The bonfire was lit on wednesday evening. Thanks to Sally and Kieran Kerin, Penny Smith, Angela Smith, Andy Freeman , Maureen Wale and Sarah Edmondson for their help in re-stacking the bonfire material and feeding the controlled burn.
No more material is to be taken to the Orchard area.
The survey and plans for the orchard area development will be presented for discussion at the AGM on 9th November.
The bonfire will be lit this week as there is a short window forecast when the wind speed and direction is suitable.
No further bonfire material is to be taken to the orchard area by the main entrance after this wednesday, 26th October.
THE AGM WILL BE HELD ON 9TH NOVEMBER IN THE GUILDHALL AT 7PM
The AGM is a chance for all members to participate in the decisions taken to maintain our unique site. Please come along and show your support for the improvements planned for the coming year. The Annual Report and Agenda are attached. They are also posted in the minutes section together with the minutes of the 2015 AGM circulated earlier.
The Society does not have a written Constitution. A proposed constitution, encapsulating the Societies current practice under the Management Agreement with the Council, is attached to the Annual Report, to be approved at the AGM.
Claire Belsom, Chair of Faversham Town Council Allotment Management Group (FTCAMG) with whom we are arranging the new Management Agreement, will introduce herself to the membership at the AGM. The group have already visited the site and given assistance with planning applications. You may have seen the informative article Claire has written on the visit in the Autumn edition of Faversham Voice
Following the committee meeting on 17th October, the latest information poster is attached below.
Further areas of bullrush were cleared to gain access to water, using the newly acquired underwater brush cutter, thanks to Bob Gomes and Noel Perkins. Ricky Roberts, Sally and Kieran Kerin cleared rubbish from the recently reclaimed brick store. This has now been surveyed and repairs will commence shortly.
General clearance was delayed by the weather. The bonfire will be delayed a week.
The next work party, on sunday 16th October, will concentrate of clearing the Brick Shed by plot 20, ready for renovation as the Society’s site store, and further clearance of bullrushes in the north reach. Contact the Secretary, details on contacts, if you wish to help and receive further details.
It will also be your last chance to take advantage of the bonfire in the old orchard area. Plot holders can take any timber and dry non-compostable material and prunings arising from their plots, and add them to the one off bonfire arranged this year. The bonfire will be lit at the first opportunity after next weekend, subject to suitable weather conditions.
Once the bonfire has been lit, no further material is to be deposited in the orchard.
Despite the inclement weather and shortage of apples this year, the event went off as planned. The demonstration table processed 180lb of washed apples, producing 7 gallons of juice, over 3 hours. We were well fortified with a constant supply of sausages from the BBQ run by Andy Freeman.
When the sun came out, there were plenty of visitors happy to help extract juice, sample the wares, and enjoy the BBQ. There was a lively interest in the process, so it is planned to repeat the event next year. There may even be some samples of the cider produced from the juice extracted yesterday.
Thanks to Andy, Sarah Edmondson, Sally and Kieran Kerin, for ignoring the rain and making the event such a success.
We are also grateful to Faversham Homebrew for the loan of the second press, made available for other allotment holders to press their own juice.
Stonebridge Allotment Society 