What's Involved?
Being a plotholder involves committing to cultivating and looking after your plot. It also means making a commitment to engaging and actively participating in Association life more generally.
As a privately owned and operated Association we are entirely dependent on the goodwill and participation of members to ensure that the site remains in good shape and that the Association is able to sustain itself financially. This means there is an expectation that all members make a regular contribution to the upkeep and care of our communal services and spaces.
There are a number of ways that members can pitch in:-
(i) Using and Maintaining our Communal Services and Spaces
Kitchen and Toilet Facilities
Berridale has a number of communal services which are open to our members and their friends and families. This includes a kitchen area and male & female toilets, all located in our big hut. These are kept clean and maintained by volunteers from our membership. All members are signed up to the cleaning rota as the more people on the list the less frequently each member’s work is called upon. We ask that members also always make sure to leave these facilities in the condition they would want to find them.
Communal Spaces and Buildings
In addition to the communal services offered by the Association, Berridale enjoys a wonderful aspect with some grassed areas, shared trees and shrubs, communal paths, spaces and buildings. Because we are an Association we rely on members pitching in to maintain, make repairs to and improve the site and its buildings. Members are therefore encouraged to participate in working parties and in communal activities set up with a view to keeping the site safe, in a good state of repair and a pleasant place to sit and to garden. Members are asked to keep an eye on the noticeboards both inside and outside of the big hut for information about communal maintenance and repair activities, and to volunteer a little time and effort every year where they possibly can.
(ii) Raising Funds
We have an open day and flower and vegetable exhibition every September – the Berridale Annual Show. Everyone is encouraged to
enter some of what they have grown to ensure a good display of diverse produce but also because most entries are sold following judging to raise money for the Association.
The Association also generate extra income by taking entrance donations on the gate, running a tearoom, and setting up a number of stalls all of which need to be organised and run, as well as stocked with goods to sell or use for raffles and tombolas. This means we need volunteers to work on preparing the site and clearing up after the show, as well as volunteers to the populate the stalls and tearoom. We also do a roaring trade in the baking, pickles and preserves donated by our members for sale!
These activities help us to keep our annual membership fees at an affordable level, to the benefit of all members, as well as to ensure we have a contingency fund for maintaining and improving the site. Therefore, it is anticipated that all members will find some way to make a contribution of time and effort to make our annual show a success.
(iii) Taking a turn in the administrative affairs of the Association
The Association is also dependent on the goodwill and effort of members to engage in the running of the allotments site. This is principally carried out through the constitution of an Association Committee with a general membership as well as office bearers (Treasurer, Secretary, Chair, Groundsperson).
It is hoped that all members will consider taking a turn on the Committee and hence make a contribution to the governance of the site. Newcomers getting involved ensures that we have a healthy turnover of Committee members, we have a Committee that reflects the broader membership and current members get a well-deserved break! Committee membership need not be onerous – meetings are monthly, lasting 1-1½ hours, and members can take on as much or as little as they wish, out with attending the meetings. The normal period of membership is 3 years, but plot holders can elect to do shorter periods should their circumstances change.
Of course, being an office bearer is not for everyone, but we can all make a contribution to the general work of the Committee – and there are always those with more experience who can support and inform newcomers as required. So why not give it a go? Having a good level of participation and a diverse body of Committee members is what we strive for, not least in the interests of inclusion and democracy!
Please note that the Association has an Annual General Meeting which all plotholders are requested to attend. It is here where committee members are elected, the annual plot fees are agreed and set, and any special business including proposed changes to the Constitution are discussed and voted upon. Attending the AGM is an important way for every member to have a say in how things are run into the future.
