General News

This morning witnessed the weigh in for the inaugural Allotment Association growing competition, with the focus on Pumpkins. With newly borrowed, state of the art weighing equipment installed and carefully callibrated on plot 45, the weigh in began in earnest to see who would win the biggest pumpkin, and the honour of plumpest pumpkin 2015.

11 entrants held their breath as their precious yellow monsters were manhandled into the weighing bag, weights recorded, and the produce gathered for a team photograph where the results were announced.

In 3rd place with an awesome specimin was Lisa Lebesque and family, weighing in at 67lbs. In second place with two monster bundles of yellow were the Byford family, with the largest topping out at 72lb. In first place, and pipping the byfords to the post by about 2 weeks worth of soup was Karen Lawrence with a grizzly specimin of 76 1/2 lbs.

A small prize of chocolate pumpkins (as if you had heard enough about the vegetable already) were offered as token prizes to what was a fun event. Thanks to everyone who took part in the fun, and we hope you enjoyed it, and a special thanks to Hughes the Butcher for the loan of the scales.

A small gallery of images is on the website - follow this link http://www.melbpark.com/portfolio397359.html

The Melbourne Park Allotment Association 11th AGM was held at the trading hut this morning, and following last years record attendance, the event had similar support this year. This year the AGM was tinged with the news that Arthur and Ada Cornell, both of whom have been an absolute constant in terms of Melbourne Park Allotments for nigh on 70 years had determined that this was their last year on site.



Having had the notion that everyone had turned up to acknowledge the accounts, or volunteer to serve on the committee scotched, the Co Chairman closed the day's usual business and invited Tony Holbrook to provide a potted history to the gathered members. From Arthur and Ada's very first plot, where the community orchard is now based, to the fiercely competitive flower and vegetable shows that they regularly won, from rhubarb to rhumba and their other passion for ballroom dancing, to convincing Tony to re constitute the committee and re start the trading hut, and then running the trading hut for the last ten years was sympathetically presented to all. Finally a presentation was made to both from the generosity of all the associated friends and colleagues of Arthur and Ada to round off the proceedings.



Arthur and Ada have promised to pop in from time to time to see us, hopefully at the mulled wine and mince pie event in December, and we wish them all the very best and a huge thank you for everything that they have contributed to the history and activity of Melbourne Park.

Following the presentations for the City Council Allotment awards, the Association found itself in the Essex Chronicle with the headline 'Melbourne allotments are the best'.

Peter Hunnable collected the awards for us at the event, and as the article suggests Patrick Tilley was presented with a specific award in relation to his plot, which will allow himself to celebrate at Hylands House at the Christmas Party with a champagne reception and meal.

Hearty congratulations all round,

We are pleased to announce that Melbourne Park Allotment Association was nominated the best allotment site in the large sites category for the Chelmsford City Council for 2015. Members of the committee were invited to the presentation which was held outside Barclays Bank / Nationwide Building Society, Friday 18th September. The prize giving was undertaken by the mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Paul Hutchinson.


Pat, Sybil and Richard shelter from conditions during the award ceremony.

As well as this nomination, our good friends at Chignall Road Allotments, were nominated as the best in the small sites category and our congratulations to Steve Withers and his colleagues.

Patrick Tilley from Melbourne Park Allotments was awarded the best overall plot, which considering the number of plots that would have been amongst the judges view is hugely commendable. Hats off everyone.


The home page of the website have been updated with two images showing Peter / Sybil and Richard collecting the award on behalf of the Association and Patrick receiving his award from Councillor Hutchinson, Both images and those in this article kindly supplied by Tony Holbrook.

We are now taking order for farm trailer loads of manure for mid - December (approx.) delivery. The price if £26.00 per load delivered to your plot.

There is a limited quantity and ordering can be made at the Trading Hut or with Peter Hunnable, Tony Holbrook or Karen Lawrence. Orders can only be accepted with full payment giving your name, Plot Number, and contact telephone number. Payment by cash or cheque made payable to Melbourne Park Allotment Association.

Please ensure that you make your order by 16th November. As most plots are now occupied it is expected that most loads will have to be delivered onto the roadways. It will be a condition of ordering that the load must be removed within 7 days to enable vehicular access. Plot holders not ordering manure are asked to bear in mind this temporary situation.

As with previous years the full load can be shared with a neighbour giving each a half load. please indicate on whose plot the load is to be delivered.

The Melbourne Park Allotment Association annual competition awards were presented at the Trading Hut this morning. The certificates and trophies were presented by the Association Honorary President Arthur Cornell and Steve Withers. Our thanks to Steve for all the organisation, our judge Heather Bourdon, and hearty congratulations to the winning plot holders.

The best newcomer - under 18 months - Chris Perrin

the best overall plot - winner Arthur Bird

third place Albert Pepper

runner up Karen O Mera

The Melbourne Park Allotment competition was judged by Heather Bourdon, chairperson of the Waterhouse Lane site on Saturday 18th July. We run the competition every year and leave it absolutely to the judges discretion in terms of what they are looking for and how they determine the outcome. We are pleased to announce that this years winner of best plot is Arthur Bird, plot 32L, -(pictured above)- with Karen O Mera (124L) second, and Albert Pepper (12L&25L) third. The award for the best newcomer was Chris Perrin, plot 31L, pictured below.

Further information will be posted shortly in terms of awarding the winners with their certificates. Our grateful thanks to our judge Heather and for Steve for organising and accompanying on the day.

The Allotment Association visited Kew Gardens on Saturday amid glorious weather conditions which helped to make a perfect day. A full coach arrived at Kew just prior to 10 and with everyone disappearing off in their separate directions, the Victoria Gate cafe, (cake and tea) proved to be an unscheduled meeting point for many before departure.

A big thank you to Karen Lawrence for organising the day, and also to Lodges Coaches for whom driver Tony had his inaugural experience of Kew with us.

A gallery with a selection of photographs from the day has been put on the Association web site, and should anyone feel inclined to share their memories of the day with us, we would be delighted to host the galleries. For those who are willing, please contact Ray via the web site or at raylph@virginmedia.com so that we can organise and size the images accordingly.

A big thank you for everyone for coming and ensuring that we had a full coach, and believe that we all had a great day.

The Allotment Association visit to Kew Gardens is now only a couple of weeks away. The trip is fully sold out and this notice is to advise of the collection points and timings for the 4th July.

Lodges will make the first pick up at the corner of Melbourne Avenue and Pines road at 08:00 prompt, and then make a second stop at Writtle (opposite the village hall) at 08:10 to 08:15 hours. Please consider your fellow travellers and ensure that you are prompt at your chosen collection point.

Looking forward to a great day.

We know that everyone looks forward with unmitigated joy in respect of the Annual General Meeting which is held every year. Due to unfortunate circumstances (Co-Chairman's Gaff) it is necessary to change the date of the AGM to one week later. The new date is 10th October, proceedings commence at 10.30 at the trading hut, with light refreshment available.

It is an important date in the Allotment Association diary, and does give everyone a chance to listen to what may have developed over the last year, and offer a view in relation to the site etc.

The co chairman offers his humble apologies for the need to change the date and hope that all avid readers of the site will relay the message to as many on plot as possible,

thanks in advance,
Webmaster

Located at the front of the site, observant plot holders will have noticed that a new sign has been erected. The sign has been placed to help remind everyone to shut and lock the gate when they depart in an effort to ensure that we all remain conscious in respect of site security. Ian and Dave kindly modelled for the web site, (they did actually install), and our sincere thanks to the great craftmanship of Ted who built the sign for the Association.

During last year we experimented with the opening of the trading hut on Wednesday evening, and this proved to be welcome all round. The trading hut has a veritable wealth of stock for all those things that you need on your allotment, from canes, to fertilisers, timber and a range of items that are appreciatively donated to the shop.

There was some suggestion that we may rename the hut 'Dave's cave' or something a little more celubrious, we have decided against this idea. We know, however,that besides parting company with some cash to purchase your products which in turn supports the Allotment Association, you can also be sure of a cheery, welcome greet from Dave, who may just convince you that 'a little bit extra may be required'.

The trading hut will re open midweek from the beginning of May to the end of August, from 6.00pm to 7.00pm, and we hope that this venture continues to be well supported.

The Association are pleased to announce that a trip is being organised to Kew Gardens for the 4th July 2015. The places are being offered on a strictly first come, first serve basis with a deposit of £10.00 per head payable by 22nd February. Full payment required by the end of April, and no place is confirmed until full payment received.

Lodges will be collecting us from the corner of Melbourne Avenue / Pines Road, for what should be an excellent day.

Bookings can be made through Ray / Karen Lawrence (plots 24/13), Big John (plot 19), Tony Holbrook (plot 45) or enquire through any committee member or at the trading hut. A link to the advert can be found under.

Mpaa Kew Gardens

For those of us snuggled up indoors, with the heating ramped up, you won't have failed to notice the heavy frosts over the last few days. This hasn't stopped some of our intrepid members from continuing to work on the plots between the Christmas and New Year period.

A few more seasonal images have been added to the home page, and a couple of frost covered images of a cabbage head and sage leaves are included here.

Which leaves nothing else for 2014 than to wish everyone a happy and above all healthy new year. Happy allotmenting!

A sharp frost heralded a beautiful morning for what we think is the 10th annual mulled wine morning at the trading hut. With a fine array of savouries and cakes, refreshments, and legendary concoction brewed by our very own specialist mulled wine sommelier, Tony Holbrook, the morning was well attended and we would like to thank everyone who took part and hope the event was enjoyed by all.

It goes without saying that a huge amount of effort goes in to putting on the events and our sincere thanks to all those who helped Friday, and Saturday, and to all those who donated raffle prizes.

Steve Withers presented Stuart Challis with his Best Allotment Trophy from our competition earlier in the year. A regular winner of the trophy Stuart is going to give us all a chance next year as he is moving to a new site and we wish him well.

It also seems that rather a lot of refreshments were taken on board, and with a significant queue for the facilities, a few of our less shy members took advantage of the fact that we have a true permaculture endeavour at the top of the plot, which seemed to overwhelm at least one of our number.

Thank you all, and wishing all members a happy Christmas and a healthy, prosperous growing season in 2015.

A selection of images from today can be viewed in a gallery following this link. http://www.melbpark.com/xmas-mulled-wine-2014



[webmaster]

Over the last couple of weeks we have seen some interesting developments on site. Jorge (at the top of the site) has been particularly busy clearing out all the local supplies of straw and has laid the same across his allotment, following a concept of Permaculture.

The term Permaculture comes from 'permanent agriculture' and looks to 'live lightly on the planet'. The term is not just related to agriculture or associated exploits, but has more wider general principals in terms of our touch on the planets resources, and their are a host of web sites and other that detail some of the thought processes and concepts surrounding this methodology.

Obviously this is quite unique in relation to how the majority of us look after our plots and with Jorge blessing will be following his progress keenly to see how everything develops. The general principals include the thought process that the more we dig the soil, perhsps the more damaged it becomes, and by laying natural materials on the surface and allowing this to break down into the soil, and planting directly, should produce healthy and more productive levels of crops, whilst helping to retain the vitality of the soil itself.

[webmaster]

Anyone who visited the trading hut during the bright Wednesday summer evenings could not have failed to have been impressed by our very own chief salesman, raconteur, and general purveyor of bon viveur, Mr Dave Rawlings.

Dave seemed to view that it may be a good idea to try something a little new and offered a specific competition in relation to the produce carefully nurtured on our plots. Pumpkins turned out to be the favourite choice for our first foray into uncharted territory for the Association in recent years.

With this in mind the social calendar has a new date of 17th October for the culmination of this new enterprise, the biggest pumpkin, open to Association Members.

whilst some disquiet exists amongst some, who see this as the start to the stony road to desperate and devilish deeds amongst competing growers, we would like to hope that as an Association that we are above all this and support each and everyone in the attempts to produce bigger and better.

There are one or two other hurdles to overcome: e.g. how are we going to measure all the glorious produce; should it be the size, weight or circumference of the pumpkin. Such matters still to be considered. What is known is that the Association will provide the seeds in early March for the growing to begin in earnest.

There is already a precedent for a significantly sized pumpkin produced on the site, my son claiming most of the plaudits, although he really just posed with the produce which weighed in at 106lbs, (significantly more than he did) and fed this family of three for several months!! There is only so much soup, crumble, pie and mash that you can tolerate, so ensure that you have a wide circle of friends to feed.
[webmaster]

Outside of the everyday impromptu social gatherings and chats, and the trading hut coffee club, I guess we are all looking forward to the 2014 Extravaganza that neatly finishes off the Association year - the fabled mulled wine and coffee morning on 6th December (1030am). We provide a little reminder of what we have plan to compliment these with for 2015.

- 4th July: Coach outing to Kew Gardens (to be confirmed)

- 18th July: Annual Allotment Competition

- 3rd October: 11th Annual General Meeting. An event so exciting that it shouldn't be missed. Coffee, Tea, Biscuits, and an overview of the year.

- 17th October: New for this year - Heaviest Pumpkin Competition. A further news item will be posted

- 5th December: The even more fabled Xmas coffee and mulled wine morning, starting 10.30 and totally free.

We look forward to seeing you all at the above.

[webmaster]

Whilst I am sure that this particular event does not need any reminder, it would be remiss of us not to publish the fact that the Allotment Association Mulled Wine and Mince Pie morning will shortly be creeping up on us. The now annual event is free to all Allotment Association members and features the now legendary Mulled Wine produced by Tony Holbrook, other refreshments and the chance to take a break from all that pre festive period hastle (e.g. shopping)

10.30 AM at the trading hut and we look forward to seeing you all then. By the way, it's not just about the mulled wine (although an exceptional selling point), but a host of other goodies are usually available and saves on elevenses or an early lunch!!

Notice is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting of Melbourne Park Allotment Association, to be held on Saturday 4th October, at the Trading Hut, commencing 10:30 hours.

The AGM is an important fixture in the Association calender and would encourage as many members as possible to turn out to hear news in relation to the site that has taken place over the last year, the election of officers for the next year and any other business.

We would be extremely pleased to see you on the day and hope that you can make it.
[webmaster]