KASHS

4^th August 2025

Hi everyone

Firstly, a huge 'thank you' to all who helped tidy up the communal areas on Saturday.

Please, can members make an effort to tidy up their plots, tackle the weeds, and harvest crops? It might be worth checking your plots after the wind to see if there is any damage.
Our visitors love to talk to people, so if you can be on your plot on Sunday, it would be great to see you.

Help needed on the day

Most of the gazebos will be put up on Sunday morning, in order to allow members to bring cars down on Saturday.
Sunday at 9am, we need people to help put up the gazebos and, at the end, we need people to put them away.
If you have any large tables for stalls to use, please could you bring them down.

Tables and chairs for Community Stars

If you have chairs or tables we can use for the Community Stars cafe, please put them on the grassy area opposite the toilet.

Tombola

We are trying to raise money for a polytunnel and seating area, and need prizes for the tombola.
Dave Bolton and his family are running the tombola again.
If you have prizes that you would like to donate, please can you deliver them to Rob Snow at 3, Charlton Court HG5 0BZ, near St John's School.
Alternatively, you can drop them off on the day.

Produce Stall

Last year, the produce stall raised much-needed funds for the society, and we would love to do as well this year.
Any donations of homemade jams, chutney, honey, cakes, or buns would be very much appreciated. The team is pricing as much as possible on Friday, so if at all possible, please deliver non-perishables to 3 Charlton Court. Part of the stall will be for fresh produce, flowers, and plants, which can be delivered on the day.

Carrie's Vegetable animals

This is very popular with our younger visitors. A box will be placed at Mr Noddings' bench this week for your vegetable donations.
Any spare vegetables of any size would be welcome, along with any interestingly shaped veg such as fennel and artichokes.

Raffle tickets and seed sales

Maggie is selling seeds for bargain prices at the front gate. Also, please buy a ticket for the Harrogate and District Allotment Federation lottery.

Gate duty

Can you spare an hour between 1:30 and 4:30 to welcome our visitors? This involves handing out the quiz sheet and explaining what activities we have on offer.
We have committee members on duty throughout the period, but a few extra people would help free them up and give them a break.

Photos

Please take photos on the day and share them on WhatsApp.

Please contact me with your offers of help or questions about the arrangements.
Email. rob59knares@gmail.com

11^th July 2025

Hi everyone,
We hope you're enjoying the growing season'!
Please find A4 and A5 posters for our upcoming FEVA Open Day in our documents section. If you have access to a public noticeboard, shop, café, or anywhere else in your local community where you can display the poster, we’d be really grateful for your help in spreading the word.

Yorkshire Water Hosepipe Ban
As you may be aware, Yorkshire Water has announced a hosepipe ban coming into effect this Friday. While allotments growing food are exempt from the ban, we believe it’s important for us to play our part in conserving water and keeping costs down.

Thanks for your understanding and support in conserving our shared resources.
From Friday, hosepipe use will be restricted to between 6:00pm and 9:00am only, when temperatures are cooler and water is less likely to evaporate.

Kirsty

12^th May 2025

Hi everyone,
I hope you're all enjoying this lovely weather!
It's been fantastic to see so many of you dedicating part of your plot to creating wildlife ponds. The positive impact is already showing, with more frogs around to help keep the slug population in check! We've also spotted an encouraging increase in hedgehog activity on site.
However, we're writing with a small but important reminder. Some ponds currently don't have a sloped edge or an escape route. This is essential for any animals that come to drink or accidentally fall in—especially creatures like frogs, mice, and hedgehogs. Without a safe way out, they can easily become trapped and drown. This is particularly dangerous for baby hedgehogs, who often follow their mothers into the water, causing whole families to drown. Adding a gentle slope, a ramp, or even a sturdy branch can make all the difference.
We know how committed you all are to supporting wildlife on the site, so please take a moment to read the simple but important guidelines below and take steps to ensure that your pond is safe.

Sloped edges
When digging your pond, create gently sloping areas along the edges to allow animals to walk out of the water.

Rocks and pebbles:
Place rocks and pebbles around the pond's edges to create a natural-looking pathway for wildlife.

Ramps:
Consider adding a ramp made from wood or stones to provide a clear path for animals to climb out of the water.

Submerged logs and branches:
Partly submerge large branches or logs, weighted down to hold one end above the surface, to create a natural-looking ramp or platform for animals to climb on.

Plants:
Incorporate plants along the pond's edges and in the shallow areas to provide additional cover and habitat for wildlife.

Stairs:
Create small, stepped areas using bricks or stones for wildlife to climb out of the water.

Shallow areas:
Aim for a pond that has a good balance of shallow and deep areas to provide a range of habitats for different species.
Thank you so much for your continued efforts to make our site a safe and thriving space for nature!
Kirsty