KNOW YOUR
about plants, insects, weather and more.‘’
An organic garden with a variety of vegetables, fruit,
herbs and flowers bring more insects, small creatures
and pollinators to the garden. It restores the natural
cycle and a balance.
‘‘Even a small balcony garden can bring a positive
change. I believe we must strive to create a balance
between the good and the bad bugs. Not to use any
pesticides or chemicals, to make your own compost
and save seed. All of this contributes to a healthy mi-
cro-environment and thus a healthy garden.
RIGHTS
H
ave you ever wanted to keep chick-
ens or rabbits on your land and
after checking with the council
they have said you are not allowed? Maybe
it states in your contract that you are not
allowed? Whatever it is, it’s wrong.
The 1950 Allotment Act allows you to
look after chickens and rabbits on your
plot. The act overrules any contract that
you have signed and allows you to keep
chickens and rabbits. It has revised and
improved tenancy rights and revoked
contract restraints in relation to owning
and keeping rabbits and hens in allotment
gardens.
Hayley Moisley first saw chickens on her
neighbour’s plot and was curious why the
neighbour was allowed to have chickens
but she was not. She spoke to her local
council about and found out it states in her
contract ‘no livestock’ on her plot allowed.
Therefore, she decided to speak to her
neighbour about it and he explained to her
about the 1950 Allotment Act.
‘‘ I don’t know if they don’t publicise it
as they don’t want everyone keeping
chickens. From my experience the council
member I spoke to wasn’t even aware of
this law . ’’
Today Hayley is happy looking after her
chickens and also growing her own veg-
etables on her plot. She shared that she
believes chickens provide a lot of nutrients
for the soil and this is beneficial for the
process of growing veggies. Chickens also
reduce the slug population and will keep
weeds down in the ground.
‘’There’s something that just clicks with
growing your own food and keeping
chickens. It feels very natural and both
me and the girls benefit from the plot.
Their daily eggs are just theicing on the
cake!’’
Summer 2019 Wild Garden 7