Storm Eunice is about to hit our area on Friday. With winds forecast to be anywhere between 60 and 90 miles per hour our exposed allotment sites are particularly prone to wind damage. I know it is short notice but any action you can take now will save you a lot of work later.
Greenhouses – ensure all doors and roof vents are closed and secured shut. Any panes of missing glass should be covered up to prevent the wind getting into the green house. Check that the glass is securely clipped in place and that your greenhouse is securely fitted to the ground.
Polytunnels, by nature are lighter and they need to be securely anchored to the ground.
All ground cover needs to be securely pegged or weighted down.
Compost bin lids and water butts need to have a brick, or something similarly weighted on them. Plastic chairs flying through the air can cause a lot of damage to any structure, so put then in your shed if possible.
Any cloches you have on an open plot can similarly be blown away and damaged.
If you have recently planted any young trees, check they are securely tied to their stakes.
If you have fruit cages with fine mesh coverings, ideally you should remove the covering. This is not always possible so you must be prepared to find some of the cage frame may become distorted.
Fortunately, we do not have a lot of produce growing at the moment, but a compost bin lid blowing over you plot can cause damage to bushes or shrubs you may have planted.
All the above also applies to your gardens. If it can be moved by high winds – secure it down.
It is also important that you visit you plot as soon as possible after Friday to ensure that any damage is repaired as soon as possible, and lost chairs or bin lids are recovered from adjoining plots.