How to get an allotment?

How do you go about getting an allotment?

 

Look around at established sites in your area and ask if any vacant plots

Ask the local council

Failing that, get 5 mates to request an allotment with you and the council are obliged by law to supply one


That's not so difficult is it, good luck and keep us informed of your progress

 

Thanks, Vince. I didn't know whether you had to go on a list - like the housing list - or something. The 5 mates bit is useful to know. Hmmm...where can I find 5 burly blokes who can dig and lift??
PS (edit) I just sent you a Thanks, but it's gone away!!

 

As above, your local council should be able to point you in the right direction. There may also be private alotments ie run by farmers or similar.

 

I found all the information I needed on our council website.

 

Hi Lindy the sure fire easy way to get an allotment is an awful lot of hard work but basically guarantees you getting an allotment. Just a small point private run ones are the best as most of them you can skip the waiting lists unlike the council run ones where there's always a waiting list!

Go to your local allotment site Saturday mornings are best between 10-12 as most sites have a shop on them and because it's winter trading now most 'shops' will only open around this time and on this day.

Pop into the shop or if the shop isn't open walk round the allotment site and be brave enough to stop and chat with anyone you might see working their plots.

Find the main man and ask if there are any plots going spare and the next part is very important tell the guy that you are not afraid of hard work and that you would be willing to take on any allotment in any condition, be very enthusiastic and chatty which should make them warm towards you even more than the hard work.

The reason why I say any allotment in any condition is that most people who want an allotment wants one that you can basically plant in straight away and in reality this isn't going to happen.

Most allotment groups are not too willing to give good plots out most are usually passed from friend to friend I know it's not fair but that's how private ones seem to be run.

If you show willing and work your plot putting plenty of time & effort into it you will be very surprised how much admiration you get from the plot folk so if your plot turns out to be none too great you should be offered a better one. I know it's hard work doing things this way but it's due to newbies coming along and swearing blind that they will indeed work their plots when few actually do so it makes things that much harder for anyone new to get their hands on a decent alloment.

The above should work as it did indeed work for Bob and I. Our first plot was pretty dire our second one not much better so we gave up the second one in favour of another two right at the bottom of our first one and that is indeed a wonderful site and as we now are proud owners of a mean machine Bob's even talking about taking back the 2nd plot but I'm trying to put him off I mean another plot and what next....the WORLD?:D

Good luck Lindy batter them eye lashes girl and be a charmer you'll get your first plot in no time at all!:wink: Hel.xxx.

 

Thank you, Hel! First I shall invest in some new mascara!! I've seen the photos of your plot and you've done a fantastic job with it. I'll have a wander round soon and sus out the best lookers (allotments, I mean, not burly blokes!)

 

My local allotments are run by an association even though the land, fencing etc; is council. Their list is smaller and they prefer to offer to local people first. I'm on that list, chatted to the secretary and got my name placed then I've been up a couple of times to have a look around, chat to the people there. They're really friendly and I've learnt loads just by popping over with my toddler. The women coo over him and the chaps give me some advice. I've also said that I'm not bothered by the condition of the plot. After new year I'm to ring again to see how long my wait will be, so fingers crossed it won't be too long.

 

Lindy you have the right spirit so go get yourself a plot after all us ladies can be more determined then men-folk (sorry guys) at the best of times once we set our minds to something we want there's no holding us back!:wink:

Katherna you have got the right idea keep in contact with the allotment people although I would advise you to keep popping over in person at least that way 'they' will know you're eager to start working a plot.

If none become available get chatting with the good folk there and you never know there might be someone who is struggling doing their own plot on their own and more than willing to share their plot, veg and not to mention their valuable knowledge with you, there's a couple of people now doing just that on our site.

Plot sharing is brilliant because it not only allows newbies to get their foot in the door but also allows the plot owner the chance to keep their plot going where otherwise they might have to give it up due to health problems etc. which is a great shame as most of the guys on our site love nothing more than pottering around their plots and for some of them it's their reason for getting up in the mornings.Hel.xxx.

 

Hel I agree with the ladies being more determined than the men folk. It was my idea to grow veg this year, I dug my little patch in the garden, planted and tended the seeds, cropped them all my OH did was eat them and then say 'thats what veg should taste like'. I've told him when I get an allotment - it's mine not his, lol, but he's got to come and help me dig it and take any things that need to be there full time, and make things compost heaps. If I get the hammer out, some nails and then sort of look like I haven't got a clue he'll take over anyways - shhhh don't tell him but I know how to use a hammer, drill and things like that.

I don't think I could manage a full plot myself but my mum and dad have said they'd help out so long as they get some produce. My dad retires in a few years so he'll have more time on his hands and I think my mum thinks he needs a hobby.

Next time I go to visit the allotments I'm taking a tub to pick some blackberries / brambles as the hedge all the way around is just covered and one of the chaps said it would be okay so I'll be making a pie with them.

 

Katherna not all plots are a full size allotment if you get my meaning?
Some are a very strange mixture of measurements but I would say don't go for a little one because once you get into the swing of things and get bitten by the seriously terminal allotment bug you will always wish you had first gotten one bigger.

Your beloved is quite right home grown veg is far superior than shop brought veg, ok you have to make sure you're not getting any 'meat' (ie.slugs) in your veg before you eat it but doesn't everyone wash their veg whether shop brought or home grown?:cnfs:

Mum has got the right idea your dad will indeed need something to fill his time up when he retires and there's no better hobby than being a plot holder you get to feel a great sense of achievement and thrill at growing your own veg not to mention the very warm buddy system that must operate on all allotment sites....for the guys I always get the feeling that they revert back to being naughty school boys or at least the ones on our site do and the gang leader is my Bob the naughty boy!:D

I think you might be out of luck with the balckberries though as the season has passed, never mind better luck next time. Hel.xxx.

 

Yeah some of the plots on the site are a strange shape - the edge ones, they're all sorts of shapes but apparently they're all more or less the same size. They do allow 1/2 plots, and afaik they offer these first - I suppose it makes sense to offer a smaller plot to new people incase they don't realise the hard work that goes into growing veg and give up. A 1/2 plot up at the site is larger than my back garden is, lol, if I get offered a 1/2 plot then that can be my learning plot - as I'm sure I've got lots to learn about growing veg. I can always pick the brambles next year, heehee, bramble jam for next year then it'll give me some time to get some tubs to collect them in although the youngest member of the family knows how to pick them so it might be a race to get any, heehee - he'll have to get through an awful lot of them though as the hedges are bramble and rose - it deters people from trying to go over the hedges. They also have the occasional badger and some hedgehogs that go onto the allotments in the evening any advice about damage that they can cause and prevention of that, i know if I get one of the bottom plots then it will get frequented by those as it's close to where the come into the site (I've been told I'll need to put a little fence up to stop the damage they can cause).

 

Some of our new plot holders were offered half plots and the ones who already own the half plots were offered full size plots and are able to keep up with the others. Only a few have taken up the offer. It is hard work but once you sort out your crop rotation plan and put weed membrane down it does get easier. i love it on the allotment.

 

Fancy I have to agree offering half plots out first to newbie allotmenteers is indeed a good idea and some would be more than happy with that because so often time is a major factor to many people's working life.

Katherna you are always going to have to put up with some kind of pest damage on your plot because no matter what you do to try to prevent the pests getting in some of them will find their way on to your plot no matter what, but I for one wouldn't call the hedgehogs pests because they will eat slugs as would frogs and as any gardener knows slugs love to munch on your plants so it's a win, win situation to have visiting hedgehogs down on your plot!:D Hel.xxx.

 

I'll have to tempt the hedgehogs in then, heehee. I don't know what damage badgers would do, I guess as they're bigger they'd stand on things - not unlike my cats in that respect. tbh I wouldn't call badgers, hedgehogs or foxes a pest as I grew up in the countryside so they used to be in our garden when I was younger. If they eat the slugs and things like that they're very welcome to take up residence I'll even provide them a little plot of their own, lol.