allotment funding

[jlottie]

Any advice as to where to go for allotment funding would be greatly appreciated, council definitely not interested - and thats a understatement

[snohare]

You could try the BBC "Breathing Spaces" initiative, I gather they are desperate for things to film. Also, I believe Shell has various ways of funding "green" activities.
The only problem is likely to be, you will need to prove/suggest some kind of community involvement/benefit to the project. Social inclusion is quite possibly a good one...anyone with health or financial problems who wants a 'lotty probably qualifies...that probably means most folk who want an allotment !

[nick the grief]

What sort of funding do you want Jlottie? Try the ARI website these are loads of Ideas on there for funding/fundraising. If it's to start a site off, you need six people to want one & they have to fulfil the requirements of the Allotments act. check the office of the deputy Prime minister's website, there is more info on there.

If it's to get work done on an existing site there are various places that you can go. I'm suprised they aren't interested as they can get EU funding towards community projects.

[jlottie]

Thanks for the replies. Its to get funding for the installation of a water supply. Its been a nightmare this year and there hasn't even been water restrictions in our area.

The Local Authority really are not interested, this is such a shame. Although I live in a rural area the houses that are built these days have postage stamps for gardens and folks are no better off than living in a town or city. On top of this I have an awful idea that the allotment site has been earmarked for building affordable homes (this is what comes from people with lots of money buying up the local houses for second homes )

I really think that a national strategy for allotments which sets out basic guide lines should be enforced. Its all very well for the Deputy Prime Minister to suggest guide lines but its absolutely no use if a LA decides to ignore it. A neighbouring district has 150 plots run by the LA, my district one site 15 plots - it doesn't make sense

[Earthbabe]

Sounds like a bit of a 'mare really jlottie.

The suggestions made seem reasonable. But councils only see what they want to. Are the 15 plots occupied? If so they may need to provide an alternative site if they decide to sell for housing. Just a thought.

Let us know how you get on. You know you will get moral support and advice, info and suggestions here.

Good luck

[nick the grief]

In that case JL I would get hold of a book called the Allotment Handbook by Sophie Andrews.

It goes through promotin & protecting your plot. you can delay things & even force it to a public enquiry if needed. If they are running it down deliberately, this is also in breech of there obligations under the act. Also if they close your plot down they have to offer you a suitable alternative & I think it has to be in a similar condition (so they can't just give you a wilderness & tell you to get on with it) but if you buy the book it will go through all this.

As to water, you could buy the blue alathene pipe & you can lay that all the way around the site & install the stand pipes & taps, then you just nee the water authority to connect to it (via a stop cock I suggest) thet will cut some of the costs down for you.

Hope this helps

[jlottie]

We are getting organised and had a visit from a NSALG rep this week which was greatly appreciated (well worth becoming a member - plug plug) but I can see that the funding will be the issue. Our LA has a community chest fund for local projects and will provide 60% funding (if they decide we are a worthy cause) but I am a complete novice in these things and have no idea how to promote an application Then there is the other 40% to find and I am worried that for 15 plot holders this is going to be a serious struggle.

[nick the grief]

Our local Chrysanth & Dahlia society runs two plant sales in May on a pub carpark & we raise enough from that to fund the club for a year! (roughly £600) so maybe you could do something like this. There are other places that maybe able to help you as well. As I say have a look here

http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/ind...tpage&Itemid=1

[jlottie]

Cheers Nick I have tried that link already but a plant sale next spring might be a good idea

[Earthbabe]

Good luck jlottie.

[bramble]

Good luck JLottie, Don't let them put you off your site. Around where my mother lives (about a mile from me) there was only 20 houses and a local shop cum pub. The HAVES came in and bought all the land and now my mother and her neighbours are totally surrounded by houses, affordable and otherwise. Did anybody listen to them, Definitely not because there were too few of them and they did'nt have the money to fight them, so don't give up the fight.
Sorry about that but things like that really get me going.

[nick the grief]

Cheers Nick I have tried that link already but a plant sale next spring might be a good idea

You need to do a good selection of plants, we do Chrysanths & dahlia's (obviously) plus tomatoes, beans, bedding plants, geraniums (pelargoniums) Fuchsia's both trailing & bush types. Also, the free seeds that you get with gardening mags is usefull as they don't cost you anything ( unless you buy the mag special) don't try and seel them for the same as the grden centre's cos they won't pay that to you

Try advertising it in your local paper if they have a club spot (it won't cost you anything) we do two in May & thats about as much as we can do. It would be good if we could do more but there you are. Once you've done one or two folks will remember & you money will go up especially if you don't charge too much & give them good plants. I've just taken about 20 Pelargonium cuttings today as I've moved them in side ready for the winter & they needed a hair cut SOme more to do tomorrow I think & then the Fuchsia's will get a good trim as well. Trouble is you need more greenhouse space