[Poppy Rowan]

I am feeling despondant now!! I went up to the allotment this morning and the thieves have struck again.
They have had away this time with my coat, seeds, weed suppressing fabric, fleece, netting and even the insect repellent wipes.

Oh the joys of an allotment

[flowergirl]

oh thats terrible,where abouts in Kent are you?our plot has tall fencing all around and a massive gate with big padlock and a long driveway then another gate and it still gets broken into and vandalised,no one locks their sheds as it encourages the little scumbags to smash things up. :evil:

[WG.]

That's a bummer, Poppy Rowan.  I see from your earlier postings that this happens very regularly.  Interesting to see whether it stops once yo get your security fence since surely these items are only of value to another gardener.  Maybe they sell them at car boot sales & on eBay?

[Poppy Rowan]

Hi flowergirl...we are in Thanet, down on the coast. Hopefully the security fencing will help, but I am getting really sick of not knowing what I will find when I get there each day.
If all the hard work hadn't been put in, I think I would probably call it a day to be honest. It's a shame, because I love being on the allotment.
Some of the guys take everything home and fetch it back again every visit. I can't do that on foot unfortunately.
I went to pick some salad leaves and runners, and I didn't even feel like picking them once I got there. BUT ... can't let the little scrotes win  
Well, I hope the seeds grow well for them. Maybe they will choke on the produce??

Thanks for caring

Poppy

[diggerjoe]

we are luckier at our plot although its a big site there are houses on three sides and the committee went round them all and asked if  they would all keep a look out if they spot any vandals and call the police (the site is also part of Allotment watch) if they do the committe gives them a basket of produce. We all chip in with stuff as its saves us in the long run. well one good turn and all that.

[Lynne]

Sorry about the theft Poppy. Our site has tall security fencing, but they still get in. Mostly its mindless vandalism with us, the only things stolen tend to be knives and axes (wonder what they use those for?).

There is now a bobby on the beat and he often comes into the allotment at night, which is when the trouble happens, and sits for a while in one of the sheds to try and catch the little sh**s.

Ours has fields on three sides and the local tip on the other, so its not overlooked.

[Dreadlock]

Thats bad Poppy. We used to have trouble now and again on our allotments. Fires (arson) thefts vandalism. we now have a big fence locked gates and CCTV. Four cameras that cover the whole lot. Things are a lot better now. The secratery applied for grants and got them!!

[ClaireMc]

Had a really nice chat with one of the old timers on our allotments and he said that the only people who really have time to get on top of the weeds are the retired allotment keepers, and not to worry as we've got loads of produce even if our plot isn't the tidiest.  Cheered me up no end.  We're lucky that our allotments don't have the spick-and-span culture you see sometimes but are lovely and ramshackle.  About 20% of our plots have been rescued from dereliction this year and a lot of the heroic rescuers have decided to cultivate just a corner at first.

[fatbelly]

Hiya Lynne,

Like you I started this year (27th May) and my plot was totally over run with Couch Grass, Mares Tail, Dock etc etc. I had no shed and was facing a real up hill task. I work full time and have a family to tend.

Now three months later my shed is up and my plot is becoming to look like a Allotment as opposed to a patch of the Amazon Rain forest. Keep going and just do a bit, then go back a few days later and do a bit more and so on.

At first other Lottie holders would just nod or wave to me, but now three months later and they all come over for a chin wag and a brew. Its not just about growing your own its the whole experience. Turning a jungle into a working plot and having fun and enjoying yourself and meeting good folk along the way.