As it was a nice morning I went for a walk round the allotments, then over to the Horticultural Society’s hut for a chat.
I approached my plot only to be dismayed at seeing that someone had been walking over part of it and much of the top eastern side has been badly trampled. It’s perhaps not quite as bad as it sounds but following a few days of wet weather the ground was soft so it does look a bit of a mess.
Talking to a couple of other plot holders I’m told that on Thursday a notable number of adults and young children were present on a nearby plot for much of the day. They were from a nearby special needs school. It appeared that the children were not being properly supervised and were seen on my plot and adjacent ones.
To find any kind of damage is bad enough but at least any done by animals, or even vandals, is understandable. This, though, is totally unacceptable.
I’ve sent an email complaint to the council person responsible for allotments, with copies to several others including the chief executive.
I spoke about this with the Horticultural Society’s Secretary and he said that he would also send an email expressing the concern of both myself and other members/plot holders.
I didn’t have the heart to go back after lunch to work on the plot so I’m sitting here fuming at what is totally irresponsible behaviour. My anger is more towards the adults apparent lack of supervision than the children’s actions.
My concern now is that nothing like this happens again, especially next year when if it does then the damage is likely to more considerable, possibly expensive and far more upsetting.
is a lifelong lawn lounger, sofa flyer and book buff
20 responses so far ↓
jenray // November 25, 2007 at 3:30 pm |
Oh, sorry, Mr Flighty…sounds like we’ve both had bad weekends…me with being cut off again by our phone company and you with trampling feet over your lovely and well kept allotment…so frustrating isn’t it…hope it doesn’t happen to you again, as I keep hoping my phone won’t be cut off again, but it’s the second time in less than a fortnight and for five days at a time, which is even more frustrating…big hugs to you…
Ellie Gant // November 25, 2007 at 3:42 pm |
Oh, I am sorry to hear this, Mr. F. It is one of the unfortunate downsides of allotments, and it is very upsetting. It is sad that people are so ignorant and careless of other people’s property and feelings. Hope you have a better evening. Ellie
flighty // November 25, 2007 at 4:23 pm |
Jenray hello and thanks! I’m sorry to say that your problems with Virgin merely further confirm what a terrible company they are for customer (non)service. I do hope that you get sorted out soon. Hugs.
flighty // November 25, 2007 at 4:27 pm |
Ellie thanks! Clearly the children should be closely and properly supervised at all times whilst on the site. It’ll be interesting to see the response(s) I get to my email. I’m sure I will!
Joy/Sweetladyjane // November 25, 2007 at 7:23 pm |
I didn’t know you had a wordpress blog! Sounds like your day was very frustrating and that the adults just let the kids run wild.
flighty // November 25, 2007 at 9:10 pm |
Joy hello! Yes I’ve been here nearly a year, with two blogs of which FlightBuff is now inactive.
It was indeed. I’m not sure that it was as bad as that, more a case of the kids not being supervised properly or watched.
nikkipolani // November 25, 2007 at 11:10 pm |
Oh Flighty. Damage from any source is a big discouragement – especially when you’ve so carefully tended your plot and were looking forward to progress not rework! There are lots of kids on bikes in my neighborhood so I’ve designed the front garden to have plants less likely to suffer damage should any of them veer off the sidewalk. Could you put up a low fence?
artmeliana // November 26, 2007 at 12:47 am |
It looks as though there were not enough supervisors with the kids. I never see enough adults with school trips, anyway.
I hope you have not lost too much from the trampling…
flighty // November 26, 2007 at 7:19 am |
Nikki it was such a shock when I saw it. I now think that most of the damage has been caused by railway sleepers(large, heavy wooden logs) that were put on my plot then moved. If so then it was certainly the adults at fault rather than the children. It some ways that makes it even worse!
I could put up a fence but I really don’t want to, and apart from which I shouldn’t have to.
flighty // November 26, 2007 at 8:10 am |
Arty possibly not. Even if there were it appears that they were trying to get a lot of work done (moving soil and railway sleepers, planting trees and erecting a shed) which with children present, and helping, probably added to the general chaos.
I don’t think much has been lost, it’s more a case of it looking a bit of a mess. Even so…
nikkipolani // November 26, 2007 at 4:46 pm |
I was thinking a low fence might look really nice with a vine of some sort growing on it, or even a rose. The university I attended has small (10×15) plots for students in their horticultural program (too bad I didn’t know this back then!). Each plot is separated by whatever kind of fencing the student wants – whether split rail or picket (painted and unpainted). The effect is very charming, especially when sweet peas are twining through them.
flighty // November 26, 2007 at 7:12 pm |
Nikki that sounds rather nice! I’ll give it some thought. I’m going to grow a climber or two of some kind, and definitely some sweet peas.
daffy // November 27, 2007 at 6:43 am |
Aw sorry to hear your bad news, take heart though and with a few solutions put into practice it will only make it look nicer. Have a great week!
flighty // November 27, 2007 at 7:27 am |
Daffy thanks! I’m going there this morning to tidy up. I hope to, and you too! xx
lady_drid // November 27, 2007 at 4:27 pm |
My dear friend, I’m so sorry! I know how you feel. Children have to be under the supervision of adults all the time, but there are a lot of people unable to embrace a responsible parenthood around the world. Respect the rights and property of others is “out of fashion” nowadays. What a pity! Hugs, my friend.
flighty // November 27, 2007 at 5:12 pm |
Lady Drid I’ve since found out that it wasn’t the children, thankfully. However it was adults which in many ways makes it worse.
I’ll be doing a follow-up entry telling everyone who it was and what they did.
I’m still annoyed, and still have to tidy my plot, but it’s not all bad news as you will see.
Hugs xx
Louise // November 28, 2007 at 2:12 pm |
Flighty, I hope you get this incident nipped in the bud, to prevent any more damage being done to your plot in the future. I wish you all the best with your investigations. x
flighty // November 28, 2007 at 6:30 pm |
Louise I don’t think that they’ll be further incidents, at least involving the people concerned with this one. I’ll be doing a follow on entry telling what happened then and after. xx
Mas // November 29, 2007 at 11:49 am |
Goodness me! I’d just seen your photos the other day of everything looking so beautiful (and Daffy’s wonderful poem) and now … I wonder what the world is coming to when people behave these ways with undue care and attention to other people’s property…
I hope that it’ll not be repeated
take care of yourself
M
flighty // November 29, 2007 at 1:09 pm |
Mas I think that everyone will be surprised, or perhaps not, when I say just who was responsible. I’ll be doing a follow-on entry sometime soon telling all.
I hope so too! Cheers.