Ways to keep yourself safe when using our allotments:

  • don't drink the water from the tanks or standpipes
  • wear gloves whenever handling:
    • soil
    • compost
    • fertiliser or
    • pesticides
  • thin latex or latex-free gloves can be worn for delicate work
  • don't open bags of compost or potting media with your head right over it
  • fold over the top of compost bags when not in use
  • avoid potting-up in confined spaces
  • moisten dry potting media before use
  • dampen down dry compost heaps before turning or use
  • consider wearing a dust mask when turning compost heaps and handling potting media or other dusty materials
  • avoid storing potting media in greenhouses as these will heat up and may encourage Legionella
  • empty the water out of garden hoses after use
  • do not leave full hoses in the sun after use
  • avoid splashing water around when watering pots
  • Wear gloves and keep arms covered when pruning plants that can cause irritations, such as:
    • ivy (Hedera)
    • Fremontodendron
    • Euphorbia or
    • rue (Ruta)
  • only shred woody prunings in an open, well-ventilated area
  • ensure tetanus jabs are up to date
  • see your local GP for a tetanus vaccination if you have cut yourself on a plant or got soil or manure in an open wound
  • discourage rats by securing rubbish in bins and not putting cooked food on the compost heap
  • rat-proof compost bins with wire mesh if necessary.
  • to reduce the risks from salmonella, avoid using rat-infested compost on edible crops, especially those eaten raw
  • protect from water-borne diseases such as Weil’s disease by wearing waterproofs when clearing out ponds
  • always wash your hands after gardening and especially before eating
  • keep a hand sterilising gel down in the potting shed if clean water is not available
  • children should always be accompanied by an adult and supervised on site