Most Productive Allotments Awards (1): Three CGAS plot holders were chosen to receive awards in the Parish Council's Most Productive Allotment Competition 2011.
The presentations took place at the Parish Council Awards event on 21st. October.
The first prize went to Stuart and Yvonne (Plot 2) Seen here with the trophy and cetificate.
11/12/2011

Most Productive Allotments Awards (2): The 'runner up' in the Most Productive Allotment Competition 2011 was Carl on plot 11. Seen here with partner and certificate.
(Scroll down to see the third entry in this news thread.)
11/12/2011

Most Productive Allotments Awards (3): The third award in the competition was the 'Charman's Choice for a cottage garden.
The winners were Christine and Dave on plot 16 who are Seen here with their cetificate.
11/12/2011

Allotments skip: It's filling up but you only have until Friday 20th May to get rid of your non-burnable/junk. e.g. old iron, broken glass, bricks, general junk. The skip is due to be removed on Friday. We are unlikely to get another skip on site for at least six months possibly a year.
Get your junk into the skip now.
19/05/2011

Willoughby Road - Planning Permission Refused -- posted February 6th 2011
The Appeal Decision on Appeal Ref: APP/T2405/A/10/2135068 on land at Willoughby Road made by the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government was made on 4th February 2001.
Contrary to what many people had thought the outcome would be the Inspectorate has refused planning permission for residential development of up to 120 dwellings with associated access, landscaping and drainage works, together with public access with open space and provision of new allotments.
11/02/2011

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGAND SOCIAL:  To be held in the lounge of the Countesthorpe Cricket Club On WEDNESDAY 6 OCTOBER 2010. The Meeting starts at 8 pm but the lounge and bar will be open for members from 7.30
Last year's meeting was our first at this venue. It was well attended and a pleasant social evening - a chance for a chat over a drink when the business was done. This year there will again be a FREE DRAW for all members attending The Prize: a Year's Free Plot Rental!
Please come if you can, to join in the discussions about YOUR Allotments Society. We are a Self-Managed allotments site, so it's up to all the members to make it work and to decide what needs to be done!
21/09/2010

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! :  We have an active Committee who are willing to give time & effort to running the site. From time to time, more help is needed though. You wouldn't have to be on the Committee or come to meetings, but here's what is needed:
. People to help with jobs such as newsletter delivering
. People to join working parties from time to time doing practical maintenance etc around the site
. Someone to help with Committee admin. (this person would need to be on the Committee)
If you could help, please let a Committee member know either at the allotments or at the AGM.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED NOW!
21/09/2010

SEEDS ORDERS:  You will see on the notes stapled to your order form that there's one change this year.
For £1 extra per order, King's will make up individual orders and send the completed orders back ready for immediate distribution. This will simplify the process this end considerably and lighten the load for Barbara who has done a truly magnificent job for many years, making up members' orders with all available surfaces, and the floor, covered by seed packets for days on end!
For new members' information, this seeds order scheme allows us to buy the very same seeds available to the general public but at considerably reduced cost, as you will see from the catalogue.
28/07/2010

AMINOPYRALID IS BACK!:  Yes that's the bad news, The Dow Chemical giant has re-released Aminopyralid based herbicide for use on pastures. This is the substance which kills broad leaved plants but not grass and related species. However it attaches its molecules to the grass structure and passes through animals which eat it unchanged into the manure where it is released as the manure breaks down killing and/or malforming any non-grass plants that come into contact with the manure. The 'good' news is that it has only been released in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the South West! See further comment.
28/07/2010

The annual Produce Show:-  is nearly upon us. Those who haven't seen the program can click this link for a copy in MS Word format.
Once again there are NO RHS RULES for produce entries. We just want to appreciate all our efforts in producing the best food we can for our families. There will be the usuall presentations for best and most improved allotments, best scarecrow and the childrens colouring competition.
Please turn up, bring some food to share and have a good time.
28/09/2010

Scarecrow Competition:  Once again this year, as part of the annual show, we are holding a Scarecrow Competition All you need to do is build your Scarecrow on your allotment and submit your name and plot number to a member of the committee before August 1st. Winners will be announced at the Annual Show in September. There hasn't been a large number of entries so far this year and it's nearly too late so hurry get your 'crow up.
30/07/2010

How to stop a thief!:  We have, sadly, been recently subjected to a series of thefts. These have all been from the 'upper' areas of the allotments. Even the Allotments Officer has been targeted.
The items taken so far (as far as has been reported) are:-
some bags of bought compost and a wheel barrow, a row of potatoes, a fig tree(cost £25), a 7ft plum tree. An attempt was also made to remove a similar sized pear tree.
The incidents seem to have occured on successive Sunday evenings. This must stop now. Naturaly,members of CGAS would never condone such actions as depicted in the film clip (right) but feelings are running high and there are rumours of a possible culprit. If it is you then cease and dessist NOW because members are on the lookout. Members are also reminded to KEEP THE GATE LOCKED AT ALL TIMES.
20/07/2010

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH:   Despite the original refusal, the building work already taking place behind Scalborough and Borrowcup Closes and the forced (by the last government)approval of the 180 house development on Leicester road, Davidsons have had the brass neck to reapply for permission for the 120 house development on the 'Fields to the East of Willoughby Road' - the allotments area.
Regardless of any effect it may have on the allotments area, it terms of the village this is a step too far. The only action possible is to oppose this with all the effort we can muster and spell out to the District Council in no uncertain terms that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. See also: advice.html.
30/05/2010an

Skip on the allotments:  The Allotments Officer has ordered a skip for the allotments.  This is now in situe on the corner of the lower and upper tracks. 
The skip is intended for allotment rubish and junk especially dangerous items e.g. broken or unwanted glass. It is not intended for rubbish from home and definitely not compostable material.
22/04/2010

Planning application refused:  The application to build on the allotment field and the other fields up to Willoughby road was refused at the planning meeting on the 18th Mar. So we may be able to enjoy the view on the right for a little longer. However, we need to keep in mind that this small victory is not the end of the matter. It's merely the end of the beginning.
The applicants are almost certain to appeal the decision with the ministry in control of planning and development matters  and that will be a completely different ball game
20/03/2010

Sheds broken into :   On 25th. Jan. A member visiting his allotment early in the morning found his shed had been broken into. A quick inspection revealed that several other sheds with locked doors had also been broken into. Other un-locked sheds were showing signs of entry - doors left open.  The means of entry to the locked sheds appears to have been by use of a crow or wrecking bar and some of the dammage to the sheds is quite serious. 
Strangely, as far as is currently known, nothing has actually been stolen.  This could be that the wrecking spree was a reconoitre to see if there is anything worth stealing and the wreckers were intending to return or that what was found wasn't worth returning for. The incedent was reported to the police on the 25th - incident number 69  but , unsurprisingly there has been no feedback from them. For more detail see sheds.html.
13/02/2010

Notice of planning application posted :   On 21st. Jan. members visiting the allotments found a notice of planning application posted on the gate to the allotments field. This came as a shock to those who have been monitoring the Blaby council web site as tha application has not yet been seen there. The planning department have been contacted and it seem there is still some information needed before it can be posted on the web site. The diagram appears to cover the same area as the draft plan.  For more detail see pnotice.html.
The Parish Coucil are holding a public meeting about this on 22nd. Feb. at 19:30 in the village hall. If you care about your allotment and/or village please try to be there.
22/01/2010

Building 'plans' on display :  Residents in the area around the 'Fields to the East of Willoughby Road' - the allotments area - were sent a letter inviting them to a 'public' viewing of the draft building plans for the Glebe lands east of Willoughby road. Most of the CGAS Committee and several members attended and questioned the Davidsons' representatives on the displayed plans. The Committee held and 'emergency' meeting on 17th to discuss this and related matters. The committee are set upon the developmet of strategies for achieving the best possible outcome for CGAS in all forseeable eventuallities. See also: draftp.html.
17/12/2009

Building plans latest:  Residents in the area around the 'Fields to the East of Willoughby Road' - the allotments area - have been sent a letter advising that details of the proposed planning application are to be made available for viewing. The plans will be on display in the dining hall of Countesthorpe College from 15:30 to 19:30 on December 15th 2009. See also: devel.html.
9/12/2009

Threat to the Allotments:  Towards the end of August several plot holders were dismayed to see surveyors in the fields around the area and ultimately on the allotment. themselves. Enquiries as to their mission obtained the answer that they were measuring the fields (Church property) including the allotment field for the Church who want to sell them to housing developers.  This prompted immediate action from the CGAS Committee including writing to the Bishop of Leicester pointing out that we occupy part of the field, the pressing need for allotments and some of our community based activities. There have been developments since then. This issue is reported in more detail in devel.html.
22/10/2009

Blight!:  Once again, thanks to all the wet, blight is upon us. Several potato plots have already been hit and the owners are desperately digging up the tubers in attemps to prevent the disease reaching them. It is also devastating to outdoor tomatoes. Vigilance is needed to try to protect them from the blight.  The only organic 'solution' is to spray regularly with Bordeaux Mixture. It is not guaranteed to prevent the disease but it makes it harder for it to get a hold.
6/08/2009

Scarecrow Competition:  This year as part of the annual show we are holding a Scarecrow Competition. All you need to do is build your Scarecrow on your allotment and submit your name and plot number to a member of the committee before August 16th. Winners will be announced at the Annual Show in September.
28/07/2009

Herbicide in manure :  Some rows of potatoes on the allotment site are showing symptoms of poisoning by Aminopyralid.  This is a hormone type herbicidal chemical introduced by the Dow company in 2006 for use on grass land.  It kills broad leafed plants but grass is unaffected.  Unfortunately it binds itself to the lignin in the grass and passes through the digestive systems of animals fed on the grass or hay made from it. It then remains in the manure. As the affected lignin in the manure rots, the chemical is released. It is broken down by bacteria in soil but this takes some time. In the meantime any susceptible plants in the ground may be affected. Potatoes, tomatoes, beans, peas and lettuce are mentioned as being paricularly  susceptible. The potatoes in the picture are planted in ground which had relatively fresh local horse manure dug into it shortly before planting. See more on this at:
Guardian/Observer and Allotment Growing.
30/06/2009

Late Frost :  Yet again a late frost has occurred. This took place during the second week of June and affected some climbing beans and potatoes. The effects were sporadic but seemed to be concentrated on plants close to the field.
15/06/2009

New 'Trading' Shed :  Following the ignominious destruction of the shed behind the container (News 01/03/2008) we have been unable to provide the customary compost to members. We have now taken posession of a another 'shed' which has been installed behind the container. Made from part of a container shell itself, it is unlikely to blow away but it is in need of a little TLC in the form of a paint job.   It is hoped that we will be able to provide useful items to members again later this year or early next year.
09/05/2009

Incursions into the hay field :  The grassland bordering the allotments is a hay field.  This means the grass is a cash crop for the farmer and an important source of income for him. He takes a dim view of members driving cars (or people walking) on the grass especially during the growing season.  There has recently (during the wet weather a few weeks ago) been a serious incursion near end of the lower plots track where a vehicle has gone off the track and created ruts in the grassland. The committee has received a formal complaint and must remind members they must not go onto the grass. (The border is 8ft ~2.5m from the allotments.) Vehicular access to plots is for delivery only and all cars must be parked on the car park at the top of the field.
30/03/2009

Thanks to Fiona and Wayne and all who helped.