on 8 September was judged by Gillian North.

AwardName
Best in ShowRosie Hall (leeks)
Overall WinnerRosie Hall
Joe Maiden CupJenny Tennant-Jackson
NoviceJessica Johnson

AOB: Rachael Munro-Fawcett presented some of her recent photographs from Hollin Lane Allotments.