Two Column Layout Newsletter February 17th 2026
Lots of things going on after a quiet period.Seed potatoes
As I said last time, the seed potatoes are in. Quite a rush to buy them and the Picasso main crop are sold out. Still plenty of the others though, jump in before they all go.
Annual competitions
This year we are re-starting the heaviest pumpkin competition. Further details to follow.
The entry sheet for the potato & sunflower competitions is in the storeshed. Make sure your name/plot number is on the list. As with the last few years there is no charge for entering these compeitions. (No prize either, it's just for fun.)
Annual Show Changes
The Social Club Management Committee have requested that we reduce the Social club opening hours on competition days. This will save money by reducing the time that the bar stewards are on duty.
In order to comply with this we have modified the times on show days. Details can be found on the Show Schedules and Entry Sheets.
Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on Thursday 12th February 2026
Meeting opened at 7.30pm.
PRESENT: J.Hodges, A. Redfern, M.Hubball, D. Bonner,
C Jones. J. Carter-Bown, P Jones, G.Cross, A. Linnecor, R. Harrison
1.CHAIRMAN’S OPENING ADDRESS
Chairman welcomed everyone to the February meeting.
2. APOLOGIES
J. Pile J. Mills
3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Read and agreed.
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
IBC’s have been cut in half with the cages used for storing leaves.
Noticeboard is still in progress not helped by the wet weather!
Judith and Jacqui to meet regarding names of plot sizes in readiness for plot judging later in the year.
Hedges have been cut…Sutton Town Council employed an outside company to do this.
Margi’s garden has been dug over and planted up with wallflowers.
5. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Jason, Allan and Mike met Social Club officers regarding future dates and timings of the events to be held at the Club.
Committee dates have been agreed until June, the remainder are provisional. Dates for events have been agreed.
It was decided to set up a WhatsApp group for Committee members.
6. SECRETARY’S REPORT
I am on holiday next week.
I go away on Wednesday and on Thursday 19th. Sutton Coldfield Town Council has arranged a meeting at the Trinity Centre at 7 o’clock to discuss the forth coming events leading up to the
2028 re-entry into BRITAIN IN BLOOM . I have sent out the letter from Sutton Coldfield Town Council to each of the Committee who can receive it and passed a copy to Paul Jones .
If you could attend in my absence . Peter has been informed and says all will be welcome.
I arranged a stock delivery last week for delivery on Monday.
The seed potatoes were delivered at the same time.
Paul again moved the order into the store shed. This was no easy task. My thanks to Paul for his efforts. I have since received the new catalogue, the prices seem to be largely unaltered except for the potatoes.
The hedge cutting has been carried out as scheduled by RSCTC.
The contractors did a good job, very neat and very tidy and did so without too much inconvenience to other users. I have had several positive comments passed to me from plotholders, mainly from below the gate including Bob Tyler.
I have spent a morning with Peter since the hedge cutting.
Visiting each of the house holders whose gardens back on to our hedge. In several places some work could be carried out which could be carried out from the gardens which would further improve the hedge line. Some houses were passed letter where no one was in attendance. Peter will arrange contractors where necessary .
Later information. Contractors will be on site on the 26th. March to complete what they can from the gardens.
Paul has been moving the bagged leaves into the skip and the top bunkers. This has been a big effort and it is working well.
Also, the manure deliveries continue abundantly. I have asked Mike to put out a message to all plotholders suspending the 10 bag rule currently in place. This may help to release the manure bags. The stables need all the bags that they can get hold of. Without the bags the stables cannot deliver more manure. I have spoken to Margaret about the quantity of manure that is about. It is due to the weather. The horses are in the stables much more accordingly they have to bag the manure.
The Street light at the end of Jasons plot fell down. The problem was reported to Neil at the Social Club by Denise and Neil actioned the problem very promptly.
I asked Peter from RSCTC if he would consider attending one of our meetings in the future.
7. TREASURERS REPORT
Main Account
Shed Sales for November - January were £ 165.20 YTD £2175.63
The Main account balance was £5262.79 at the end of January.
Major expenses since the last meeting were Internet hosting £100, Weed suppression fabric for the store shed £119 and the Anniversary coasters £40.
We have recently had a large delivery to the store shed. This included the seed potatoes.
The bill was £624 - this will be reflected in next month's statement.
Maintenance Account
The current balance remains at £1772.08.
8. SITE MAINTENANCE
Water reading at 1st February- no change form November hence …no leaks!
All leaf mould bags have been put into bunkers and skip.
Allotment rubbish taken to the tip. (empty leaf bags, plastic waste from old water containers)
There are lots of varied sized pots by the Store shed for use by plot holders……please help yourself.
A very big “Thank you” to Paul who works relentlessly in the background making such a big difference to the running of the allotment site.
9. PLOT MONITORING SUB COMMITTEE REPORT
Plot holders who have had letters in the Autumn will be contacted to remind them to prepare their plot for the forthcoming official plot monitoring inspection. Plot inspections follow the BDAC guidelines.
We have been advised that Official plot inspections will take place the first week in April. If plots don’t show signs of cultivation, then Birmingham City Council will be informed and you could be evicted.
Richard and Geoff have agreed to join the Plot Monitoring Sub-committee
10. SHED SCHEDULE
N/A Committee members to fly their red flag when on their plot.
11. EVENTS SUB COMMITTEE
Dates for forthcoming events have been agreed.
Competitions…… free to enter!!
Potato…
- Collect Picasso potatoes from Store shed from a Committee member ( bag of 3).
- Remember to write your name on the list.
- Please take a white labelled stick to show where you’ve planted your potatoes.
- Potato dig 13th September.
Sunflower…
- Seeds available from the Store shed or you can use your own.
- Remember to write your name on the list.
- Measurement …13th September
Sunflower head to be cut and bought to the Store shed by 10.30. No head will be measured in situ.
Pumpkin…
- Use your own seeds.
- Pumpkins to be displayed and weighed at Plot Luck Supper October 14th.
12. SITE REPORT/HEALTH AND SAFETY
Nothing to report.
13. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Paul has been invited to attend Social Club meetings to represent Hill Allotments. Working together is important for both committees.
14. AOB
- Discussion about slabs…..paths need to be safe for anyone to walk on. Paths will be looked at during inspections
Meeting closed at 9 pm.
The next Committee Meeting- March 12th at 7.30pm
That's all for now.Mike
Lots of things going on after a quiet period.
Seed potatoes
As I said last time, the seed potatoes are in. Quite a rush to buy them and the Picasso main crop are sold out. Still plenty of the others though, jump in before they all go.Annual competitions
This year we are re-starting the heaviest pumpkin competition. Further details to follow.The entry sheet for the potato & sunflower competitions is in the storeshed. Make sure your name/plot number is on the list. As with the last few years there is no charge for entering these compeitions. (No prize either, it's just for fun.)
Annual Show Changes
The Social Club Management Committee have requested that we reduce the Social club opening hours on competition days. This will save money by reducing the time that the bar stewards are on duty.In order to comply with this we have modified the times on show days. Details can be found on the Show Schedules and Entry Sheets.
Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on Thursday 12th February 2026
Meeting opened at 7.30pm.
PRESENT: J.Hodges, A. Redfern, M.Hubball, D. Bonner,
C Jones. J. Carter-Bown, P Jones, G.Cross, A. Linnecor, R. Harrison
1.CHAIRMAN’S OPENING ADDRESS
Chairman welcomed everyone to the February meeting.
2. APOLOGIES
J. Pile J. Mills
3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Read and agreed.
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
IBC’s have been cut in half with the cages used for storing leaves.
Noticeboard is still in progress not helped by the wet weather!
Judith and Jacqui to meet regarding names of plot sizes in readiness for plot judging later in the year.
Hedges have been cut…Sutton Town Council employed an outside company to do this.
Margi’s garden has been dug over and planted up with wallflowers.
5. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Jason, Allan and Mike met Social Club officers regarding future dates and timings of the events to be held at the Club.
Committee dates have been agreed until June, the remainder are provisional. Dates for events have been agreed.
It was decided to set up a WhatsApp group for Committee members.
6. SECRETARY’S REPORT
I am on holiday next week.
I go away on Wednesday and on Thursday 19th. Sutton Coldfield Town Council has arranged a meeting at the Trinity Centre at 7 o’clock to discuss the forth coming events leading up to the
2028 re-entry into BRITAIN IN BLOOM . I have sent out the letter from Sutton Coldfield Town Council to each of the Committee who can receive it and passed a copy to Paul Jones .
If you could attend in my absence . Peter has been informed and says all will be welcome.
I arranged a stock delivery last week for delivery on Monday.
The seed potatoes were delivered at the same time.
Paul again moved the order into the store shed. This was no easy task. My thanks to Paul for his efforts. I have since received the new catalogue, the prices seem to be largely unaltered except for the potatoes.
The hedge cutting has been carried out as scheduled by RSCTC.
The contractors did a good job, very neat and very tidy and did so without too much inconvenience to other users. I have had several positive comments passed to me from plotholders, mainly from below the gate including Bob Tyler.
I have spent a morning with Peter since the hedge cutting.
Visiting each of the house holders whose gardens back on to our hedge. In several places some work could be carried out which could be carried out from the gardens which would further improve the hedge line. Some houses were passed letter where no one was in attendance. Peter will arrange contractors where necessary .
Later information. Contractors will be on site on the 26th. March to complete what they can from the gardens.
Paul has been moving the bagged leaves into the skip and the top bunkers. This has been a big effort and it is working well.
Also, the manure deliveries continue abundantly. I have asked Mike to put out a message to all plotholders suspending the 10 bag rule currently in place. This may help to release the manure bags. The stables need all the bags that they can get hold of. Without the bags the stables cannot deliver more manure. I have spoken to Margaret about the quantity of manure that is about. It is due to the weather. The horses are in the stables much more accordingly they have to bag the manure.
The Street light at the end of Jasons plot fell down. The problem was reported to Neil at the Social Club by Denise and Neil actioned the problem very promptly.
I asked Peter from RSCTC if he would consider attending one of our meetings in the future.
7. TREASURERS REPORT
Main Account
Shed Sales for November - January were £ 165.20 YTD £2175.63
The Main account balance was £5262.79 at the end of January.
Major expenses since the last meeting were Internet hosting £100, Weed suppression fabric for the store shed £119 and the Anniversary coasters £40.
We have recently had a large delivery to the store shed. This included the seed potatoes.
The bill was £624 - this will be reflected in next month's statement.
Maintenance Account
The current balance remains at £1772.08.
8. SITE MAINTENANCE
Water reading at 1st February- no change form November hence …no leaks!
All leaf mould bags have been put into bunkers and skip.
Allotment rubbish taken to the tip. (empty leaf bags, plastic waste from old water containers)
There are lots of varied sized pots by the Store shed for use by plot holders……please help yourself.
A very big “Thank you” to Paul who works relentlessly in the background making such a big difference to the running of the allotment site.
9. PLOT MONITORING SUB COMMITTEE REPORT
Plot holders who have had letters in the Autumn will be contacted to remind them to prepare their plot for the forthcoming official plot monitoring inspection. Plot inspections follow the BDAC guidelines.
We have been advised that Official plot inspections will take place the first week in April. If plots don’t show signs of cultivation, then Birmingham City Council will be informed and you could be evicted.
Richard and Geoff have agreed to join the Plot Monitoring Sub-committee
10. SHED SCHEDULE
N/A Committee members to fly their red flag when on their plot.
11. EVENTS SUB COMMITTEE
Dates for forthcoming events have been agreed.
Competitions…… free to enter!!
Potato…
- Collect Picasso potatoes from Store shed from a Committee member ( bag of 3).
- Remember to write your name on the list.
- Please take a white labelled stick to show where you’ve planted your potatoes.
- Potato dig 13th September.
Sunflower…
- Seeds available from the Store shed or you can use your own.
- Remember to write your name on the list.
- Measurement …13th September
Pumpkin…
- Use your own seeds.
- Pumpkins to be displayed and weighed at Plot Luck Supper October 14th.
12. SITE REPORT/HEALTH AND SAFETY
Nothing to report.
13. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Paul has been invited to attend Social Club meetings to represent Hill Allotments. Working together is important for both committees.
14. AOB
- Discussion about slabs…..paths need to be safe for anyone to walk on. Paths will be looked at during inspections
Meeting closed at 9 pm.
The next Committee Meeting- March 12th at 7.30pm