Been offered an allotment!

Rotwein44

I put my name for with the local authority about 3/4 weeks ago for an allotment and they said they would put me on the waiting list, well i got home today from a weekend away to a letter saying one had become free! :j I am kind of excited and scared of the volume of work, hoping to go and look tomorrow so will get some photos! £15 for the year, bargain!!

:T

savemoney

Lucky you I been waiting almost a year and still 148th on waiting list, might be years before I get one

SuzieMum

Yay! Ours is £15 a year too, but it's not ready yet. The field is still a field! We were one of the first to bag a brand new allotment, but it's yet to be made. I hate waiting.

savemoney

I hate waiting too TBH I dont give much hope of getting one, I know someone who waited 3 years and they got special treatment if you in the know

Its a real shame ones near me a few are empty still from last yea4 and I know another where guy only uses the shed for storing paint for his business and doesn't even use the allotment

border_collie

I thought they were quite strict and the allotments had to be worked or they were taken back?

kazire

i was looking into getting an allotment myself and it states a price per rod?? what is this sorry if im being silly?

GarnetLady

kazire wrote: »

i was looking into getting an allotment myself and it states a price per rod?? what is this sorry if im being silly?

I don't know for sure but Which have the following on their website -

Traditionally, a standard ten-rod allotment (approximately 250 sq m) could produce enough cabbages, potatoes and root vegetables to keep a family going for most of the year.

So 1 rod = 25m???

Primrose

save money - Why not talk to the committee of the allotment society where the man is storing paint in a shed and ask them to tell the man to "use the allotment or lose it". That is not what allotments are for.

GreenFly_2

I was lucky and I have an allotment from this year, but I had to wait for 3 years to get one. Anothe route to some land for growing on is the Landshare scheme run by Huge Furnley-Whittingstall of River Cottage fame. Just Google "Landshare"

RuthMarianna

If anyone wants an allotment you might find it better to go to the allotments and ask around. We originally asked our local council (a few years ago this is, we no longer have an allotment) and got nowhere but asking the old guy who looked after the allotments we got one right away. You may find that some allotment holders have a full allotment and cannot cope with it all and they may let you have half. Always worth asking.

Good luck to the OP. The first year is the hardest. Get something in as soon as you can and this will encourage you. Try to go to the allotment when it is busy and chat with the other holders and you will find them very helpful. When we started lots of people had surplus plants that they were glad to pass on and seeds as packets always have more than you need.

We found it really helped to get a load of manure dug in and this got delivered by a local farm and everyone paid for a share. Also worth getting some old pallets and build a few compost bins at the end as you will be surprised how soon you need them.

My regret was not having anywhere to sit down as it was a bit of a walk from our house. So worth getting a cheap bench so that you can sit and rest and admire your achievments and if you take a coolbox with some drinks you will stay longer, get more done and find more opportunity to chat with fellow allotment holders.

Happy growing and eating!

Rotwein44

Thanks for all the messages. I went to have a look at the allotment and decided not to take it this year. There is so much work to be done to even get started. It hasn't been worked for years and needs fences putting up before I can even start. I spoke to a man down there and he said they have had loads of trouble from kids, hence the 6ft fences and barbed wire round each plot. He did however tell me about some allotments much nearer my house that I didn't know existed as I have only lived here for about 18months, and they are behind some houses and not visable from the road. They are owned by the church not the Parish Council, so I have put my name on the list there, will probably take a while but I am top of the list. I thought it would be nice to be able to walk there rather than have to drive. Plus the nearer allotments have no fenced off sections because they have no trouble from children. I know where ever I take a garden there will be hard work to be done, but at least it will be nicer not having to fence everything in to keep people out! I work fulltime so hopefully someone who has the time will be able to enjoy it this year!