1. Bonfires are NOT ALLOWED on any site between 1st April to 30th September inclusive.

2. Avoid bonfires if possible. Compost everything that can be. Small amounts of waste could be taken home and placed in domestic waste bins or alternatively taken to the local recycling depot.

3.Burn only dry material. It is better to leave damp or green matter until it is really dry before attempting to burn it, be patient it may take several weeks. Burn material quickly with a hot flame; use dry wood to get a really hot fire started.

4. Always stay with a fire while it is burning. This will allow you to keep the fire fed whilst hot. Never leave a fire smouldering this just prolongs the discomfort of neighbours. The society's public liability requires that fires be extinguished when not attended.

5. Pick a day when smoke will not go towards neighbouring houses. This may be impossible on certain sites or plots; in which case bonfires will be prohibited by the society or they may decide on a "burning plot" designated where it may be suitable.

6. Do not bring rubbish from home to burn on the site. This breaks the society's tenancy agreement.

7. Never burn pesticides, fertiliser, rubber, plastic, polystyrene foam, paint or anything that can cause toxic smoke.

8. Avoid lighting a bonfire when weather conditions are unsuitable - smoke will hang in the air on damp still days.

9. Avoid burning when air quality is "poor". You can check this by ringing 0800 556677 (Air Pollution Bulletin Service).

10. Use common sense. If any of the above conditions prevail be patient and wait. Does it matter in most cases when you have a fire? You are gardeners, you have to wait for the weather conditions to set seed or put plants out. Wainting for the right time to burn is no hardship.

The above has been compiled with the assistance of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, the National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection and Leicester City Council Environment Development Pollution Control Group.

If the actions of a few unreasonable plot holders make having a bonfire on an allotment an antisocial activity, Local Authorities will ban them completely. We must therefore ALL ensure that our common sense approach to having binfires is followed by all members both new and old.

Please Note
Apart from compostable material, no rubbish or domestic waste of any description should be brought onto sites by anyone. Past and future offenders may, with the aid of the Leicester City Council, be prosecuted as well as being asked to quit immediately.

Back to the handbook