The allotmenteer was ordered to remove a wildlife pond she had created at Woodfield gardens in Cam after the parish council decided to ban ponds at all its five allotments sites due to various concerns including health and safety fears.
A change in the rules came about after the pond appeared at Woodfield, the parish’s biggest allotment site, and a request for another was submitted for another location, Ashmead 1.
According to council minutes, members of Cam’s recreation and leisure committee considered the pond requests but resolved to ‘Deny any ponds on allotments due to concerns with ongoing maintenance, wildlife concerns, health and safety concerns and reinstating the allotment after the tenant has left.”
The gardener was ordered to remove her pond at Woodfield but was asked if she would be interested in helping to develop a water area at the parish’s Rackleaze wetland site situated behind Tesco.
A row has erupted after a gardener was told to remove a wildlife pond at Woodfield allotments in Cam. Ponds have now been banned on all plots in the parish. Image: Google Maps
But the move did not go down well with the woman, who blasted the council’s pond ban and handed back her two plots in favour of a private site at the nearby Leaf and Ground garden centre, which does allow such water features.
According to the latest recreation and leisure committee minutes, the woman, was ‘very unhappy’ with the decision and has now decided to give up both her plots after removing the pond.
She asked for her comments regarding the matter to passed onto the committee as follows: “It was a tough decision but unfortunately I can’t get on board with the hypocrisy of the committee who deem my pond to be unsafe yet do very little to ensure the safety and security of the sites themselves.
“I have managed to secure an alternative space at Leaf and Ground who are more environmentally minded and take better care of the site and plot holders.”
The Leaf and Ground garden centre off Dursley Road is not far from Woodfield allotments and rents out several plots.
A row has erupted after a gardener was told to remove a wildlife pond at Woodfield allotments in Cam. Ponds have now been banned on all plots in the parish. Image: Google Maps (Image: NQ)
Commenting on the issue a spokesperson for Cam Parish Council stressed that only one pond had been created on its sites and added: “This has been an isolated matter and is not a wider issue on our allotments.”
National Allotment Society spokesperson Charlotte Watts said it was disappointing that a ‘mutually agreeable’ solution had not been reached with the pond owner but acknowledge that rules can be changed if needed.
“Generally, individual allotment sites manage their own decisions regarding ponds based on local circumstances,” she said.
“Policies can vary widely from site to site.
“Typically, we don’t encourage retrospective changes to rules, as this can cause frustration for plot holders who have acted in good faith.
“However, we recognise that site needs evolve and that committees may occasionally need to update policies.
“Where changes are made, we would expect sufficient notice and clear communication, so tenants have time to adapt.
“In situations like this, where a tenant installed a pond before the policy was clarified or changed, it’s always preferable for a mutually agreeable solution to be reached.
“Ponds can bring both benefits and challenges, and decisions are usually taken in relation to the specific conditions, safety considerations, and management capacity of the site.
“Ultimately, it is for each council or association to determine what is appropriate for their allotments, provided the process is fair, transparent, and proportionate.”
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