[Lottie Mary]

Just came back from 2 hours hard work on my allotment.  Half is still a bed of weeds, so my 9 years old daughter and I spent time digging over, weeding, digging more, and weeding more!

Met my neighbour on the plot next door but one - lovely man from up north who has very kindly agreed to till over the bits I've managed to dig and weed  .  I'm thrilled about this because I've been looking at buying a tiller since last year, but even the second hand ones are expensive and they cost about £50 to rent here too!  I think he shall be getting a nice homemade lemon cake next week as a thank you!

[Kimberley04]

That's so lovely.

Some of my plot neighbours put up a greenhouse for me last year.  There's such a good sense of community down at the plot.

[izzy]

we have a great bunch of people on our small site help anybody out

[Rangerkris]

That's what i like about the allotment its got a great feeling when down there most people are happy to pass on advice and help others.  Some are just plan ole person's hahahaha but i pass and say hi hope all is well.

[Benandbill]

It's great down ours as well, everyone's helpful and loves to share.  You grow lemons?  Wowee, how long have you been doing this and how successful are they?

[Lottie Mary]

Sadly no, I don't grow lemons, but I do make a mean lemon syrup cake 

I have toyed with the idea of getting a lemon tree for my conservatory, but I think I've got my hands full with the allotment at the moment...

[Zambezi]

I got my new allotment a couple of weeks ago, I think and the people I have met so far are amasing.  The man up from my plot has offered to put 20 runner beans in his greenhouse for me as I dont have one as yet.  He is lovely!! I have been nice and managed to get him some compost from a well rotted manure heap, so he was very happy too.

Although I wasn't best pleased when the allotments officers secretary emailed me saying that the allotmenteer next to me has complained that I've encroached onto their lot and moved the markers (but I HAVEN'T even moved anything  ) just placed rope around the markers so I know where my plot is.  I really hope that the officer sorts this out on his Monday visit to my plot as I really dont like annomosity and the allotment is somewhere I want to go to chill out and take my mind off work etc.  TBH I'm a little gutted!!

[flitwickone]

dont be gutted common sense will prevail
dont let a mandarin spoil your peace and quiet

[stompy]

The thing is, the boundries are set for a reason.
You have to have a path of at least 18" between the two plots, im having a bit of a time of it with one of my new plot neighbours but it will get sorted as the allotment officer is coming to have a look.
You may find that your neighbour that you've allegedly encroached on has previousely expanded his/her own plot in the past and when the measurements get taken will have to do a bit of moving about.
On the other hand it could be that you or the last tenant has encroached and fairly the boundries should be reset.

I think this should be done on a 5 yearly basis as most the allotments are now taken yo will find that the previousely unattended plots will have been slightly taken up on the boundries.

[mumofstig]

He is only trying to clarify things with a newbie, I suspect.

the markers are in the middle of  shared pathways.....so your string line will effectively have stopped your neighbour from using half of the shared path and he may have wanted to use his wheel barrow along the path.
He may also think that you propose to dig up to the line, when obviously you mustn't.  

Erect your own sticks and stringlines around your outer path edges, rather than down the middle of shared pathways, if you wish to mark your plot

[Lottie Mary]

Went for yet more digging this afternoon and my neighbour had tilled my beds for me 

Finally, I feel like I've broken the back of my weed infested plot and I'm feeling quite optimistic  .

[Zambezi]

Thats brilliant, do u think I could borrow your neighbours for a bit

Thank you to you guys who offered support and some guidance also.  The allotment officer came today and solved all the confusion.  He had infact put the markers down and advised the neighbouring tenant that their plot ended earlier than she thought, as there is another plot in the corner which needs a proper path leading to it and not just the usual 25cm given by each plot.   

It was also nice to hear the officer say that any verbal abuse (if not for a better word) would not be tolerated and the abuser would be chucked off the site,  which I am quite pleased about as my neighbour was very agressive when tackling me on moving the markers .  They have apologised, but in my eyes there is no need for that type of behaviour and an allotment should be a place you can relax from other lifes stresses and be able to be friendly with other allotmenteers around you.

[Dotty]

I think i have moved to the wrong part of Essex Lottie 
Shame I dont have an allotment.
We moved here after living in Australia last year, but so far I have only spoken to one neighbour, let alone get and give help.
Must be a gardeners thing. I did look at getting an allotment but they dont have any in this area.
Oh well, at least I have the good people on here to rely on 

[Lottie Mary]

Zambezi - I'm glad everything got sorted for you.  You are right, the allotment should be a place where you go to relax (though I'm not sure how relaxing digging up weeds actually is! :blink:), but I know what you mean 

Dotty - an allotment was really my only chance to grow substantial amounts of veg.  I am fortunate to have a lovely back garden, but with two kids aged 9 and 10, any veg in pots must learn to dodge footballs, cricket balls, tennis balls, etc!