Kitchen Garden Forum

Recently the empty plots on our allotments have been filling with people who only want chickens, a goose! and more chickens and ducks. One of the new chaps, though extremely pleasant, calls his new plot a 'pen'.

We are now one of the few who are totally growing vegetables. We are now getting over run by rats because certain people are feeding their chickens on the floor the birds and rats are also getting fed. When we arrived 15 years ago we didnt have this problem, I am seriously considering giving up our plot. I am so fed up with what is happening. There are allotment holders who bring dogs up with them and they constantly bark so there is no peace like it used to be. I try and go up during the day but it is getting no better, honking goose, crowing cockerals and being told to lock the gate on a regular basis or getting locked in even though we are in the allotment. Had a difficult day today and feeling really prickly so sorry about this rant. Better tomorrow. Hopefully.

What are the rules for livestock on your site?

Ours are fairly restrictive as they are viewed as primarily for the cultivation of vegetables. Being statutory allotments.

Apparently there are no rules on what livestock you can have. Or whether you have to grow veggies or flowers. Which is a shame.

I do sympathise with your experience Catherine and in my experience peace and tranquillity and people do not go together. I'm not altogether anti people's company and some humans are ok if in small doses but when things where peace and tranquillity are involved get popular it tends to attract people that in turn destroys the peace and tranquillity that once existed. This has affected many things in my life, in my youth I was a keen swimmer and avid surfer and there were only a handful of surfers on the west country beaches then and I loved it. Then it became popular with novice board carrying surfers all over the beaches and rules and regulations and surf schools laying down rules regarding where you should and shouldn't surf, it ruined it for me. The same with bird watching, I have always liked to watch the birds on the levels and moors but after TV broadcasts promoting it (especially the murmerations of starlings) it now attracts so many people with cars parked everywhere and bad tempered drivers it just spoils the peace and tranquillity that once existed.

Regarding the rats, like people there are just too many of them and I think that you should complain because they are a health hazard and I'm sure they would be 'attended to' (the rats not the people).

I hope that you do not give up your plot, as I think that you would miss it and I wish that things get better and peace and tranquillity are restored.

Barney

Don't give up Catherine!

It's just another fad & the owners will soon give up. Report any poor husbandry to the RSPCA or the local council though. There are more & more appearing on my site as well - along with the rats! I have a neighbor who is very diligent with his hens but we are both bothered with rats from the plot about 6 down! We have rules but they get around them by having a fruit cage & lots of courgettes!

Between us we have got rid of 2 others - one not having water all the time & the other for too small a run for the number or chickens! I might add it was via the RSPCA but the committee did refer to them.

Westi

I really feel for you. Perhaps it's time for your allotment group for form a form committee and draft up some rules . But getting people to abide by them is always a problem. Don't give up though and use all the legal means open to you via the council's Environmental Department and RSPCA.to ensure plotholders are operating in the best manner possible. Getting your local paper on board with the rat problem is also worth a try. In the summer holiday period they are usually desperate for stories so might give your problem some publicity.