Allotments

Ways to keep yourself safe when using our allotments:

• don't drink the water from the tanks or standpipes
• wear gloves whenever handling:
  • soil
  • compost
  • fertiliser or
  • pesticides
• thin latex or latex-free gloves can be worn for delicate work
• don't open bags of compost or potting media with your head right over it
• fold over the top of compost bags when not in use
• avoid potting-up in confined spaces
• moisten dry potting media before use
• dampen down dry compost heaps before turning or use
• consider wearing a dust mask when turning compost heaps and handling potting media or other dusty materials
• avoid storing potting media in greenhouses as these will heat up and may encourage Legionella
• empty the water out of garden hoses after use
• do not leave full hoses in the sun after use
• avoid splashing water around when watering pots
• Wear gloves and keep arms covered when pruning plants that can cause irritations, such as:
  • ivy (Hedera)
  • Fremontodendron
  • Euphorbia or
  • rue (Ruta)
• only shred woody prunings in an open, well-ventilated area
• ensure tetanus jabs are up to date
• see your local GP for a tetanus vaccination if you have cut yourself on a plant or got soil or manure in an open wound
• discourage rats by securing rubbish in bins and not putting cooked food on the compost heap
• rat-proof compost bins with wire mesh if necessary.
• to reduce the risks from salmonella, avoid using rat-infested compost on edible crops, especially those eaten raw
• protect from water-borne diseases such as Weil’s disease by wearing waterproofs when clearing out ponds
• always wash your hands after gardening and especially before eating
• keep a hand sterilising gel down in the potting shed if clean water is not available
• children should always be accompanied by an adult and supervised on site