Fortis Green Community Allotments Trust

1. REVIEW OF CHARGES, SERVICES AND RULES
(i) FGCAT reserves the right to review the rules, the charges for allotments and services as required. As a member of FGCAT you will have a say in any changes to the rules or the charges. Before making any changes FGCAT will give you notice of such changes.

2. CULTIVATION AND WEED CONTROL
(i) You must cultivate 75% of your plot. Cultivation requires you to regularly dig or mulch, or prune and weed your plot for the purpose of crop or flower production. Compost bins, water butts and fruit cages are also included within the cultivated area. Areas of lawn, meadow and pond are not included within the cultivated area.
(ii) You must keep your allotment clean and in a good state of cultivation and fertility
throughout the year. An area that is annually cleared of weeds yet remains un-cropped or un-planted during any one year will be considered as non-cultivated. The whole plot,
including any uncultivated areas, must be kept tidy, safe and free from flowering weeds, or weeds which cause nuisance to adjoining Licence Holders.

3. TREES
(i) You must not plant any trees other than fruit trees.
(ii) Fruit trees may be grown to a height of 2.5 metres only.
(iii) They will normally be included within the 25% of non-cultivated area unless under-planted with productive crops.

4. HEDGES AND PONDS
(i) You are responsible for maintaining any hedge on your plot, which should be fruit-bearing, regularly pruned and kept to a maximum height of 1.5 metres.
(ii) Ponds must be temporary and should not be constructed from concrete or other hard landscape material.
(iii) Ponds should be less that 50cm deep and have a maximum surface area of 1.5 square metres. The pond area will be included as part of the non-cultivated area.

5. STRUCTURES AND FENCES
(i) You may put up one shed or greenhouse on your plot, provided you get permission in advance from the Licensor regarding size, layout and location. The maximum size is 16 square feet and the maximum height is 7’. (Under Clause 5g of the Thames Water transfer document, new buildings, sheds or structures are prohibited in the Eastern and Western Restriction Zones and in the Protection Zone.)
(ii) Sheds and sided structures shall be included within the 25% area allowed for non-
cultivation.
(iii) Any structure on your plot must be temporary (no concrete pads for sheds/paths) but adequately secured to the ground.

Sheds/greenhouses must be sited considerately, maintained in safe order, and be in
keeping with the location and purpose of the allotments.  You must not construct a fence around your allotment.

6. PATHS
(i) You must keep all pathways bordering the allotment in good order and free from
obstruction. You must cut the grass regularly in the growing season.

7. PLOT USE AND STORAGE
(i) Your allotment is for your personal use only in the cultivation of herb, flower, fruit and
vegetable crops, and you must not carry out any business or sell produce from it (unless it is sold for charity or the benefit of FGCAT).
(ii) You must display the plot marker in a prominent position on your plot at all times. You are responsible for replacing the plot marker should the need arise.
(iii) You must not sleep overnight at your allotment.
(iv) You may only store materials for use on the plot – such as tools, beanpoles, cloches, netting.
(v) Paving or timber for infrastructure work must be used within 12 months.

8. WATER
(i) You may not make excessive use of water, and must not tamper with the supply.
(ii) You must not use a sprinkler.
(iii) Hose pipes may only be used to water directly if hand held or to fill water butts, provided this does not prevent other Licence Holders having access to water supplies.
(iv) All standpipes and water butts beneath stand pipes will be considered as a common resource to be shared by surrounding Licence Holders.

9. BONFIRES
(i) You may burn dry organic material only, and only when this does not cause a nuisance to others.
(ii) You must not burn material that gives off noxious fumes or pollutes the soil.
(iii) All open fires between 1st April and 1st November must be contained within an incinerator barrel or kept very small to ensure safe burning and a minimum of smoke production.
(iv) You must attend the bonfire at all time.
(v) Great care must be taken that smoke from a bonfire does not cause a nuisance to
neighbours or the public. There must be no bonfires during school hours and for 30
minutes at either end of the school day.
(vi) You should light no fires for entertainment, however small contained fires will be
permitted for barbecuing for very small groups.

10. NOISE
(i) You must observe quiet times -- no strimming, mowing or rotovating – as follows:
i. Saturday 1430-1800
ii. Sunday 1400-1800

11. DOGS
(i) Dogs must not be brought on to the allotments unless they are kept on a short lead or otherwise restrained at all times. Excrement must be removed from the site promptly.
(ii) The burial of any pets or animals is strictly forbidden.

12. CHEMICALS
(i) You must keep the use of chemicals (pesticides and herbicides) to a minimum. Cultural methods – eg digging, mulching, weeding – should always be the first choice and routine spraying of any kind should be avoided. However, in recognition of the practical, slug pellets and the occasional use of a systemic weedkiller for perennial weeds in awkward situations (eg: bindweed in raspberry bed) is permitted (Clause 5 (i) of the Thames Water transfer document restricts spraying in the Protection Zone.)

13. RUBBISH, WASTE MATERIALS AND POLLUTANTS
(i) You must not leave rubbish anywhere on the allotments. All rubbish must be removed and not left inside/outside the gate.
(ii) You must not dump anything, organic matter included, in or around the copse. All such
‘arisings’ must either be removed from the site or dealt with on the plot itself.
(iii) All potentially toxic materials should be removed from the allotment site and disposed of safely.
(iv) Only green waste for composting may be brought on to the site. No other waste, including garden wood for burning, may be brought on site. No polluting materials such as tyres, glass or carpet should be brought on to the site. No rubble or hardcore may be brought on to the site for the construction of paths etc.
(v) All plastic or metal materials not relating to crop production are prohibited.
(vi) All non-diseased vegetative matter shall be composted and used on the Licence Holder’s allotment. Diseased plants and perennial weeds should be removed or burned.

14. BEES
I. If you wish to keep bees, this must be discussed formally with the Licensor first.

15. SITE SAFETY, SECURITY AND DUTY OF CARE
(i) You have a duty of care to everyone, including visitors, trespassers and yourself.
(ii) You must not cause undue nuisance or annoyance to any other Licence Holder or to the occupants of any premises adjoining the site, either through action or inaction, or by rude or offensive behaviour, whether through carelessness, ignorance or persistent or
deliberate action.
(iii) You must not store fuels and other hazardous materials on site, except very small amounts (less than 5 litres) for use with a rotovator or strimmer provided these fuels are stored safely and securely.
(iv) You must not bring, use or allow the use of barbed or razor wire on the allotment.

For the safety and security of all Licence Holders, you must lock the gate on entry and
departure, even if the gate is found to be already unlocked when you arrive/leave. You
must not divulge the entry code to anyone.

16. RIGHT OF WAY
(i) You only have a right of way on foot over the Thames Water access road. (Under Clause 8 of the Thames Water transfer document Thames Water will not grant vehicular access unless a contribution is made to the upkeep of the road.) You drive on the access road at your own risk.

17. VISITORS
(i) Only you, or a person authorised or accompanied by you, is allowed on to the site.
(ii) You may order an unauthorized person in breach of these rules to leave immediately.
(iii) The Licence Holder is responsible for the behaviour of children and adults visiting the allotment. In an instance where a visitor breaches allotment rules then the Licence Holder will be held equally responsible.
(iv) Allotments should not be used for private entertainment, and amplified music should not be played.

18. MOVING ON
(i) You must immediately inform the Licensor, by email, of changes of address and status.
(ii) If you move to an address more than 3 miles from the site, your Licence will be terminated.
(iii) On termination, all structures/constructions will be donated to the Licensor for the benefit of future Licence Holders or removed at the current Licence Holder’s expense.

19. OBSERVING THE RULES
(i) You must observe and comply with the current rules and policies, and those which FGCAT may make at any time in the future (eg statutory law changes, local restrictions…)
(ii) Rules will be posted on the FGCAT website and sent to each new Licence Holder.
(iii) If you do not observe the rules you will be put on notice and your Licence may be
terminated.
(iv) There will be a full inspection of all plots each year in the spring (four weeks’ notice will be given) and then again in later summer/early autumn (again with four weeks’ notice).
Warning emails/letters giving details of any breach are sent out after each full inspection giving a reasonable deadline for the stated improvements to be made. Follow-up inspections of any plots considered to be in breach of the rules will then take place. If the necessary work has not been carried out, without good reason, then a termination letter/email will be sent to the Licence Holder, giving notice to quit. [Inspections will be carried out by an external Allotment Inspector (for the time being, Richard King of East Finchley Allotments) with nominated representatives of the Licensor. A Licence Holder may appeal to the FGCAT Board against a termination notice, and the Board’s decision will be final.

ALLOTMENT HEALTH & SAFETY

As an allotment Licence Holder you have a legal duty of care to others, requiring that your plot is maintained and used safely. You are responsible for ensuring that there is no safety hazard on your plot. You could be sued for failing in this duty.

PATHS
Ensure that paths are not obstructed at any time; do not put stones on paths as these may fly up when the paths are strimmed; do not use weedkiller or put wood chippings or carpet on grass paths as these will cause the paths to deteriorate; and keep grass paths trimmed so that the route is obvious. Do not pull a hose taut across a path - it may cause someone to trip – and take care with netting.
CANES AND POSTS
Canes and narrow posts should be capped to avoid eye injury - an upturned plastic water bottle will do.  Short metal posts should not be used near paths — they may cause a passer-by to trip.
BROKEN GLASS & SIMILAR HAZARDS
Wrap broken glass in newspaper and dispose of it and other hazards, e.g. scrap metal, safely away from the allotments.
BONFIRES
Do not use petrol to start a bonfire, and tend the fire at all times to ensure it doesn't get out of control.
PONDS
Ponds must be located away from paths and surrounded by material (plants, etc.) to offer the least possibility of accidents.
MANURE
Only mature manure over 6 months old from a certifiable source should be used on allotments to avoid any contamination by veterinary drugs.
POWER AND HAND TOOLS
Before using a power tool, ensure you are familiar with the instructions and use the recommended safety wear. Remember that a strimmer/brushcutter can throw a stone 15 metres, or over 3 plots.
Whilst operating equipment, particularly on or adjacent to paths, be aware that others may walk up behind you without realising that you can't hear their approach.
Do not leave tools lying on the path. Ensure that blades are sheathed or stored in a safe place when not in use. Lay rakes on the ground point-side down.

Remember that you are responsible for your visitors at all times. Please draw their attention to these points:

• Allotment paths are often crooked and uneven so be careful where you walk, and in particular watch out for obstructions that may be obscured by vegetation.
• Don't stray off the paths: soil which appears firm may be recently dug and thus soft; there are many ponds, some small; netting and fine cord (used to deter birds) may be invisible to the naked eye; broken glass is common.
• Never approach someone who is using a power tool, particularly if they are wearing ear defenders: they are unlikely to be aware of your approach and may swing round and catch you with a cutting blade or similar.
• Do not touch the ash of a bonfire: it can retain a high temperature for hours, even after heavy rain.