Taking on a pig sty allotment, hunting suggestions.

Hi,

I have just taken over another plot that is a literal pig sty ( voluntarily). It looks like it will even take a year to sort out.

I have put some pictures on the the thread to give you an idea of what it is like. I feel a little lost with it and I am fishing for suggestions on what to do with it and how to progress.

Some points of note:

• I can move the small gas canisters but can not fit the large one in my car.
  Behind the stables the wall is "loose" and the is a pile of asbestos.
  I intend to have bee's at the back tree line, the site also allows, sheep, goats, horses, ducks, and poultry ( Pigs and do breeding are on a legacy basis).
  There is a pipe with running water but capped off, I need to install my own tap.  I took the cap off to check...and got wet. 

And that counts as an allotment plot? 
I think it's the site owner's responsibility to arrange asbestos removal, it is here, anyway.
I'd push the dodgy wall over before it falls on someone.
Chicken keeping would work well, by the looks of things, and if you attached some polytunnel sheeting over some of it you'd have a fantastic protected growing area.
Good luck!

I got stuck at asbestos.  Should they be letting you have it if there is asbestos?
I know there is different types of asbestos. Some more hazardous than others but it can be very expensive and you do not want to foot the bill. Looking at your pictures, you need a skip.
You need to check who is responsible for removing all that, the people who run the allotment or you and phone the council-who should know. I would imagine that they should hand it over to you in a safe situation which that is not, if anything it's actively hazardous and maybe help you strim it back.
I've heard of allotments that do, ours does if you don't keep it mannered. It's how we got our second plot, the man who runs it was sick of strimming it and made it our problem.

Other than that I urge you borrow some waders and a strimmer. After the brambles have fruited and you've picked them. Hence the waders to protect your everything. Fork it over, taking out all the roots Then ground cover if you can afford it.

Thanks for the feedback.

I am not sure if the land owners know as the previous holder told me and I have not seen for myself yet due to not being able to get back there, same goes with checking just how 'loose' the wall is, I can not reach it from either side.

I did do some research and the local dump will accept domestic deposits of asbestos. I have copy and pasted it below for the curious:


"Small amounts of asbestos can be deposited at a limited number of household waste recycling centres by members of the public.

All asbestos should be:

double wrapped in heavy gauge polythene sheets (available from DIY stores)
sealed with strong adhesive tape (to prevent the release of dust)
labelled ‘asbestos waste’
Failure to do this will result in the waste being refused;

A maximum of 3 sheets, or equivalent, of asbestos from householders, per month, that measure no more than 20cm high, 150 cm wide and 180cm long.

When delivering asbestos please report to the weighbridge on arrival or see a member of staff on site as asbestos needs to be logged when brought onto site to monitor capacity. Your details will be recorded so what we can monitor frequency."

So this may be an option, depending on what is there. As for the canisters I can move the small ones myself but not the large one, I am hoping it still actually has some gas in it and then I may able to find someone to take it if they get the 'free gas'.

I am not sure if the land owners know as the previous holder told me and I have not seen for myself yet due to not being able to get back there, same goes with checking just how 'loose' the wall is, I can not reach it from either side.

I am curious about how he knows, and the land owners don't.
The land owners need to know-recorded and in writing.
You have to consider if something happens where the buck would stop. At the minute, it could be with you and for all you know your plot might not be the only plot it's on.

Hi,
I'm a little jealous as it has a lot of potential.
A skip would be a good start, but first go though all the stuff lying around and keep what you can use and put in a safe area.  The land owner should be responsible for paying for the rest of the clearance.

How secure is the site?  Have you every looked into Aquaponics (fish and veg grown togeather)?  That would be a great area for it, search for Rob Bob's Aquaponics & Backyard Farm on you tube. 

Good luck and stay safe, keep us updated.

Dan