Wilko's, B+Q, Wickes etc V Association shops

[Rixy]

I often read posts by people who have bought items from "commercial" suppliers such as B and Q, Wilkinson's, Wickes etc. But how many of these people have investigated whether there is an allotment association shop within their area that they can join?

It is worth doing some research of your local allotment sites (if your own doesn't have a shop), to see if they have an association shop, as often, even if you don't have a plot on the site you can generally become an associate member for a small annual subscription entitling you to the discount that the plotholders of that site enjoy.

I'm fortunate in that I live within reasonable travelling distance of a very good allotment association shop and the savings to be had there against the commercial shops are vast. No having to rely on bogofs or discount days there, the prices are deliberately kept low as it is run on a not for profit basis, like many allotment associations are.

As an example of some of the lower prices -

20kg chicken manure pellets �7.90 / 10kg �4.40
BFB (loose) 1kg �1.00
8ft canes .31p
Seed Potatoes (most named varieties) 6kg �4.95
Onion sets 500gr .80p
100 6inch plant labels �1.10


So definately worth checking in your local area as the savings to be made could be vast over the course of the year.

Maybe worthwhile compiling a list of Allotment Association shops who allow affiliate membership?

PS. The AA shop I use on a regular basis carries everything from composts, fertilisers and chicken feeds right through to pots, labels, slug pellets, vermiculite and everything else in between - Shiremoor Allotment Association, Shiremoor, North Tyneside.

[Two_Sheds]

It's a good point to make - even if you don't have an allotment, you can become a member and use the shop

We don't have a shop as such, just a King's Seeds list which goes round once a year

[Alison]

We don't have a shop or an assoication although I did buy a few plants from another site's plant sale last year.

[jackie j]

We have a shop on one of the sites and for just a pound a year anyone can join allotment or not. I am also a volenteer and work there. We sell all sorts including second hand tools, paving slabs in fact anything that someone doesnt want ( that would be useful ) on their plot or in the garden is given to the shop to sell. Its a good way of meeting fellow gardeners.