Soil Testing

The report on the soil tests carried out on the Staveley Road and Burial Ground Sites by the London Borough of Hounslow Land Quality Team has now been published. 

The concentrations of a range of potentially harmful substances were measured in 36 soil samples taken at 25 metre intervals across the sites.

All the substances measured passed the relevant statistical tests, with the exception of lead.

The mean level of lead on the Burial Ground site was found to be 508mg/kg, compared with the Soil Guideline Value of 450 mg/kg. This level is not considered to be significantly elevated above the Soil Guideline Value and consequently no further action is planned.

The Council is satisfied that both sites continue to be suitable for use as allotments. However allotment holders are advised to carefully wash and peel all produce prior to consumption; hands should be scrubbed after working on the site; gardening equipment should be kept on site rather than taken into the home.

Number One Allotment Dukes Meadows

The Chiswick Area Committee of the Council for the London Borough of Hounslow awarded the Society a grant of £450 in May 2005 to pay for raised beds and pathways for the Number One Allotment on the Dukes Meadows site.

The Number One Allotment project is a partnership between the Society and Hounslow Social Services enabling people with learning disabilities to take an active part in growing organic food on an allotment.

Click here to see more information.

Management of the Chiswick Allotments

A new allotment strategy for the Borough, proposing that the management of allotment sites is devolved to representative allotment associations, will be considered by the Council in 2006. If approved, we will be able to proceed with the negotiation of a self-management agreement for the Chiswick allotment sites.