LATEST NEWS

 ALLOTMENT TRANSFER TO ROYAL SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN COUNCIL

On the 20th December 2023 we were finally transferred to the management of RSCTC.

New tenancy agreements will be sent out. Payment of rent will remain due on the 1st October and will still be payable to Walmley Ash Allotment Association.

FRANK CARTER MEMORIAL TROPHY

In 2022 we entered the BDAC Best Managed allotment site and are happy to say we won first prize.

OFFICIAL OPENING OF GAZEBO & REFURBISHED TOILETS

In Sept 2019 little did we know what was about to happen ’Walmley Ash Allotment finally opened their Schools and Community Project, together with the refurbished toilet block on Saturday 4th September 2021. Mr Terry Wood, the Mayor of Sutton Coldfield officially opened the project, Mr David Cole, Grants Manager, from the Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust was also present, together with over 30 plot holders. The project started in September 2019 when the site was awarded two generous grants from the Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust and the Sutton Coldfield Town Council. With the difficulties and uncertainty over the last 18th months because of the pandemic the work on the projects was delayed. But with the support and cooperation of our contractors together with the work undertaken by our plot holders the projects were finally completed in September 2020. The Schools and Community Project involved the purchase and construction of a Gazebo and the construction of three raised beds. The Gazebo will benefit the many primary school children and other community groups who visit the site each year and the raised beds will be used by Sutton Support Services. The Gazebo will also be a vocal point for our plot holders to meet with and engage with their fellow plot holders. Alan Seager Chairman of the WAAA “ We all know what a positive impact our allotments have on our physical well-being, being able to carry on working on our plots during lockdown certainly had a positive impact on our mental health, many of our plot holders called them their lifesaver.” Pictures of the event can be viewed in the Gallery.

https://walmleyashallotment.co.uk/waaa-events

National Citizen Scheme

We had another visit from the NCS teenagers. They were on site in November 2019 to discuss our next plan of action and  returned again on the 23rd to carry out what we had agreed to undertake. 

Thanks  to them again for another good day of activity. 

Thanks also to all the committee  members that turned up and put a lot of hard work into clearing the area for a new wood chip bay.   

More detail about the volunteer day are on the latest newsletter.

Pictures of all the activities are available in the Gallery.

WALMLEY ASH ALLOTMENT AWARDED £3218.40 FROM SEVERN TRENT COMMUNITY FUND

Walmley Ash Allotment based in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham is celebrating after being awarded £3218.40 in funding from Severn Trent Community Fund.

Walmley Ash Allotment will use the funding to install 8 IBC reconditioned tanks around the allotment site to allow plotholders easier access to water. They will be located where plotholders are some distance from an available standpipe and help to alleviate the frustration of filling up a watering can when someone else is using another standpipe on the same supply line. It can take longer to fill up especially at peak times of the day when several plotholders are all wanting to water their crops.

Storing the rainwater will also enable the allotment to reduce the cost of its water bills. Other allotments across the country have already implemented this idea and are reaping the benefits.

This Severn Trent funding will benefit all the users of the allotment including local schools, youth organisations and charities that visit the allotment. 

It is hoped the project will be completed by the end of September 2024.

For more information go to https://walmleyashallotment.co.uk/patrons-and-sponsors

VOLUNTEER DAYS SEPTEMBER 2024

We had another successfull volunteer session this September.

The Friday and Saturday volunteers did a great job and ticked off a number of jobs on our wish list.

Thanks to Abigail - plot 32c, Alan- plot 13, Jackie - plot 6b, Stan - plot 44, Jackie and John Turner - plot 29b, Julie and Barry Hassett - plot 21b, Paul - plot 10a, Mehtap and Robert - plot 4b, Bev - plot 39.

The owner of the house behind the Gazebo also came out to help. He was really grateful for the work being done. 

There was a nice atmosphere on both days and everyone worked really well together. On the Saturday there was a joint decision towards the end to stop working on plot 5a as they had disturbed so many frogs! They had never seen so many in one place!.

Hopefully everyone will join in when we schedule the next volunteer days.

Pictures of the areas before and after are on the website at https://walmleyashallotment.co.uk/waaa-volunteer-days

WILLING HANDS APRIL 2023
Thank you to everyone that helped out on our latest volunteer days.We managed to achieve what we set out to do, which was great.Specific thanks go to:-Bob - plot 31, Peter - plot 7a, Russell - plot 12a, Jim - plot 32c, Lynne - plot 20b, Jackie - plot 6b, Stan - plot 44, Graham & Bev - plot 39, Alan - plot 13, Jon & Jackie - plot 29b & 33a, Barry & Julie - plot 21b, Rita & Kelvin - plot 19, Bob and Ann - plot 10b.  Pictures of the volunteers at work can be viewed on the website at https://walmleyashallotment.co.uk/waaa-volunteer-days 

WAAA AGM 2022

Last years AGM took place on Saturday 3rd September at the Gazebo.

Plotholders met up beforehand at approximately 12 noon for drinks and refreshments. Everyone brought their own food and drink and some to share.

The latest minutes from the AGM and the last committee meeting are can be read at https://walmleyashallotment.co.uk/waaa-minutes-secure

PLATINUM JUBILEE EVENT 2022

The get together on Saturday 4th was very well attended.  Despite the occasional brief showers everyone had a great time.  The quiz, raffle and children's activities were enjoyed by all.  Thank you to everyone for the generous prize donations. It was an exceptional bounty.  Congratulations to Abigail and Jim who won the top raffle prize of a year's free plot rent.  The joint first quiz prizes of a bottle of wine, provided by Paul, were won by Abigail and Isobel and Stan and Ann.  

Thanks go to Ann and Bob for keeping the barbecues going, Lynne and Ann for running the raffle and children's activities,  Paul for organising and marking the quiz, Robin, Paul and Samantha for providing one of the barbeques, hot drinks and cakes, Graham and Bev for the loan of the second barbeque, and not forgetting everyone else that brought food for everyone to enjoy. Manik's chickpea and potato soup went down a treat with everyone.  

We look forward to the next one.

Read the latest WAAA newsletter to find out what has been going on and what we are doing.

The WAAA Committee newsletters are available from the link below.

Are you getting your emails from the secretary. Some plotholders have been missing out as the emails with attachments are ending up in their spam or junk email boxes. Make sure you are not blocking emails from waaasec@gmail.com

Where possible information is also displayed on the site noticeboards.

FREE GARDENING COURSES

Need some advice on all things relating to gardening. Then take a look at Roots to Fruits  

https://rtflearn.co.uk/roots-to-fruit-free-oraganic-gardening-course/

 BIRMINGHAM TREES FOR LIFE

Anyone interested in helping to plant new trees should visit the website of  Birmingham Trees For Life to learn more https://btfl.org.uk/ 

Do your bit for the British Wildlife.

The RSPCA receives hundreds of calls every year to rescue wildlife which has become tangled in netting, football nets or fishing litter.

Forms of garden netting, [such as that for] pond or fruit, can be a real hazard to wild animals like Hedgehogs and birds, and the RSPCA  would recommend replacing them with solid metal mesh.

If you spot an animal which is trapped, in distress, or in need of help, contact the RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty line on 0300 1234 999

Foxes are regularly seen on site and are known to help to keep the vermin population down.

Watch them at play via this link https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3UIaG5Yjm0se77QaShMFqE714nXrP9NH

The latest sighting on the allotment is of an owl.

Watch it via this link.

https://youtu.be/w8o10MW42WY