No excuse needed to get together, but when a social event is arranged then plot holders will always be happy to do so. The signs went up for an afternoon start on 2 November 2019 for a bonfire night. No community fireworks, although individuals may do something on their own area during the evening.
A chance to do an afternoon of digging, weeding or picking followed by a warm drink and a snack around a bonfire. Nattering with neighbouring plots holders and meeting others that you may never see normally as they are on the other side of the large allotment site. That was the plan.
Delayed to 10th due to rain, and then cancelled altogether due to rain! So plot holders didn’t need to bring their own drinks. Food donations from local supermarkets were put aside for the next social event.
A warm social
There are a lot of fruit trees on the site creating hedges around plot or small orchards. There is also a Community Orchard where the pruning and management is shared by plot holder volunteers. Around the edges there are neighbours’ hedges and over-hanging trees from the recreational ground. Shrubs and brambles also get pruned regularly during the year. Once wood has been diverted for wildlife stacks, plant supports, or rustic fencing their may be some remaining to create a pile on the day.
It is a chance to share stories about what has grown and what has not. A check up on the local wildlife as buzzards, hedgehogs and foxes are regular visitors. The allotment also has it’s resident cat who always has a warm welcome for everyone. The evening is over-seen by the committee and volunteers from the site who are fire safety aware.
Fire Safety all year long
There are strict rules on lighting fires on allotments. Smoke is to be avoided as Weaste Allotments has neighbours who we like to keep happy. We ban the burning of items which are better taken to the refuse tip such as plastics that can not be dealt with any other way (i.e reuse, repurpose or recycle). There is also a designated communal space which is away from the houses for those plot holders who do not have incinerators. Many do, including home-made ones from washing machine drums. In future years, there will no doubt be more easy and low cost ways to recycle the wood and there will be fewer fires in line with growing environmental concerns.
He couldn’t start the fire
The story of Guy Fawkes trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament is well known. As it became clear that he and his co-conspirators had failed to cause the death of King James I bonfires where lit across London. The Observance of 5th November Act was passed in 1606 after his show trial and for 253 years, until 1859 repeal, you had to celebrate! Thanks to Hartley Botanic, greenhouse makers since 1938, based in Oldham, for leading us to this bonfire night safety information.
If you’d like to see the animated version of this guide please visit Bonfire-Night-Safety.co.uk.
If you’d like a free printable version of this cheat sheet to use as a teaching aid, visit the child development resource PDF