Allotment Communal Areas

[vicpivo]

Hi All, My allotment was only established in February and due to this the lottie residents are focusing their individual plots. Within the grounds we have a fairly large communal areas currently covered in brambles.

Has anyone got any photo's of more established allotments and developments of communal areas? I've heard about shops/toilets, and the residents have spoken previously about polytunnels, a pond, childrens play area etc.

I'm after inspiration! Hopefully I can get a working party together to make constructive use of the space.

Thanks

[nick the grief]

We were going to do the very same thing but some damn fool took on our wild area and tamed it!!!

If you look on the ARI website they have leaflets on things like toilets, wildlife area etc.

I tried to get some of the folk interested in a communal polytunnel on our site but they didn't seem interested till the man who tamed the corner set one up and they saw what he'd got growing in there, now they all want one !

[rustylady]

I would suggest: Site representative's office (shed), possibly combined with shop selling discounted seeds/fertilisers/compost - all available through allotments association or some seed suppliers. Any profit can go towards upkeep of the site and amenities. Toilets essential, even if only portaloo types. Seating/play area good for socializing. Wouldn't go for a pond if there are children about (safety issues)

[Snadger]

The shop on the allotments nearby manages to subsidize each plot holders fees to the sum of £6.50 per year and still sell stuff at less than half of what it would cost in Garden Centres!

[Digger-07]

We have a tool shed (individual sheds not permitted), a compound for barrows etc, a toilet (ladies only) and a distribution point for the gardening society which only seems to be open three or four Sundays a year?? and nobody seems sure what they sell or what it costs.

[wellie]

I'm meeting the guy I'm taking over the lottie from first thing tomorrow.
Directly after meeting him, I'm going to pick up a copy of the Site Rules from the Site Administrator.
Having 'turned up' at the Lottie Site one day last week, 'on the offchance' of seeing someone working on their plot, which I did..... He took me to see 'The Boss' and The Boss put me on the waiting list. There were two on the list in front of me, and I envisaged waiting for months and months.
And not wanting to wait that long, I told The Boss, I thought it was a great shame that people take on allotments and just let them go to ruin, when there are genuine people like me 'itching' to get one.....?
On Sunday night, I got a phonecall from him. Was I interested in a whole lottie, or just a half?
Knock me over with a feather.....
Flying by the seat of my pants as usual Wellie, but hey, if you don't ask, you don't get.

I've got a notepad full of questions for the morning.
My main one being: "Without a Shed......Which section of the Hedge is mine for peeing in?!"

I can tell I have an awful lot to learn! and I look forward to it immensely.
Any Help very gratefully received for this Complete Novice!!

[Peter]

......questions for the morning.
My main one being: "Without a Shed......Which section of the Hedge is mine for peeing in?!".....

Well, DOH, the female section obviously.

[wellie]

I shall take the camera tomorrow. And I really hope that it isn't chucking it down. Trousers hasn't seen the 'Allittlement' yet. We 'talked about it' when he got home after work today. I'm not entirely sure that he knows how big it is???? I had no idea, until I saw it. No. It'll be fine.....

[wellie]

Sorry. Apologies. Not used to Lottie Speaks. Moderators will move my lottie ramblings to the correct site?

[Hazel at the Hill]

Take it from one who knows ONLY TOO WELL, Wellie, that any area that looks OMG! MASSIVE!! soon disappears into Hmm....and where on earth am I going to find any room for the strawberries............

[Mrs Dobby]

Wellie, you are going to love having your plot chuck! When we first took on our Pumpkin Patch we thought it was massive, and that was when it was still 8' deep in weeds! But, within a month or two you'll soon have the 'its not big enough, I wonder if I could handle another plot' syndrome, like we did!

We took on a second half plot after 3 months, just after we'd got plot1 under control, and boy are we ever glad we did! Plot2 is as full as plot1 now, with only 2 beds left unplanted on all of our plots, and they will be full within a week with more swede, turnip, carrot and parsnips! Our dream o being self sufficient for veg is becoming a reality, now all we need to do is look after whats growing thru till harvest, then find somewhere to store it all! Lol!

[pigletwillie]

Your so right MrsD, we have three full plots and are snaffling a half plot as we just have no room to breathe. Out of all three plots there is only half a raised bed unplanted and that is earmarked for lettuce.

[wellie]

You lot must be the worlds most amazing 'it'll be FINE' merchants, and I admire your sense of optimism here for tomorrow. Thank you hugely for your support, and I promise to completely bore you rigid tomorrow night with how I got on.
And thank you Peter Rabbit. Unsung Hero.

[Mrs Dobby]

Hope the meeting went well Wellie, and that you are happy with your new plot! Come on girl, spill the beans, we wanna know!

[wellie]

It went great!

I turned up early, as you do, and went and had a chat with Ken, further down, who lost his wife a while back, and does his lottie every day, just for 'something to do'. And he's going to strike some Goosegog cuttings for me, and gave me a load of ripe goosies.....
Then Mr. Price arrived, and we hopped in over the bunny-proof front gate into my NOO Lottie! Central path right the way up to the bunny-proof back gate, with raised beds either side. The left-hand bed is in an ok state. The one on the right needs a fair bit of attention in repairs and 'proper' weeding.

Overall, I was very impressed with it. Knowing what hard work it is to tame anything overgrown, I know just how much hard work the current tenant has put in over the last few years.

Thankfully, there's a bunny-proof fence surrounding the plot too!
AND a wooden tool-store chest, area for composting, and for sitting down and relaxing (mmm!)

So, what a lucky girl I am, and an incredibly 'lucky break' to start off with not having to fight with waist-high brambles, bindweed and bunnies....!