To enter this years competition click on the entry formlink which will open in word. Fill out the form and submit your entry to Wilf at our site shed.

Entry form

Judging

1. To be carried out twice by an adjoining association, during the week of 19th to 24th May and again during the week of 21st to 26th July.
2. In 2008 Longbarrow will Judge East Bournemouth, North Bournemouth will judge Longbarrow, East Bournemouth will judge Brook Road and Brook Road will judge North Bournemouth.
3. At each judging 200 points are available, The total points awarded at each judging are then divided by two e.g. 1st judging 150 points, 2nd judging 140 points, total 290 points divided by two = 145 points.
4. The judging association must then inform the officials at the site judged the positions and the points awarded for all entries.
5. The top four plots must then, as quickly as possible, be notified to the Council by the “owning” association, without points awarded.
6. As soon as possible after all results declared and advised council officials will judge the first place plot on each site in order to decide the best plot in the area.

RULES AND CONDITIONS TO BE OBSERVED BY COMPETITORS

1. All entries must be on the approved forms and must reach the secretary of the Allotment Association before the commencement of judging.

2. Plots will be judged twice. The first judging will take place during late May and the final judging during late July.

3. Competitors must clearly display the number of each plot entered to be eligible for judging.

4. The decision of the judges shall be final. The interpretation of any rules governing the competition, and any matter not covered by these rules, shall rest finally with the Director of Leisure and Tourism.

5. Points will be awarded in accordance with the attached schedule and judges will take into account ingenuity, skill or enterprise shown by competitors in overcoming local difficulties.

6. The size of the area under cultivation will not be allowed to prejudice the result, but the bulk of the produce, especially the amount of food produced from each square metre of the area under cultivation, will be considered. In this way a 125 sq.m. plot can win as many points as one twice that size.

AMENITY ALLOTMENT COMPETITION 2008

Section 1 : MANAGEMENT OF PLOTS

Condition of plot maximum points  25

Workmanship maximum points      25

                                    Total Points    50

Section 2 : CULTIVATION

Potatoes Cabbage Asparagus   Brussels Sprouts Onions Runner Beans
Carrots Peas Spinach/Chard Tomatoes Broad Beans Parsnips
Leeks Dwarf/French/Kenya Beans Peppers
Beetroot Turnips/Swedes CucumberGarlic Herbs Fruit
Shallots Flowers Celery/Celariac
Rhubarb Radish/Lettuce/S.Onions Sweet Corn
Pumpkins/Squashes Cauliflower/Broccoli/kale Marrows/Courgettes
Miscellaneous

10 points each but only highest 15 to count. Maximum points 150

Total Points 200

Guidance notes for competitors and judges

1. Condition of Plot : The plot should be well stocked and weed free. Crops should be free from excessive damage from pests, disease and weather.
2. Any unplanted areas or where crops have been harvested, or about to be planted, should be clean, weed free and the soil in good condition.
3. Workmanship : Soil between crops should be weed free. Paths and leisure areas, where included, should be neat and well maintained
4. Credit should be given for pest control methods. Plant supports etc should be properly constructed and positioned and sturdy enough to withstand bad weather.
   There should be evidence of crop rotation.
5. Credit will be given for correct labelling of crops making judging more accurate.

During our on-going plot inspections the lack of activity has concerned us on some of the plots. Through out the year, there are plenty of jobs we should all be doing in preparation for the growing season ahead, even during quiet times it is essential that plots are maintained so as to keep an overall tidyness of the site as whole, but also to stop the inevitable infestation of unwanted weeds, desease and pests.

With the recent rise in popularity in allotments and home grown produce, our waiting list is steadily getting longer. Though we do not wish to evict current plot holders, we are actively looking for plots where there is no activity, so please make the effort if you wish to continue with your plot.

If however you are having problems in maintaining a tidy plot, for whatever reason, please get in contact with a committe member, as there may be ways in which we can help.

Vice Chairman

Helpers required for shop rota and other duties, please contact Wilf in the shop.

Broadstone Horticultural Society will be holding two Flower Shows in 2008 on:

Saturday 29th March 2008
A Spring Show at the War Memorial Hall,
Tudor Road, Broadstone

AND (more…)

Free Associate Memberships Available Now. 

Come along to Longbarrow Allotments in Throop Road Bournemouth  and sign up as an associate member.

It cost’s nothing to join and you have the benefit of purchasing goods from our shop. So pop in and see Wilf any Sunday between 10.00 and 12.00.  Many of the items we sell are competitively priced, many cheaper than garden centres and local DIY stores.

Longbarrow Clubhouse and Shop.

On Friday 18th April there will be a Gardeners World special shown on BBC2.

The programme is about one of the presenters, Joe Swift, taking on an overgrown allotment in North London and will follow the early stages of bringing the plot into production.

On 28th January our chairman was invited, as a result of winning the allotment of the year competition, to go along to a days filming and lend a hand. Joe is a garden designer and co presenter of Gardeners World but knows very little about vegetable growing and needed advice. (more…)

THE THOUGHTS OF CHAIRMAN PETER

Happy New Year - We are now into January, each day there is a little more daylight and our thoughts drift to planning the up-coming growing season.

What, I wonder, will 2008 hold for Longbarrow? - It will be difficult to beat 2007!

Hopefully we will be entering the Kitchen Garden “Best Site” competition. Any suggestions on how we can increase our chances of going one better than last year would be warmly welcomed. (more…)