Allotment Wars Tonight BBC 1 - 10:35pm

[dim]

Clue is in the name there I see dim.

That's a ridiculous statement.

perhaps so .... however, I am a full time gardener/landscaper and I tend to some large properties in and around cambridge

I personally know of some people who have huge gardens with ample space to grow vegetables, yet they prefer to own 2-3 allotment sites, and use the allotments more as a 'social' gathering .... one such being a large property with hardly any shrubs or plants (just lawn)

I have no problem with that, however, if there is a long waiting list with over 100 000 people in the UK wanting allotments, preference should be given to those people who do not have the space at home to grow vegetables

if that sounds 'Dim' ..... then so be it .... but thats the way I see it

[Veggielot]

I can see where dim is coming from it does initially seem wrong having a allotment if you have a garden when some people are on the waiting list who have neither. The problem is how would it work would it be anyone who has a garden is banned whatever its size or would people with small gardens be allowed a plot? If it only applies to people with large garden how do you define large, how do you check/enforce it. I can see it rapidly turning in an expensive administrative nightmare.

One of the reasons for having a plot is the the communal nature of allotment sites, the channce to talk to your plot fellow plot holders, share knowledge, experiences and resources and it gives me at least a chance to get away from the vaarious stresses and hassle of life. Would it be fair to deprive someone of those advantages just because they have a garden

[Samurailord]

I used to grow veg in my garden, both in containers and also in small raised beds.

The problems I had were that I never had enough space to grow enough of each crop to satisfy our needs, nor enough space to grow some of each crop I wanted to grow.

I didn't have space for a greenhouse, and all this had to take consideration of the fact that this was a family garden so room was needed for children to play, and my wife also wanted lots of flowers instead of boring veg.

I was very lucky and managed to get an allotment within a couple of weeks of going on the waiting list.

The first site I signed up to had about 35 plots, but only had a turnover of 2 or 3 a year and the waiting list was about 40 long, but the second site (which was newly established) didn't have a waiting list - the only wait I had was while the notice for the former plot holder ran out.

Now I have a plot I am very happy. I can now grow all the veg I ever wanted to, do all the experiments I dreamed of and bring home lots of fresh food that I am certain is chemical free.

At home my wife now has a lovely flower border, and life is good.

Making a sweeping statement that no one with a garden should have an allotment is tarring everyone with a very wide brush - we don't all have 200 sq mtr of growing space available at home, and even if we did a home garden is needed for a multitude of uses, not just a veg plot.

If someone is willing to sit on a waiting list for an allotment, even if they already have a garden of their own, and then maintains it properly when they get one I can't see the problem.

The figure of 100,000 on waiting lists I think is also exaggerated - many people sign up to more than one list, and from experience I have found that when you start at the top of a list trying to offer a plot you can often get a long way down it before you find someone who is still interested - contact numbers have changed, people have moved or are no longer looking for a plot and various other reasons.

In my opinion the main problem lies with plot holders who don't maintain the plots they have, but refeuse to give them up and the weak committees and councils who don't enforce the rules to repossess and reallocate these plots to people on the waiting lists.

If these 'ghost' plots were reallocated then the majority of the waiting lists in most areas could probably be eliminated.

Andy

[dim]

I can see where dim is coming from it does initially seem wrong having a allotment if you have a garden when some people are on the waiting list who have neither. The problem is how would it work would it be anyone who has a garden is banned whatever its size or would people with small gardens be allowed a plot? If it only applies to people with large garden how do you define large, how do you check/enforce it. I can see it rapidly turning in an expensive administrative nightmare.

One of the reasons for having a plot is the the communal nature of allotment sites, the channce to talk to your plot fellow plot holders, share knowledge, experiences and resources and it gives me at least a chance to get away from the vaarious stresses and hassle of life. Would it be fair to deprive someone of those advantages just because they have a garden

according to google, the average/normal allotment plot size is 250 square meters (15 meters by 15 meters) .....

I have a large garden, and this year, I have grown vegetables in a bed that is approx 8 meters long and 3 meters wide .... I have excess and give away veg to neighbours for free daily (they are sick of spinach and courgettes and they will soon have gout as my tomatoes are busy ripening).... I have most herbs and have been eating from my garden on a daily basis ....

here in Cambridge, I maintain gardens where the average size of the back garden is approx 30 meters long and the width is 20 meters (600 square meters) .... thats ample space to grow a few vegetables and still have a decent looking garden if you plan it properly ....

why apply for more than 1 allotment? ..... some people say they have 3 allotments? ... that is wrong


I still maintain, that preference should be given to those people who do not have the space to grow vegetables and who want to ....

it's sad to see people having tomato plants on their balconies struggling to find sun so that they can grow, while awaiting an allotment.... or a sickly looking chilli plant on their kitchen window sill of their 1 bedroon flat

if I were in charge of allotments, things would drastically change .... and the main reason of allotments should not be a place to socialize ..... it should be a place to grow .... if you want to socialize, go to the village pub, or join a club

[Samurailord]

according to google, the average/normal allotment plot size is 250 square meters (15 meters by 15 meters) .....

It is if you are on an older site - most of the full plots near me are less than 200 sq metres and some councils are now only allocating half plots to new tenants anyway

why apply for more than 1 allotment? ..... some people say they have 3 allotments? ... that is wrong

No argument from me there.

I do know that some of the Grapes have more than one plot as they took them on in the past before the current interest in having an allotment developed, rather than let them sit unused. In those circumstances I can quite understand them being reluctant to give them up now, especially if they have been tending them well as quite often new plot holders don't keep up on the maintenance and what was a well tended plot can quickly deteriorate.

I don't think that people should be allowed to take on additional space that totals more than a full plot if there are people on the local waiting lists, but if no one else wants the space, why not?

.... and the main reason of allotments should not be a place to socialize ..... it should be a place to grow .... if you want to socialize, go to the village pub, or join a club

But isn't an allotment association a kind of club? Sometimes I enjoy the solitude of my plot early in the mornings, and other times I am very happy to lean on my spade and gossip for a while. As long as your plot is relatively tidy and weed free, and you are growing and harvesting produce does it matter if you want to talk to your plot neighbours now and then?

Andy

[Dorothy rouse]

Sorry, but I really can't accept that an 'allotment shouldn't be a place to socialise.' Although sometimes I do enjoy the solitude, peace and quiet, I know that, as I work my plot on my own, the support, friendship and sharing of knowledge from my fellow lotties has been invaluable over the 2/3 years since we took over the site. We all started together as they were new plots, we
have learnt from each other and look out for each other. It's really nice, you don't have to speak and that's fine, but the companionship is there and I know I would not enjoy it so much without this.!

There some much older sites kind of adjoining, and some of the old chaps have been working their plots for 50+ years, what a wealth of knowledge and experience they have. It was my great pleasure to give one of them, an old chap of 92, homemade blackcurrant pie, made from the fruit from the cuttings that he gave me last year. Surely having an allotment is about loving to grow stuff and also about sharing!


DottyR

[dim]

Sorry, but I really can't accept that an 'allotment shouldn't be a place to socialise.' Although sometimes I do enjoy the solitude, peace and quiet, I know that, as I work my plot on my own, the support, friendship and sharing of knowledge from my fellow lotties has been invaluable over the 2/3 years since we took over the site. We all started together as they were new plots, we
have learnt from each other and look out for each other. It's really nice, you don't have to speak and that's fine, but the companionship is there and I know I would not enjoy it so much without this.!

There some much older sites kind of adjoining, and some of the old chaps have been working their plots for 50+ years, what a wealth of knowledge and experience they have. It was my great pleasure to give one of them, an old chap of 92, homemade blackcurrant pie, made from the fruit from the cuttings that he gave me last year. Surely having an allotment is about loving to grow stuff and also about sharing!


DottyR

you missed the point ..... owning an allotment should be about growing veg as the 1st priority ..... there will obviously be socializing as you will be working side by side with neighbours and friends

however, many aquire an allotment purely for socializing ..... there is also a lot of bickering and backstabbing ..... watch the documentary

but I stick with my point: If you have a decent sized garden, you should not be allowed (at all) an allotment if there are zillions of people in flats wanting to grow their own things

[Dorothy rouse]

I did watch it, and thought it was very funny!

And No I have not missed the point, I understand exactly what you are saying!


DottyR

[Pineberry]

If the allotment is taken is purely for socialising yes, that's wrong. However if you are lucky enough to have a large garden and you want an allotment as well to grow veg you should be allowed to have it. Gardens large enough are not that common. I am near cambridge too and and see some of those big gardens beign converted into another building plot if its possible.
The only really large gardens are with massive properties that cost fortune, do not think those people are bothered with allotments at all. But I do see a lot of green space allocated for large front garden just for grass or paved instead, which could be used to grow veg and stick a few fruit bushes and even fruit trees. Or why to plant a pine if you can stick an apple, or flowering cherry instead of fruit one? I do not understand that.

[Dorothy rouse]

Don't think people really take on an allotment purely for socialising, I'm often the only person working on mine, the 'social side' of it is a nice bonus. Think I waited 4 years on waiting list, that would have been a long time to wait for a 'social club', I 'almost forgotten I'd applied for one, when i got the tel call.


DottyR

[Florence Fennel]

but I stick with my point: If you have a decent sized garden, you should not be allowed (at all) an allotment if there are zillions of people in flats wanting to grow their own things

Whilst I see what you mean Dim, I can't really agree with that statement ^^^ If growing veg is your passion and you need more land than your garden can provide, why shouldn't you be allowed an allotment?
On a different note, after a couple of bouts of illness and disability in the last year or two, I have made myself think of what I will do if I become physically incapable of growing, I know my limitations now. I hope I will be able to offer someone with an interest in growing vegetables the chance to have a go, but I wouldn't like to be seen as an interfering old goat!

[Kirk]

When that was first shown I half expected after it a Police appeal for a missing allotment owner and then a TV camera to pan over the missing persons allotment, showing a freshly dug over patch.

[Bill HH]

I watched this the first time and it put me off applying for an allotment.

[Alison]

however, many aquire an allotment purely for socializing ..... there is also a lot of bickering and backstabbing ..... watch the documentary

I have seen the documentary and it was pathetic. Nothing like that has every happened on my site and I don't believe it happens on most sites. The people on our site have taken their plots on to grow vegetables and fruit, I don't care what they have in the way of gardens (by the way, I have a small garden, in your brave new world do I have to give my plot back, despite working it every week for the past 5 or so years?) so long as they work their plot. I do think that there is a problem sometimes with people not working their plots and not being moved on but that is a different issue which seems to be getting sorted on our site now after a couple of plots being a right mess for a few years. Out of curiosity, what do you define as a large garden? What if there is still a waiting list after all the people you think are hogging plots are evicted? Will that mean people with large balconies will also be banned? Sorry if I don't seem to be taking you seriously but it's a totally impractical plan based on assuming that allotments are like a ridiculous programme on the TV.

[veggiechicken]

It wasn't a "documentary" it was a farce. They don't make programmes about normal folk growing veggies - its just not sensational enough. So they recruit extroverts and oddballs and turn it into "entertainment".
Amazing how such a simple, basic, pastime as growing your own food can engender such strong reactions