News

 

At every Committee meeting, our C-19 arrangements are reviewed. The priority is to keep vulnerable members and their households safe, while maintaining access to the allotments.

 

In the light of England entering Lockdown 2.0…

 

1.  No more than four people can be on the plot at the same time – either all from one household, or with one guest (per government rules re exercise).  Some plots are too small for even four to be safe, so please use your common sense and be aware that those on plots around you may be vulnerable, or have vulnerable family members at home. People from different households need to observe 1m+ distancing even on the plot.

The Government is allowing parents to take their children with them if it is not feasible to leave them at home, so we are doing the same (for members, not guests, sorry). Children must be supervised more closely than usual and are only allowed on your plot or the most direct route to it. No playing on tracks and communal areas, sorry.

You are responsible for making sure that anyone you bring onto the site is aware of our guidelines and complies.

2. Observe distancing – keep at least one metre away from those outside your household everywhere on site. Be vigilant on tracks and paths.

3. Do not come on site if you or someone in your household are exhibiting symptoms. As ever, you are not allowed on other people’s plots or plot paths without their permission.

5. Others may be infected without symptoms: high risk areas are where we all touch, such as communal wheelbarrows, water tanks and especially, the gate. So protect yourself and others by using gloves and/or hand sanitiser.

6. Minimise driving to the site and only park in one of the legitimate parking spaces. If you drive frequently you should park in the Walton Well Road car park to give others fair access to the few on-site spaces. Speak to the Committee if you have mobility issues that make this impractical.

Your guests may not park on site. They may only drive on site if they are helping you to transport something heavy.

7. On 18th April 2020, Oxford City Council banned bonfires on allotments for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency to avoid smoke causing problems for people with breathing difficulties. Although this blanket ban has been lifted, we are adopting a precautionary approach – you may have a gas or designated charcoal BBQ (‘Weber style’ or grill-type) on your plot but no bonfire, fire pit, chiminea etc. Remember: complaints about smoke from neighbours could lead to a total ban on fires on the site, so please be responsible. The communal bonfire area is now open – please place your woody waste (no weeds) on the bottom tarp and cover with the top one to keep it dry. The Committee will burn it when the wind is favourable.

8. The skip remains in use to help with plot clearance.

9. Limited working parties will be arranged from time-to-time and announced in the Newsletter. Regular Working Parties are suspended.

10. There are a number of external contractors that we rely on to keep the site going – grass cutters, tree specialists etc. Ours is a complex site, and difficult to be sure where you are even with a map in hand. So if your plot doesn’t have a number, put something up that makes it clear. Otherwise there is a good chance that those unfamiliar with the site will go onto the wrong plot – yours, or a neighbour’s – and cause damage.

11. We have suspended regular Sunday opening of the Shop, but you can still contact Sarah for one-off purchases – see Site & Facilities->Trading shop for details.

12. We will continue to keep an eye on plots and let members know where action is needed. We have carried out a reduced Spring audit in May and a full audit was done on 11th October. We do understand that members may be unable to keep plots up to their usual standard because of illness etc. As ever, please keep us informed of extenuating circumstances.

13. We have re-opened membership, adapting our joining processes and doing limited 1:1 tours. We now have a long waiting list. 

15. We don’t want to bombard members with emails and continue regular newsletter updates. If there are major changes we will email, but otherwise this News page of the website is the best source of up-to-date information.

 

A monthly newsletter is sent to all members, and a copy is printed and put on the noticeboard by the gate.

CMAA Newsletter November 2020 and Harry Stone’s Cup award