September Committee Update
Grove Allotment Association committee meeting Thursday 24 th September 2026
Minutes will be approved at next meeting. This is a summary of the main issues dealt with:
We welcomed all four of our Networkers attending – Don, Heather, Linda and Michaela.
Minutes of previous meeting and summary notice – minutes meeting 27th August.
Finance and Membership – Our balance at 27th August was £5097.96. We have had three new members join the association and 2 leave. 3 members have been contacted about the management of their plots
Mains Water Use and Grant for Water Resilience Programme
We have used a total of 275 m3 at a cost of £691.53. Our projected additional water use through to mid November when we switch off, is between 80 m3 and 19 m3, £213 or £50.
The level of water use jumped over the past two days from an average of 0.35m3 to 1.5m3. We agreed to continue close monitoring to ensure we do not have any leaks on the system and we can better predict the final cost of mains water.
We noted that a grant of £1050 had been approved from the Chesterfield Community Grants Fund money secured by the Chesterfield Allotment Network. Our project involves a total of £2100 investment in equipment to significantly boost our rainwater harvesting capacity. Project details will be posted to the website and we expect to obtain equipment, including 16 intermediate bulk containers (IBC) during October. We will then need to organise a programme of work to install equipment, including identifying members who can benefit from enhanced rainwater collection and storage capacity.
Autumn Clear Up Event Saturday 10th October
We agreed to revise the finish and time of the BBQ. Work will stop by 3. BBQ will be 3 -5
We will have a wood chipper on site. The provisional list of work agreed is: Clearing: Plots 99/100 on the lower site to the South of Elm Lodge NH; Pruning conifers on the lower site; Sorting the wood pile at the Stand Rd gates on the lower site to remove painted/treated timber, plastics and other material that shouldn’t be burnt and reducing the quantity of what may be needed and approved for burning as a bonfire; Pruning trees on the upper site adjacent to path leading to the shop; clearing the wood pile at the car park. Dead wood/wood will be used to create dead hedges in areas we are taking out of cultivation (Land Audit June 2026)
AGM Arrangements and Social Event Saturday 28th November 2026
The Eagle Club, St Johns Road is booked for the day. We discussed and agreed arrangements for refreshments, organising volunteers, the social event “pie and pea meal” to b held immediately after formal AGM business; raffle, advertising, projection of material from website and preparing our annual report and budget.
We discussed the revision of current rules and proposals for changes. Alys will identify specific rule changes that will need to be voted on. Presentation of rules/rule changes will be discussed in October before posting to all members.
Photo Competition – Anastasia’s, Plot 75 grape vine was our photo of the month. There will be a final competition between the photos of the month at the AGM in November.
Transition Chesterfield Events – Alys and Heather picked fruit from spare on-site tree and donated to the Abundance Project fruit. Linda and Michaela will join in with the fruit pressing event at Holme Brook Valley Park.
Our next committee meeting will be held on Thursday 29th October
Grove Allotment Association Ltd is a co-operative society registered with the Financial Conduct Authority