THOUGHTS from our PRESIDENT

Our big achievement last year was that, in conjunction with the Council, SAGS and others, Edinburgh's Allotment Strategy has now been formally adopted by the Council. See more in "Cultivating Communities".

The discount on seeds has been raised substantially, the increase in sales has brought extra benefits to participating sites. Read more in "Trading".

Our ongoing meetings with the Council have brought one of our best years for site improvements. In addition to things that some of you will have seen being done, we have now agreed a strimmer for Carricknowe; a building for the toilet at Ferry Road; fencing at Finlay Avenue, Midmar and West Mains; gates at Hutchison Loan; water supply and paths at Pilrig plus clearing and rotovating 12 plots at various sites prior to reletting. Fencing at Inverleith has to await the outcome of the Inverleith Park Overall Plan.

This year we will start to implement the Strategy and hope to see even more being done. The Council is doing its bit for us, so now we look to plot holders to do their bit by making their plots as productive, neat and tidy as possible.

G Sutherland

CULTIVATING COMMUNITIES

For over a year now, a partnership representing the Council, the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardens, the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society, Private Allotments and the Federation has been developing a sustainable approach to improving allotment provision in the city. The result is a document called "Cultivating Communities" to which the Council committed itself in December 2002. Its 30 recommendations include a pledge to retain the City's current number and arrangement of allotments both public and private, to identify additional sources of land and funding and to continue to work in partnership with the allotment community and other concerned bodies.

"Cultivating Communities" is the basis for the next 5 years' work. The first step is to set up a steering group responsible for implementing the Strategy and on which all relevant stakeholders are fully represented. This will take place early in the year.

The Strategy (minus the appendices) can be viewed online at www.fedaga.org.uk and following the links to Strategy then Cultivating Communities. The full document is available from the Council's Information Centre at the City Chambers. Caitlin di'Silvey's "A History of Edinburgh's Allotments" makes fascinating reading.

Sandy Irvine

MIDMAR NEWS

The threat to our site failed to materialise. During 2002 the Council was revising the South East Edinburgh Local Plan. At one point it looked as if the owners of the Midmar site (who are not the Council) wanted to redesignate the site for housing or other non-allotment use. It later became clear that the owners were interested only in the Paddock, a field bordering the south side of the site, and not the site itself. While obviously relieved, building on the Paddock would still significantly alter the character of the site, Blackford Hill and the Hermitage of Braid. Should the owners proceed to a Planning Enquiry it is likely that our association will be among the objectors.

We have had a record income from the Seed scheme. Thanks to the marketing skills of Alison Nuttall, Midmar has received the largest ever commission. We hope this will encourage more people to buy, not only seeds, but also onions and potatoes through the Federation.

Sandy Irvine

LANDFILL TAX BENEFITS

The Federation's bid for Landfill Tax Credit Funding for pilot communal compost/leaf mould bins at Saughton has failed. We are now working with the Council on a joint bid for Saughton. If we are successful we will go on for further bids, with Warriston possibly being the next.

George Sutherland

TRADING

Thanks to all of you who placed orders for seeds, potatoes, onion sets and shallots through your representatives recently. Your association has earned good commission as a result and you can have your say in deciding what to do with it.

For those of you who were too slow to make up your mind, all of these will be available when the Federation Trading Post at Inverleith Allotments, East Fettes Avenue, opens for business from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday 2 March. Thereafter it will be open every Sunday until early summer. With other gardening sundries on sale it is well worth a visit.

Tony Stanton

WEBSITE

Since its launch last spring the Website (www.fedaga.org.uk) has been increasing slowly in its scope, and is now a useful resource for anyone interested in allotments in Edinburgh. The addition of Ernie Watt's photos, taken on his Grand Tour, gives more visual interest as well as showing the glories of our allotments to the wider world.

The long awaited Strategy has also been added in recent weeks; if you have the opportunity it is worth reading.

I would like to add more Websites to the "Links" page, so if you have a favourite site that you would like to be included then please let me know.

Maggie Rodan

LADY ROAD FLOODING

The Powburn sewer, built by the Victorians in 1884 and running beside the Pow burn at Lady Road, has the dual purpose of carrying sewage in normal conditions plus surface water during rain. At times of heavy rain the sewer cannot carry the extra water and overflows into the Pow above the allotments. We then get raw sewage dumped on our plots. The burn flows to the Braid burn and then to Portobello and the sea.

Scottish Water says that the overflow problem cannot be solved until major works are done to separate and enlarge the sewers. To solve the flooding, all parties having access to the Pow were contacted (Railtrack, Edinburgh University, Scottish Water, the Council's Departments of Cemeteries, Leisure and Culture, Transport, and the plot holders) and a joint survey of the burn undertaken. Blockages were identified and actions allotted. Most of the actions have now been completed and, to date, despite heavy rains we have had no flooding.

At a subsequent survey review attended by Angus McKay, Scottish Water undertook the clearing of trees growing over the sewer to prevent root penetration damage. The plot holders have been clearing the burn bed and revetting the banks to ensure a smooth water flow.

We hope that all the efforts will prevent future flooding.

Peter Wright

SCOTTISH ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS SOCIETY

SAGS has been consolidating its role in networking with local allotments and offering advice and support. We are also considering the future direction of SAGS.

A big success, we helped Newburgh Orchard Gardens in setting up a site Association. Fife Council have now granted the site a 10 year lease.

The Scottish Executive Local Government Allotment Enquiry is still progressing and we look forward to a report this year. Peter Peacock, the Local Government Minister, stated "The Executive values the benefits that allotments bring to individuals and families in Scotland". His full statement is very encouraging and shows that the campaigning by SAGS and FEDAGA has been bearing fruit.

Judy Wilkinson, our secretary, has been invited to join the "Gardens for Life" steering group. This is an Executive initiative and she will have more opportunity to keep allotments in the Parliamentary domain.

In addition to supporting FEDAGA in the Edinburgh Strategy, we have supported the Glasgow Allotment Forum, set up last year and now finding its role and settling down to a more productive time. This year we plan to contact more allotments particularly in Dundee, Aberdeen and the Central Belt and hope to bring all Scottish allotments under one umbrella.

Judy Wilkinson

GROWING POTATOES

I was asked by several people at last year's show what special way I grow my potatoes. There's no secret to my method so I'll share it with you.

I use a 4 year rotation (potatoes, brassicas, mixed and onions/carrots) and apply compost only to the potato patch. I double dig in the spring and put a layer of compost about 9 inches below soil level. Potatoes are well chitted in good light and planted, on level ground, 4 inches deep in trowel holes in rows 33 inches apart with 15 inches between plants. I weed regularly and earth up by a small amount every fortnight until the shaws meet.

In the summer newsletter I'll share the more important bit - how to lift and prepare tubers for the show. It's not the biggest potatoes that win.

George Sutherland

BORDERS ORGANIC POTATO DAY

This annual event is a gold mine for potato enthusaists and will be held this year in the Borders College in Galashiels on Sunday 2 March from 11:00 a.m to 3:30 p.m. Over 100 varieties are available in single tubers (about 11p each) to microplants of rare types (They take some time to grow to harvesting.) or commercial varieties by the bag. There will also be talks, advice, leaflets and food. More details from Dave Allan on 01450-860291.

Ali Black

CRAIGMILLAR CASTLE PARK

The preparation for this new site is progressing. The Council has asked a Landscape Architect to come up with an overall plan and we expect to have a meeting to consider this plan in the near future.

George Sutherland