Over recent years there have been increasing concerns about of deer on the allotments. Indeed at the last two Annual General Meetings strong requests have been made asking for something to be done about the loss of produce from deer ravaging plots not only in Winter months! Now we have found a funding source for this very expensive project.
Tesco “Bags of Help” offers community groups and projects in each of Tesco’s 390 regions across the Scotland, England and Wales a share of revenue generated from the five pence charge levied on single-use carrier bags. The public will vote in store from 27 February until 6 March 2016 on who each should receive on of the £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000 awards.
Tesco has teamed up with Groundwork to launch its Bags of Help initiative in hundreds of regions across Scotland, England and Wales. The scheme will see three community groups and projects in each of these regions awarded grants raised from the 5p bag charge.
The Eynsham Allotment Association made an application back in December and has gone through a couple of selection rounds. Great news - our application has successfully reached the final round. We are now one of three projects for this area. Voting will involve placing a token into the box for their chosen community scheme at five local Tesco stores.
Our project goal is to completely surround the allotments site with quality deer fencing, and if budget permits deer-proof gates and also ensure the whole site is rabbit-proofed.
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Jacky says, “the deer have been a real pest on my plot for the last 2 years digging up and eating my parsnips, etc.”
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Fay says, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were to be able to get enough to rabbit and deer proof? (I’m a bit grumpy about both as they’ve been helping themselves to a lot of my winter veg.)”
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Gil adds, “Last year was our worst year for pests. Beans were eaten at the tops as soon as they came through, and peas didn't even make it out of the ground (presumably mice). We have teeth marks in beetroot every year, rats? Since Christmas our parsnips have been eaten down from the top, and early planted broad beans have had the tops removed. We may have to net all but the onions and leeks, or perhaps plant them amongst the other crops.”
These allotments, as locals know, are on the River Thames flood plain. As such during winter months deer are pushed away from the river and the allotments are in their direct path.
Votes can be cast by any Tesco customer between the 27 February and 6 March at ONLY these Tesco stores:
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Tesco Cogges Hill Express, Witney
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Tesco Esso Petrol Station on the A40, Eynsham
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Tesco Fettiplace Express, Witney
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Tesco Esso Petrol Station, Station Lane, Witney
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Tesco Kidlington Metro
Obviously we would like customers to vote for “Eynsham Allotments Deer Fencing Project”