From Sunday 5^th April. and forwards, only bank transfers or credit/debit cards will be accepted to buy shop stock, e.g. compost, canes etc.

The trading hut on our Lion Road site will stop accepting cash for shop stock purchases after Sunday 29^th March. Sunday 29^th March will be the last day you can purchase shop stock using cash.

NB: If you pay by bank transfer the Society will receive 100% of the funds, if you use a credit/debit card using our new card reader the Society will receive 98.31% of the funds.

Why has the Committee made this decision?

In order to try and keep the Trading Hut open for as long as possible.

As the Committee has had no volunteers from the membership to take up the position of Trading Hut Manager or to be the Society Treasurer, this measure should hopefully make it easier to both operate the trading hut and keep the Society accounts in order.  

Can we still make cash donations for old tools etc.?

Yes.

The donations box will remain in place for cash when members wish to buy second hand tools and other donated items given to the Society by members.

You can also pay for such items using bank transfer or credit/debit card.

Please note that you cannot pay for shop stock items, e.g. compost/canes etc. by putting cash in the donations box. In order to ensure we can keep our accounts in order.  

Will you still take cash on the Rent Renewals weekend?

Yes.

The process for paying rents will remain the same. The Society will accept cash to pay for rent renewals  – during the “Rent Weekend” only. All other rent renewal payments must be made by cheque or by bank transfer. The Society will not accept rent renewal payments by card as the terminal we use to accept these payments  levies a 1.69% fee and doing so would have an impact on the Society’s funds.

Thank you

The Committee

Bensham Manor Allotment Society

Just a short note regarding some important changes at the community shop.

The shop will be open on a Sunday morning at the revised time of 10.30am until 12.30pm. It must be noted that the shop may not be open every Sunday.

It will be open when we have a committee member available, the reason as we have no member wishing to take on the management of the shop. Where possible we will aim to email informing in advance when the shop will be closed. If no one steps forward the shop will permanently close at the end of September 2026.

Now for some better news, those of you who placed an order for Potatoes etc. All orders have now been processed and are ready for collection this coming Sunday. 🥔🧅

A timely reminder that plot inspections will be starting again soon – in March we undertake a preliminary inspection checking for things such as:

Plot numbers being clearly visible and that paths are in good order.

Then in April plot inspections will begin in earnest.