Taking half this monstrosity on!

Just sent back my acceptance form for half this plot. It's only just been divided so boundaries aren't marked yet. I *think* my half is to the left. Have spotted a picnic table, cultivator and a bunch of useful 'junk', but further up there's a dodgy-looking sunken pond full of grass which has to go (got a dog and a 7 year old!).

Any ideas, advice and tips are very welcome. I'm totally out of my depth and the vague plan is to clear a section at a time.

 

You will need help not only with the rubbish you can see but i imagine there a fair bit of rubbish underneath you could ask freinds even ask around as some charties might help they have voluntees to clean gardens etc

 

Thanks all. It's a council plot, and has an association. I believe they have skip days but not sure how often yet. Seems an active group so I'm sure there will be direct advice from them when I'm in touch.

It's a previously used plot in Sheffield, not sure how long it's been left for yet but I'll have to ask around!

By the time I get the keys etc, the boundary should be sorted. If not, general clearing is what I'll be doing (and maybe salvage something from the other side if I can

I doubt there will be free rent but they might not even realise what it looks like at the mo. Luckily I'm getting a discount anyway so not concerned about that.

 

That IBC will come in handy

 

I'd get up there quick and move anything vaguely useful over to the left.

 

Hi,

This might not be as bad as it looks @DefNotAPro. I presume you are fit and well by taking on the allotment; if so then first two jobs I'd do is to sort out timber and metal; break the timber into lengths to make it easy to handle; any decent timber keep for future use it'll come in handy; those owning a woodburner are always on the lookout for wood of all kinds and are usually more than willing to collect in fact if you ask around it's possible they will be happy to break it up and remove it for you.

Scrap metal can be run to a scrap yard if you have transport; we have scrap metal vehicles come along our cul de sac looking for scrap.


Here's what I had to tackle in order to get to the soil; tree stumps and plenty of them dug up the hard way.

Our neighbours love us; we've given away tons of logs these just an example.

Here's what our garden looked like; since February last year I've removed 17 huge trees up to 70' tall and our garden is very steep it being on a valley side; everything had to be carried down to the driveway; it's been incredibly hard work.

The last tree trunk with branches removed; this was 70' long

Here's more tree felling.

The bottom end of the garden; only just cleared; I ran over 80 full bin bags of ivy and assorted debris to the tip. I'm 76 years of age and this sort of heavy work keeps me fit; I do it all entirely on my own costing nothing and I don't owe any favours.

An allotment should be easy to clear of junk and general rubbish; I don't hire skips because they are so expensive; for anyone without transport our local council will collect bagged rubbish for a small fee.

May I further suggest you ask around allotment owners if they have a rotavator; I'm sure they would help out because tidying your allotment would also be in their favour.

Only suggestions @DefNotAPro as you see other members too have very useful advice; they're a decent bunch on here. It looks daunting at first but once you make a start you'll soon tidy it up; please post pictures of progress and the best of luck.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

@pete Spotted that cultivator straight away, just hope its there next time I am, need to hide it better!

Thanks @JWK i'll take a look at that link.

@Retired Wow you've done so much tough work there! I bet it felt so different as soon as the first tree was sorted, let alone 17!

 

Hi,

Thanks @DefNotAPro Each tree I've felled and disposed of has always been hard work; we've lived here for 36 years and during this time I've felled over 30 very big trees always working on my own apart from this 80' tall tree I took down years ago; a neighbour gave a hand pulling it over with a rope; it landed perfectly right up the garden; had it gone the wrong way the bungalow would have been wearing it;


Here's what our rear garden used to look like; a mini forest' this is just part of it.


One of two 80' tall trees I felled; a neighbour kindly helped with this by pulling the rope; it was the most excitement he'd enjoyed in years as the top of the tree landed at our feet.
I find felling trees to be the easy part; this is the hard part.

Here's a cherry Laurel root ball I removed taking a full week of hard work.

Sorry if I'm hijacking your thread @DefNotAPro but I'm just trying to encourage you and others never to be beaten; rather than look at the entire allotment thinking it's going to be very hard work may I suggest you do as I do and regard it more of a project to enjoy; I once had a big rusty horseshoe jam my rotavator tines; now that is lucky.



One of these bow saws is a good investment; it's what I used a great deal when we first moved here and for the odd job I still pull it out and use it; always play safely and with anything wood be very aware of dangerous nails sticking out.

I'm grounded today; it's too wet to do any rotavating so I'm passing a bit of time.

Please keep us updated.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

And the transi tank if not leaking would be useful for storing rainwater. What about getting together friends and family for a clear up party with free pasties (every outdoor get together in Cornwall involves pasties!)

 

Hi,

Pasties in Cornwall must mean Ginster's.

Kind regards, Colin.