Mersea Island Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Association

General Information About MIALGA

LOCATION The Mersea Allotments are on East Road, West Mersea. PLOT SIZES AND PRICES We have 80 plots on a 4.5 acre fully fenced field. Full plots measure 24 x 10 metres and cost £100 a year. Half plots measure 12 x 10 metres and cost £55 a year. Quarter plots measure 6 x 10 metres and cost £30 a year. RENT AND RESPONSIBILITIES Rents are due to WMTC on 1st January each year. This includes rent for the plot, water, car parking and mowing of the common parts by the Council. Pathways between the plots must be maintained by the plot holders. Click here for a map of the site. Although the allotment field is rented from the Council its administration is the responsibility of MIALGA. Therefore to re...

Latest | Lizzy Dumas | Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Membership Secretary

Dear Allotment Members, This is to let you know that it is time for me to step down from being your Membership Secretary. Allotments seem to attract charming people and it has been a huge pleasure to serve the members and deal with the day to day incidents. I am also proud to have been part of the set up committee. Thank you for your patience and I hope to see you up at the allotment field. very best wishes, Lizzie ...

Latest | | Wednesday, 7 March 2012

Bees on Allotment Site

Further to our email of 18/1 (attached), whilst some members were supportive others had concerns re a bee hive at the allotment site. The Landowner, Leaseholder and MIALGA all want the allotments to work for all our members and the broader community. We therefore feel that it is best to remove the hive while the bees are still dormant (before the end of February) and revisit this question at the next AGM in November. There will be an opportunity to pose any questions and to comment both before and during the AGM so that we can balance these concerns and the potential benefits before making a decision then. We have thanked Peter Inson (Beekeeper) for his time and effort answering some of ...

Latest | | Wednesday, 29 February 2012

Bees

Dear MIALGA Members, You may remember at the AGM that we mentioned having a trial period with bees on the allotment site. Yesterday Peter Inson, a professional, experienced beekeeper put a hive on our site, in the hedge, up by plot 18 (top right). This hive has come from someone's garden and has in the past proved to be a very calm lot of bees. At the moment they are dormant and will remain so for another couple of months. The bees and hive belong to Peter and he will look after them. Peter would very much like to meet and talk to all the MIALGA members about the bees, explain the art of beekeeping and address any queries or worries. ...

Latest | | Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Gales

Message from a Member: I have just returned from the allotment and sadly have to report that there has been some damage to sheds and fencing as a result of the gale force winds that we are currently getting. At least three sheds have blown over and there may be damage to others. I closed or propped shut a couple of shed doors, but it was too windy to attempt anything with the damaged sheds. I would recommend that all allotment holders should check their property as soon as possible. There is a considerable amount of plastic debris, (bags, pots, water butts) blowing around. Most of this is ending up on the hedge on the Eastern side of the allotments, so if ...

Latest | | Saturday, 7 January 2012

Grow Your Own Talk

Edible Essex Talk By Christine Walkden Simple Ways to Grow Your Own in the UK's driest county Thursday 16th February 2012 19.30, Writtle College Tickets: Attendance is FREE but booking is ESSENTIAL. To obtain a ticket please contact Sophie Blythe by email: Sophie.Blythe@essexrcc.org.uk or phone: 01376 574330, or visit ...

Latest | | Saturday, 7 January 2012

MIALGA News

Dear MIALGA Members, 4th November 2011 For your information here are a few updates which may be of interest before we have our AGM. AGM & NEW COMMITTEE I confirm that the MIALGA AGM is on Thursday 24th November 2011, at 8 pm, at the West Mersea Parish Church Hall. Although of course all the positions on the Committee are open to new volunteers, we are particularly looking for a Vice Chairman. This job has no extra responsibilities other than covering for the Chairman if he/she is away. In effect it is just an extra person on the Committee. We would welcome some new blood and some fresh ideas. If you are interest...

Latest | | Tuesday, 8 November 2011

AGM Minutes 2010

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT: THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS OF MERSEA ISLAND ALLOTMENT AND LEISURE GARDENERS ASSOCIATION Will be held at West Mersea Parish Church Hall, High Street, West Mersea On Thursday 24th November 2011 at 8 o’clock pm. AGENDA 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at West Mersea Parish Church Hall, West Mersea on Friday 19th November 2010 at 7.30 pm. 3. Matters arising from the Minutes of the AGM held on Friday 19th November 2010. 4. To receive the Committee Report for 2010/2011 5. To receive the Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet for 2010/2011 6. Membership update and issues relating to allotments. 7. Election of Members of the Committee required by the C...

Latest | | Tuesday, 8 November 2011

2011 Produce Show Results

MIALGA SHOW 10th September 2011 at 2pm Categories: All entries to be grown on the allotment plot WINNERS 1. 5 Flowers – grown from seed. 5 stems, Banks Family (14) 2. 3 Potatoes Rob Baxter (5) 3. 1 Pumpkin – good size, good shape and colour Jeremy & Lizzie Dumas (6) 4. 1 Marrow – the largest Di Saville (22B) 5. 3 Courgettes – of similar size Adrian & Faith Richardson (11) 6. 3 Onions &...

Latest | | Wednesday, 14 September 2011

Kings Seed Order

You will no doubt be aware of the substantial discounts that King’s Seeds give to members of NSALG and therefore us in MIALGA for seeds, seed potatoes, onion sets, plants etc. I have now received copies of the 2011/2012 members catalogues and order forms for all plot holders. If you wish to order for 2012 the procedure is as follows: 1. 1. Obtain a copy of the Order Form and Catalogue from me. Forms can normally be collected any evening after 6pm from 64 Firs Chase or see me at the allotment field or make an arrangement to collect (I can be contacted on 383599 or 07850 277201). 2. 2. Follow instructions on the f...

Latest | | Saturday, 27 August 2011

New Gate Position

The gates to the allotments have now been moved about six feet to the location originally designed for them. There is now room to leave your car safely pulled off the road while you unlock the gate. The work has been done by Maydays, who gave the lowest quote, and has been paid for out of MIALGA ...

Latest | Lizzie | Wednesday, 27 July 2011

Lessons on Displaying Produce for Shows

This is a reminder that next week, on Thursday 28th July from 6 to 8 pm, Trevor Hearn, the Chairman of the Horticultural Society, is coming to the allotment field to show us how best to display our goods for a Show. He is also going to explain how we can enter the Horticultural Society's Show, to be held on 13th August. There will be a special category for allotment holders. Trevor is also going to be the judge for our own MIALGA show in September, so if you want to win, it might be a good idea to find out on Thursday 28th how Trevor thinks the produce should lo...

Latest | Lizzie | Tuesday, 19 July 2011

DAMAGED WATER TROUGH

DAMAGED WATER TROUGH The stand pipe feeding the water trough on plot 6 has been damaged. It is standing at an angle and the pipe has been broken where it attaches to the trough. It looks as though it has been hit by a vehicle driving south towards the gate. David Curry, our site manager, was alerted when someone spotted water pouring from the pipe. He is now looking for some spare parts and is going to mend it. Meanwhile the water for that trough has been turned off. We are not quite sure how this happened as the standpipe is not restricting the roadway. No-one has come forward about it yet. As always, do please drive slowly (and carefully!) up an...

Latest | | Thursday, 23 June 2011

MIALGA SHOW & AGM

The 2011 MIALGA Show, held on the allotment field, will be on Saturday 10th September at 2pm. Trevor Hearn, the Chairman of the Horticultural Society, has kindly agreed to be the judge. More details later. The 2011 MIALGA AGM will be held on Thursday 24th November at 8pm in the West Mersea Parish Church ...

Latest | | Monday, 20 June 2011

Trip to Hampton Court Palace

The Horticultural Society are running a trip to Hampton Court Palace this Sunday, 26th June. There are a few seats left on the coach which they are offering to MIALGA members. The coach departs from MICA at 8am and returns at 5pm. The cost is £23. If anyone would like to go please get in touch with Heather Cook on ...

Latest | | Monday, 20 June 2011