WHY??!!

[Tigger]

Maybe we can help with the replacement of tools. What would you like to have.

[Malk]

Don't worry, Tig, the folk at the plots and my friends have been more than generous and after we get a good session of 'Malk's pity party' over the remains, I've been offered most of the tools I need, a small tool shed, a bunch of wood to rebuild with and my neighbour says I can have the remnants of a brilliant shed he just pulled down. In times of trouble you definitely find out who your friends are and where your true community lies.

I hope the weather clears this weekend so I can get rid of some of the burnt bits, they are so depressing. I could handle a hole as it holds potential, but a pile of charcoal that was my shed makes me want to cry. I spent most of my last visit hiding in the greenhouse as I couldn't face it. But the cleaning has begun.

The vandals have broken in every night for over the past 3 weeks, this is a concerted attack. We've done something to annoy them and I'm not sure rebuilding is a good idea right now, so I might take the small shed and stash the other wood until things calm down.

Thanks again for the support everyone, I know I'm not on very often but this is like a virtual allotment to me, in the sense of community.

[Tigger]

It might be worth getting in touch with the National Association and find out what other allotments have done about vandalism. I'm sure I've read something about some of the ones in the Midlands.

As Joe Swift is a current evangelist on GW you could write to them and suggest they include vandal issues. If nothing more, it raises the profile.

[Geoff]

I don't think JS has found anybody to dig his allotment for him this year, we haven't seen it yet for some reason anyway.

[Westi]

I think JS is probably re-designing it so that a
wheelbarrow will go around the paths. The
triangles looked good but perhaps he has realised
they are not practical - as informed by this
forum!

Westi

[Cider Boys]

Hello Malk

I’m also very sorry to learn of your loss and the bad news about the allotment vandals. I’ve never understood what pleasure people can derive from wanton destruction. Unfortunately it is all too common a problem these days. When I was a youth you only had to go near a market garden or allotment to be told to clear off but these days you daren’t say anything in case it provokes an attack on you.

When I started growing things for myself in my early twenties I rented some land from the church in North Somerset and experienced some petty stealing and vandalism. I decided to nip this in the bud so I kept a friend's really nasty Alsatian tethered up there for one night. The following morning I went over to see if he had kept the vandals away but he ran at me and bit me hard on the arm and then sunk his teeth in my left calf muscle as I ran away in agony. Everyone who knew about this episode found it all very amusing but I walked with a limp for months and the bruising took ages to subside!

All the best

Barney

[Shallot Man]

Cider Boys. I am ashamed to say, I also found it quite amusing.

[peter]

I dare say that once Cider Boys vandals realised the Alsatian was teathered they taunted it for a while and he recieved the benefit.

[Tigger]

I'm told that Joe's plot is looking very good this year Geoff. Interesting about the triangular shapes - the students plots at Kew include some triandular shapes and even a few circular ones.

[oldherbaceous]

Mine are all square.