S.H.A.G.S.

SPRING 2022 NEWSLETTER

With Spring in the air and a few warm days in the run up to Easter all our sites have been hives
of activity and with all the work ongoing it looks like we should have a productive season, late
frosts permitting. With food supply problems forecast many plotholders are looking at growing
more fruit and vegetables as a serious priority for home consumption. It is evident that we
have more younger family groups taking on new plots. Last year Grove School Infants
succesfully took over a plot at Aldwickbury and now the Junior School is looking for a possible
plot at Piggottshill. With the last few outstanding rents due we are nearly fully let at the start
of the growing season, still with a long waiting list for Harpenden Rise. Several sites have
benefitted from new fencing funded by Harpenden Town Council during 2021 with major works
at Aldwickbury and Harpenden Rise and a new fence along the footpath at Piggottshill. The
fencing at Cross Lane was a compromise and looks a bit bare whilst the brambles get re-
established. The Allotment Society is in a sound financial position and our HTC Grant this year
will be £3250, payable at the end of April. We have a maintenance budget surplus left over
from 2021 so for 2022 there is about £4000 available. A new shed is on order for Harpenden
Rise, delivery expected June/July and the new base has been completed in the last few days.
URGENT NOTICE: FUEL FOR MOWERS
In the last newsletter we highlighted the problems experienced with the new E10 fuel and we
have been advised against using it. Our maintenance engineers have been inundated with
faulty mowers due to fuel problems, with the higher ethanol content of E10, problems include
leaking gaskets and seals in carburettors, leaking fuel lines, condensation forming in fuel tanks
and containers with the water contaminating the petrol.
IF YOU BUY FUEL FOR MOWERS IT MUST BE E5 THE ‘SUPER’ UNLEADED
We now have bottles of Fuel Fit additive which will be in all sheds just after Easter, but there is
an alternative mower fuel now being marketed, low ethanol, but it is £21 for 5 litres and not
available from filling stations. Storage of fuel is strictly governed under the Petroleum Act and
we need to be aware how much fuel is in our sheds.
It has highlighted long term use of petrol engined machines and many manufacturers are
already phasing out production of petrol engines before 2030 deadline. The alternative of
battery powered mowers is going to be difficult with only PH having an electricity supply for
charging purposes and the logistics of batteries and chargers being taken home, mislaid,
forgotten, or not returned quickly present us with real problems. Roger White has bought his
own battery mower and has trialled it on his plot with pleasing results, so we propose to
purchase our first battery mower for a trial on all our sites, but it will have to be based at PH.
NEW SHOP MANAGER REQUIRED (AGAIN):
Unfortunately James found it too difficult to continue as shop manager, with his current
workload every other Sunday, then remaining Sundays at our shop left him with no free
weekends. This is an important role and has been the centre during the pandemic for informal
meetings and discussions as well as providing a steady source of income for the Society
supplying products for plotholders and associate members.
Last year we stated that unless a manager was found we would have to consider closing the
shop, the situation is unchanged, so please, if you feel you can help and take over running the
shop on Sunday mornings call down and see us.
SITE REP VACANCIES:
We still need site reps for Sibley Avenue, Cross Lane and soon for Churchfield. We have had an
extra SR at Aldwickbury and at Piggottshill volunteer recently. The site reps are the link
between plotholders and the committee as well as helping with machinery and site
maintenance jobs and co ordinating working parties, carrying out H&S inspections annually and
keeping neglected plots under control. Please contact any of the Committee if you feel able to
help.

HERE’S TO A BOUNTIFUL GROWING SEASON !