EDINBURGH'S ALLOTMENTS STRATEGY

We are now over 3 years into the 5 year plan, real progress has been made. The new organic site at Bridgend Farm is up and running with a waiting list! . The Inspection Termination and Appeals procedure appears to be working well, solving the problem of "dirty plots" in a sympathetic and fair manner. Rental levels, after some hiccups, have been set for the next 5 years. The Council has committed to support allotments for the foreseeable future. We are looking at opening more sites and extending existing ones. We have one failure; "Targets for reduced waiting time....". The waiting list continues to grow and is now at about 900. When the current Strategy Team first sat down this was 450. Y ou could say that we are victims of our own success. I have a few spare copies of the Strategy document "Cultivating Communities". If you would like one than get in touch with me, Peter Wright.

BRIDGEND FARM ALLOTMENTS

Located in Old Dalkeith Road opposite the Council's Inch Nursery, and part of the Craigmillar Castle Park, this site arose from the loss of the Hawkhill site first reported in the Newsletter of Summer 2001. By the summer of 2002 the Council had identified Bridgend as the replacement for Hawkhill. We lost about 19 plots at Hawkhill, Bridgend has about 50 so that is a very welcome increase. The first plot holders arrived in March of this year and, at the time of writing, the official opening is on Tuesday 27 June. The site is totally organic, each plot has a small hut with rainwater collected in a tub. There is a children's play area, composting toilet and plots for the disabled. Many groups have been involved in this project which may be the only one of its kind in Scotland. We look forward to their involvement in the activities of FEDAGA

FEDAGA FLOWER AND VEGETABLE SHOW

The 54th Annual Vegetable and Flower Show takes place on 9 September in the Southside Community Education Centre, Nicolson Street. The Centre has become a popular venue, on good bus routes and centrally located. With this Newsletter comes this year's Schedule, no changes to the classes.

The show will award 3 additional cups. It is Edinburgh's turn to have these SAGS trophies. They come round every 4 years. Sir Robert Grieg Memorial Trophy: This trophy will be presented to the best Children's entry. Amenity Shield: Presented to the best overall allotment site within the Federation's area. All associations affiliated to FEDAGA will be entered. Judging in conjunction with the "Keep Edinburgh Growing" competition. The Miller Cup: For the best plot entered in the "Keep Edinburgh Growing" competition. The Amenity Shield and Miller Cup will be presented at the "Keep Edinburgh Growing" prize giving..

AYR AND DUNDEE SHOW TRIPS

In the past FEDAGA has run a bus to the Dundee Show. By popular demand there will also be a trip to Ayr this year. Cost will be about £25 and this includes travel, entry and a High Tea on the return. There are still a few places left on each trip, Contact Gilbert Clark on 0131-664-1601. Ayr Show is on Saturday 5 August and Dundee is on Saturday 2 September.

NATIONAL VEGETABLE SOCIETY ANNUAL SEMINAR

The NVS's annual seminar will be held in the Cowan Centre in Stirling's Cowane Street from 10:30 am to 16:30 on Saturday 18 November 2006. Registration fee of £5:00 includes lunch. Speakers are Medwyn Williams on Exhibition Growing, John Smiles on rhubarb and Ken Slater on Flora and Fauna. Seed sale during the afternoon break. All are welcome, past speakers have been excellent.

LOST ALLOTMENTS

Some of you will remember that there used to be an allotment site at Balgreen and that the Carrick Knowe site was much larger. These sites were lost when WEBS (West Edinburgh Bus Scheme) came along. At that time we got Stenhouse Phase One as a replacement. WEBS died and CERT (City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit) came along. That also died and TIE (Transport Initiative Edinburgh) came along. TIE is still alive, should it ever come to fruition then there is a possibility that one of these sites will be returned to allotment use.

SHAVING AT LEITH LINKS Teague Homes have plans for a development adjacent to the Leith Links site. At a public meeting they announced that they would be shaving some ground off one side of the allotment site. No Planning Application has yet been made and representation has already been made by the local Association to Teague Homes. As with Spring Gardens, this is one to watch with vigilance.

MIDMAR ALLOTMENTS OPEN DAY

After last year's success, the Site Association again invites the public to come and look around one of the most stunning sites in Scotland. The panorama stretches from Blackford Hill to Corstorphine Hill, Arthur's Seat and the Castle, all a backdrop to an eclectic range of plots where you can see all sorts of vegetables, flowers, fruit and some strange buildings. Besides the plot holders there is no shortage of wildlife to enjoy and you will probably bump into Mr. Fox on the scrounge for your sandwiches. There are some interesting ponds, colourful butterflies, slugs, snails and various other crawlies and a variety of birds.

We would like you to come along to enjoy and appreciate the use of open space and nature's bounty so near the centre of our wonderful city. We know that we are a lucky and privileged bunch of plot holders at Midmar and that we need the support of our neighbours to withstand the relentless pressure on green space.

So do come along on Saturday 26 August at 13:30. There will be nice fresh produce available for a "donation". And if you need to spend a penny you can use our recently installed composting toilet. Please be warned that we are on quite a steep hillside so it is a good idea to wear supportive footwear.

TRADING

Another good year for trading and we now look forward to loads of orders from our new site at Bridgend Farm. Later in the year Site Representatives will be receiving details of our Seed, Seed Potato, Onion Sets and Shallots schemes.

FEDAGA WEB SITE More details about FEDAGA are available on our Web Site at www.fedaga.org.uk