allotment social events

[gan heather]

At our recent allotment society meeting we elected a committee. I created, and then elected myself to, the position of community liaison and events coordinator. Most of us on this site are pretty new and we don't have much of a community like I think some other allotments have. So now I'd like some ideas about what other allotments do. I'd like to organize open days and seed swaps, but would like to know what are some other events and activities that other sites have?

[binley100]

We're having a Christmas morning on the sat before . We're having soup, mince pies , coffee, tea , mulled wine and roast chestnuts. Also a raffle and a lucky dip for the kids.
We've got plans for an Easter Egg hunt, treasure hunt, day trip , a big centenary open day , then there'll be halloween , bonfire night . Inbetween that lot , a quiz night , fish 'n chip supper , skittles and darts. .........

[Two_Sheds]

It depends how sociable people want to be. Tbh, I go up the lotty for some peace & quiet, not to socialise

Saying that, I did organise a monthly Social Sunday where everyone brought picnic stuff to share. We all camped on one allotment for a few hours while the sun went down, had a natter, swapped plants & gossip etc.

[binley100]

Some of it depends on how big your lottie site is as well. You could be on a site where a few don't want to socialise but there is enough left to make it worthwhile . P'haps a bit of market research to find out what the general consensus of opinion is........

[geoff]

Hmm.... Not exactly a major social event, but on summer evenings a few of us wander down to the allotment, sit around, light a fire, have a couple of cans of beer and generally put the world to rights

[gan heather]

It's funny cause I also go to my plot to get some peace and quiet. BUT, I'd still like there to be occasional (mostly) garden-related get-togethers. I hadn't realized that there were allotments where people got together and did so many non-allotment type things together (a la binley's allotment)!

[binley100]

Get togethers on this scale is a relatively new thing , we've had open days in the past but we now have a social committee run by the laydeez and this is our centenary year so we're going all out for some fun ( and fund raising) .

[Hans Mum]

we're having mulled wine & mince pies Sunday before Christmas its also the nearest sunday to the shortest day so longer days are on their way In summer we have picnics on the plot, BBQ's, & we've organised a trip to the Edible Food Show in March

[brad1001]

Hmm.... Not exactly a major social event, but on summer evenings a few of us wander down to the allotment, sit around, light a fire, have a couple of cans of beer and generally put the world to rights

now thats my sort of social!

[Two_Sheds]

on my old site, Stig of the Plot used to organise minibus trips to nice gardens. Trouble was, most people have cars and preferred to go on their own, they wouldn't pay the cost of the minibus

[gan heather]

I was also thinking of organizing "day-outs," but not with a minibus!

[frantic furball]

We have the Summer fair/show, Christmas fair and a night 'down the pub' just before Christmas as well as days out to flower shows and any other places of interest. We went to a brilliant organic box scheme site last year. There are a lot of allotment sites quite close together so big events are usually organised over 3 or 4 sites to make sure the coach is full. Any suggestion for days out etc are discussed at the site meetings and if enough people are interested it gets the go ahead. There is a place set aside on site for seed/plant swapping so we don't have an actual event and we try to get speakers to pop in every now and again.

[Alison]

My site is only small (10 plots, one of which has just been given up and one which is never visited which is even more annoying) and although we're a friendly bunch, I'm thankful that nobody seems to want to organise things like this as although I'm sure they can be very enjoyable, I really wouldn't have the time with everything else that is going on in my busy life and I don't have the added challenge of balancing the needs of kids. I'm guessing it depends on the make up of your site and each will vary, suggest you speak to the plot holders and find out what they'd like otherwise you risk the chance that you will put a lot of time and energy into an idea which won't get sufficient support whereas there might be something else which would go down a storm. Not much help I know but people want different things and the people you're representing will have the best ideas which may or may not fit with yours :;

[Plot6B]

Some of the events held by my allotment site this year.
Fish and Chip Supper ( Local Chippie delivered),
Bonfire Night Bar B Que,
Members Birthday Parties,
Quiz Night
The above held on site
The following were held off site,
Skittles Night,
Christmas Dinner.

Hope this is of interest

[gan heather]

Thanks! All ideas for social events are helpful.