Hi, I was just looking for a bit of advice please. I took over an allotment in Oct 19 on a 3 month probation. I worked hard to clear the plot and successfully grew lots of potatoes, onions, shallots, garlic, broccoli, leeks and beetroot. I loved being on the allotment.
In April however, it became harder for me to spend as much time on the plot as I am a key worker. Given the virus and my job role, the past 4.5 months have been really challenging. I have had to work substantially increased hours, including weekends, due to the impact of the virus, which is outside of my control. Up until today, I have not even managed to take annual leave.
The downside to this was, although I still visited the plot when I could, it was nowhere near the volume I was visiting up to and including April 2020. As a result, the plot has started to become overgrown. Late last week I received a letter out of the blue from the site allotment society telling me that following a plot inspection they were terminating my plot, basically throwing me off site, because the plot wasnt up to standard. This came completely out of the blue, prior to this there had been no formal communication of concerns form the site society.
I contacted the site society outlining my reasons why I couldn't attend as much as I wished, and how I wished to continue, however I have been informed that their decision is final.
With regards my probation, I was informed it would be 3 months, then a decision would be made. The site society has never communicated to inform me if I was off probation or not. If not, I have been on probation for 10 months.
I am upset with this as I was initially making very good progress but the virus, and my job as a key worker, really impacted my ability to be on the plot. This, in my eyes at least, is something completely out of my control, I am not sure what else I could have done given the pandemic.
So I was just wondering, am I able to even appeal this and if so how would I go about doing this? And help would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to lose my plot
Many thanks