Terms & Conditions and Rules and Regulations

(January 2019)

1. Only members of the Camberwell & District Allotment Society (‘The Society’) may be allotment holders (‘Holders’).
2. The land is allocated in 5 or 6 rod plots for which the rental shall be determined annually by the Committee of the Grange Lane Section (‘The Section Committee’). No land may be occupied beyond the rented Plot, and the maximum holding by any member should not exceed 3 Plots.
3. The land shall be used for gardening purposes only, but not as Market Garden. It shall be kept in good order and condition, properly dug, planted and free from weeds. Two-thirds cultivation is a minimum requirement. No soil, sand, mould, gravel or clay shall be removed, and no rubbish shall be deposited on the roads, hedges and channels/ditches. All channels/ditches to be free-running at all times. Members are responsible for strimming and keeping tidy the grass paths adjacent to their plots, in particular the paths on the eastern and northern edges, and for maintaining proper channels / ditches around the edge of their plots.
4. No building or structure may be erected anywhere on the field without the prior written authority of the Freeholder: the Dulwich Estate, The Old College, London SE21 7AE. The Holder is required to make any such application through the Society’s Committee, and shall be responsible for all fees. A structure is interpreted as being other than a building, but excluding (i) one toolbox per Plot measuring not more than 2 metres long by 1 metre wide by 1 metre high, painted or stained in an inconspicuous colour, (ii) one cold frame per plot measuring not more than 2.5 metres by 1.5 metres, (iii) a container for compost, not measuring more than 2.5 metres long by 1.5 metres wide by 1.5 metres high; (iv) cloches, fleeces, supports for climbing plants and cages for protecting crops, provided that the structure is inconspicuous in the opinion of the Section Committee.
5. No nuisance shall be allowed to arise that shall give annoyance to neighbours or other members. Dogs need to be with their owner and under control at all times. Children are welcome in the company of a responsible adult but should not be allowed to stray on to other people’s plots, or otherwise cause a nuisance by noise, damage to plants or trees, or running around unsupervised. Ball games are not permitted. Any injury to children, adults, plants, trees or any other part of the allotment site arising from failure to comply with these requirements will be the responsibility of the adult in charge. No livestock shall be kept on the allotments.
6. The Holders shall use their best endeavours to protect fences, gates, locks, trees and any part of the Holding that is common to the Holders, and the gardens and crops of other Holders, and to maintain paths and footways. They shall do all they can to prevent trespassers and pilferers on any allotments. All tools should be kept out of sight when an allotment is unattended, preferably locked or otherwise secured in a toolbox. Slug pellets containing metaldehyde are banned on the site owing to their toxicity to hedgehogs and birds.
7. It is a condition of our agreement with the Dulwich Estate that no timber, or other tree, sapling, pollard or shrub standing on or overhanging any part of the allotments shall be lopped, topped, cut down, felled, destroyed or otherwise damaged. Any fines imposed by the Dulwich Estate for the breach of this regulation shall be the responsibility of the perpetrator. Any queries about the maintenance of trees, shrubs and bushes shall be referred to the Section Chairman and Committee.
8. Use of hosepipes on the site is strictly forbidden. Damage to water tanks by illegal use of hosepipes will be charged to the perpetrator. Breach of this regulation will lead to termination of the tenancy.
9. No rubbish is to be dumped on other plots or common parts, including next to the Office at the top of the field, or on uncultivated ground adjacent to the allotments.
10. It is a condition of our insurance that the following precautions are taken in respect of bonfires or other burning of debris: (i) fires are to be in a cleared area at a distance of at least 10 metres from any property; (ii) fires are not to be unattended at any time; (iii) fires are to be extinguished at least one hour prior to leaving the site; and (vi) fires must be carried out within metal containers. The burning of plastic, plastic, painted or treated wood and other noxious materials is forbidden.
11. The use of airguns, shotguns, or any other kind of weapon on the allotments, for whatever purposes, including the shooting of birds, squirrels and rats, is strictly forbidden.
12. Holders must ensure nothing on their plots impedes use of the paths around their plot. No standing object shall be fixed on a plot closer than 30 cm (1 foot) of the edge of a plot.
13. No plot may be sub-let or assigned to any other person without the authority of the Committee.
14. Any dispute between Holders may be referred to the Section Committee for resolution. Any dispute arising between a Holder and the Section Committee shall be resolved under rule 4 of the Society.
15. The Tenancy may be terminated either by the Section Committee or the Holder, by twelve months’ notice in writing, such notice to expire on or before 6 April, or on or before 29 September in any year. The tenancy may also be terminated by the Section Committee by re-entry after 14 days’ notice (i) if the rent is in arrears for more than 14 days, and/or (ii) if the Holder is in breach of any terms of this Agreement.
16. The Holders shall, as regards the allotments, observe and perform any other rules and regulations which may be made by the Society or the Section Committee at any time, and will do nothing which could be in breach of the Lease from the Estate’s Governors, or the Insurance Regulations, copies of which are kept in the Office
17. Members shall, as required, assist with the maintenance and business of the field.
18. Each Holder shall indemnify the Society, its Committee and the Section Committee against any injury, loss or damage which he or she may sustain, and against all claims in respect of such injury, loss of life or property sustained in consequence of the use of any Allotment.