Queens Park Allotment (active group)

Most of the plot is now divided into mini-plots, with individuals each taking responsibility for a numbered mini-plot. 'Garden together' events, where as many members as possible come along are posted on the website regularly. Large tools are provided but please bring your own small trowel, fork and gloves. If you are interested in having a mini-plot, please register on the website and post a comment with your enquiry. 

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  • maggie turp

    I planning to stop co-ordinating at the end of the year. I have done it for a long time and it's time for someone else to have a go. The tasks could be split between two or three people, or one person could take over from me. 

    If you're willing to take on the role, or part of the role, please post here or not he WhatsApp. Maggie

  • Marie W

    Hi Maggie, yes please keep me on the waiting list. still interested. Many thanks. Marie

  • Patrizio

    Hi Maggie, we are still interested so please keep us on the waiting list. Patrizio and Alison
  • Manori Ravindran

    Hi Maggie! Definitely still interested. Thanks so much!

    -Manori

  • Lily Bunker

    Yes please I would like to stay on the waiting list. 

    Lily Bunker

  • Tom G

    Hi Maggie
    I'd like to stay on the wiating list.
    Thank you
    Tom
  • Sarah Saleh

    I would also like to stay on the waiting list please

    Best

    Sarah

  • Mark

    Hi Maggie, I’d like to keep my plot until Springtime next year, I’ve got a couple of things that I’d like to overwinter in at the moment.

    Mark
  • maggie turp

    Of course, Mark. Are you OK with giving it up in the spring? Don't want to throw you off if you're going to have more time next year and would like to keep it. Maggie

  • Amelia

    Hi Maggie 

    i am Amelia

    could I please also join the waiting list for a allotment at 

    at the Queen’s Park allotments

    thank you so much 

    Amelia 

  • maggie turp

    You're now on the waiting list, Amelia. No vacancies in prospect I'm afraid, but things can change... Maggie

  • Marie W

    Hi Maggie and all, are you planning on meeting soon ? it would be great to meet you all face to face , to understand more about what you are all growing, how the project started and to get tips about food growing , if there are any other projects you are involved in the area etc .. have a nice day ! Marie

  • maggie turp

    Hi Marie - and everyone on the waiting list. I know it's frustrating not to hear anything but all the plots are taken at the moment. Reallocations will take place in early spring. We will ask people if they want to continue for another year and also 'repossess'  any plots that have not been maintained. We should know by March how many new people we can accommodate and at that point you will have some news, either good or bad.

    In the meantime, there are other Transition gardening and food growing projects with vacancies, if you;d like to take a look at the groups on the main KKTT website. Maggie

  • HK Civil

    Please can I be added to the waiting list for an allotment place. Many thanks. Helen Civil

  • maggie turp

    Message to people on waiting list:

    Hi to Helen, Amelia, Sarah, Lily, Manori, Patrizio and Alison, Marie and Tome.

    Today I marked out 11 available mini-plots with white paint. Please go to the park and make a temporary 'claim' on a plot as soon as you can make it. There are enough for everybody... Please POST HERE  with your name and plant a 'flag' in your chosen mini-plot, so that others know it has been taken.

    Some of the mini-plots are smaller than others and some need more clearing than others, so take care with your choice. 

    In order to make your temporary claim permanent and become part of the community, you will need to clear your plot of weeds and put in a wooden edging, or a piece of planking to separate it from the adjoining plot. You will have until mid-February to do this. If it turns out that you can't manage this, the plot will be allocated to the next person on the list. 

    If you would like to be personally introduced and have a chat, our members Helen and Daniel have offered to fill this role. They can be contacted here or by text on 07533272332.

    I myself will be at the allotments between 12 and 1 tomorrow, if anyone would like to say 'hallo'.

    Best, Maggie

  • Marie W

    hi Maggie that s a good news. i feel stupid asking but which door should we use ? as the 2 i know are closed with an orange cord ?
  • Marie W

    sorry just found it
  • Manori Ravindran

    Hi all! I went down this afternoon and marked a plot (with help from Helen - thank you!). I will be sure to clear and weed the plot in the next few weeks. It's on the outer edge, next to another free plot (there are just two in the line). I have set down a placeholder with my name on it. Thanks!
  • Marie W

    hi all, i put my name in the plot, next to you Manori actually. (Helen has been informed). Have a nice weekend, thank you !

  • maggie turp

    Welcome Marie and Manori. Enjoy your plots! 

  • HK Civil

    Dear Maggie, I'm on a course all weekend both days then working on Monday. The first time I could come down is Tuesday. Is there any chance of someone putting a flag down for me please at all? Many thanks. Helen

  • Amelia

    Hi Maggie

    ill come in Monday morning I am working today

    Amelia 

  • maggie turp

    Hi Patrizio and Alison. Unfortunately, the plot where you planted your flag was not free. The three small plots on the other side of the centre line were the ones that were free. Best laid plans...

    I was up playing tennis earlier and saw the mistake - must have just missed you - so I moved your flag to the next largest plot - the wedge-shaped one near the hedge. If you would prefer one of the others, feel free to move the flag again, but for you and everyone claiming plots, where there is a centre line down the middle it is only the smaller, subdivided, half that has the free plots. All the full half-plots are already taken, dating back to a time when we got started and space was not as scarce.

    Hope that's a bit clearer and sorry for any confusion. 

    Maggie

  • maggie turp

    Hi to everyone claiming plots!

    Please note, where there is a centre line down the middle it is only the smaller, subdivided, half that has the free plots. All the full half-plots are already taken, dating back to a time when we got started and space was not as scarce.

    Hope that's clear and sorry for any confusion. 

    Maggie

  • Patrizio

    Hi Maggie,

    that is really a shame as we plated the flag in a plot suitable for the two of us, cleared up the dead plants and went off to B&Q to purchase the fencing!

    We put our flag back to that plot but refrained ourselves from doing the fencing work as we wanted to email you first just to clarify.

    We saw the wedge-shaped one near the hedge, it's better than nothing but seem small for two people. How about we take two smaller adjacent plots? Or half of the one we originally planted our flag on (preferred option).

    Let us know. Thanks.

    Patrizio and Alison

  • maggie turp

    Sorry Patrizio but the plot where you planted your flag already belongs to someone else, so please remove it. The wedge or one of the sub-divisions is all that is available at present. Do you want to go ahead? I agree it’s a small space but it is all we have available for now. 

  • maggie turp

    Another though, Patrizio... One of you could take the wedge or subplot and the other ask to go back on the waiting list. When and if we have another vacancy, thw person on the list could have a second subplot and we can then try to reorganise things so your two subplots are together. Naturally I can’t say when this might happen as it depends on whether/when anyone leaves. Let me know what you decide. Maggie

  • Patrizio

    Hi Maggie,

    thanks for the suggestion, in the meantime we went down to the Park again and moved our flag to the same plot but on the opposite side, we now have the bin-side mini-plot. It's now clear from weeds and have a green mesh fence.

    As you suggested it'd be great to have Alison on the waiting list again for a subplot next to ours whenever that become available.

    While we were there we wondered if there is a space to leave gardening material at all?

    Thanks for everything and I look forward to meet you.

    Patrizio+Alison

  • maggie turp

    Glad that helps. Alison is now number one on new waiting list. We have use of tennis shed. Big tools in there and I have left a box of various seeds for everyone. Suggest you bring your own gloves and hand tools each time. A lot of people use the shed and things sometimes disappear. We can’t be responsible. Shed padlock combination is 1999. All best Maggie

  • Sarah Saleh

    Thanks Maggie - I have put a "flag" on a plot (northernmost available plot top corner)

    Will start clearing and start edging as soon as possible in the coming weeks.

    Very excited! Look forward to meeting you all gradually x

  • Sarah Saleh

    I'm out of town this weekend so unfortunately can't join but have Thursday off so may try and do some of my tidying up then - I'll save your number Helen in case I have any questions while i'm there

  • Lily Bunker

    Hello

    I’m away on holiday until December would you be able to just leave the last available plot for me please? 

    Thanks

    Lily

  • Marie W

    hi Helen unfortunately i cant make those times this weekend ... but maybe i ll manage to meet someone afterwards who can summarise the info to me :) Also i would be interested to discuss the "square foot gardening" concept if someone has knowledge on it or if someone has good books to recommend ? i m mostly available to garden on momdays, thursdays, fridays (mornings essentially) in case someone would like to garden together. (at this stage would be cleaning only i guess). leaving my phone in case 07879525274. have a nice day
  • Emily Seward

    Evening all, 

    Unfortunately Owain and I are moving early in 2019 and so won't be able to keep our plot. That means it can also be added to the list of available spaces and hopefully someone new can enjoy it!

    All the best, 

    Emily

  • Patrizio

    Hi Emily, thanks for letting us know and sorry we have never met. We are first on the waiting list so I'd be pleased to take care of your plot going forward, can you please explain which one is yours? Thanks! Alison.

    Helen – if your offer is still valid we (Patrizio + Alison) would be available on both induction days, our preference would be Saturday. Let us know if which day is confirmed.

    P+A

  • Amelia

    Hi Maggie 

    i went to Queen’s Park to chose my allotment 

    judtvwondering if the triangle number 7 is vacant I choose that one. I just put a stick there saw some whit painting 

    i don’t have any white paintings so I just pug acstick

    what else is vacant I have to organise myself 

    but it then I can’t wait to start digging some dirt 

    ill take a photo next time 

    thank you

    Amelia 

  • maggie turp

    Hi Amelia, Helen is organising new member allocations/introductions and has some people meeting at the weekend. Check out the previous posts and you will see 

  • Amelia

    Hi Maggie

    i work on weekends and I am not sure which allotment are free 

    I am sure we’ll work something out

    thank you

    Amelia

  • Manori Ravindran

    Hi Helen,

    My partner Jules will be there in my place as I'm on my way to the airport. He'll be there for 1pm and looks forward to meeting you all! Thanks so much.

    Best,
    M
  • maggie turp

    Many thanks - I think from all of us - to Helen for her brilliant work on sorting out member allocations and producing the map.

    Helen, are you in a position to print off a few copies of the map and leave them in the shed, or otherwise email me a printer-friendly version? The park-keepers have asked to know who the new people are, so that they can keep an eye out for non-members taking stuff that they shouldn't. Maggie

  • maggie turp

    Hi everyone,

    There is no rent or charge for having a mini-plot and we have never asks for money before, but right now there are a few things that need to be bought and I wonder if members, old and new. would be willing to chip in?

    Our hose went kaput last summer and I replaced it with an old one of my own, but that is cracking up now as well. Because of the long length required and the merits of getting a good quality hose that will last, we are looking at about £70. 

    We could also do with more wooden edging to demarcate the new beds and tidy the whole place up. Probably another £70 for the amount we need. 

    Also some more spare hose tap tops would be useful, £20 for half a dozen. 

    If you're willing to contribute £10 per person (rather than per plot) to make this possible - or a little more if you can afford it and are feeling generous - please transfer it to me and I will list the receipts and purchases so you all know where the money has gone. Give as the reference 'QPA' and your name, so that I can keep track.

    The account details are:

    First Direct

    40 47 75

    80339598

    Dr Margaret D. Turp

    I hope this doesn't feel like too much if an imposition and, obviously, don't contribute if you can't spare the £10.

    A Happy Christmas and New Year to you all, and see you in 2019.

    Maggie

  • Manori Ravindran

    Thanks so much, Maggie! I've just contributed (and my partner Jules will, too). Many thanks to you and Helen for organising it all. We will be down at the allotment this afternoon if anyone is around :)

  • maggie turp

    Thanks Manori! Also Patrizio and Alison. Everyone else, if you could put £10 for QPA on your Christmas list, there would be great rejoicing (and a new hose...)!

  • Marie W

    Hi Maggie, just made the transfer. Sorry for the delay ! Hope you are all having nice xmas holidays. marie

  • Kirsty Page

    Merry Christmas and happy new year everyone. J will transfer across £10 in the next day or two for the new hose! Thanks 

  • maggie turp

    Thanks, Kirsty, and all of you who have put in your contribution to the new hose and wooden edging. For those of you who haven't got around to it yet, the request is for a one off donation of £10. The bank transfer details are:

    Dr. M Turp

    40-47-75

    80339598

    Happy New Year to everyone!

    Maggie

  • maggie turp

    Hi to everyone and especially new members. We have found it more convenient this last year or so to communicate via a QPA WhatsApp group. If you would like to join, send me a text on 07986599848 with your name and a request to join and I will add you to the group. 

    Meanwhile, Sally is organising this year's Big Dig for March 31st, so do keep the day free if you possible can. Maggie

  • maggie turp

    A reminder that the grounp now communicates via a QPA WhatsApp group. If you would like to join, send me a text on 07986599848 with your name and a request to join and I will add you to the group. This applies also to people who find their way to this site and would like to be considered for a plot when a vacancy arises. Maggie

    PS I am away from the UK until October 1st. Will respond to any communications as soon as possible after that date.

  • maggie turp

    Comment by maggie turp 1 second agoDelete Comment

    The group now communicates via a QPA WhatsApp group. The current coordinators are Luis and Maren.

    luisbustos82@gmail.com

    marendrath@gmail.com

    Do drop them an email if you would like to get involved. The site is full but plots sometimes become available. Please note that we ask prospective plot-holders to come along and take part in a couple of 'garden together' community events before adding them to the formal waiting list. 

  • Laura Sinigaglia

    Hi all, I am laura. I am part of the Kensal mutual aid group. we are looking for unused plots or green spaces to grow food and then give them to the community. If you have any idea or info, please contact me. I am also looking for space myself in case you heard of someone who cannot take care of their plot due to covid or other reasons. Best Laura