Foraging neglected/abandoned plots - what's the etiquette?

[ldsau93]

I'd be interested in your views on this.

Our allotment is on a site where a number of plots are effectively abandoned, though the annual rent is being paid and the Council seem reluctant to move them on despite a 2 year waiting list. I understand from other plot-holders that some of the seemingly abandoned plots may have been tended once or twice recently but there remains a huge amount of unpicked fruit which will certainly otherwise go to waste.

Typically the abandoned plots have a variety of fruit bushes (eg blackcurrant) which are presently heavy with fruit that - if not already wind-fallen - is rotting on the branches.

Similarly, a number have apple trees with branches which are almost breaking under the weight of unpicked fruit.

Is it considered acceptable to 'forage' the remaining good crop? If the situation was reversed, I'd have no objection to others picking my fruit if it was obvious that I wouldn't be picking it myself.

[alldigging]

Don't pick anything. It'd be stealing.

Take photos. Lots of photos. And then complain to the council that they are not taking action on getting rid of bad plot holders and finding new people for them.

See your local councillor about this too.

Some councils run down sites when they have an eye on them for other uses.

[muddled]

On our site, foraging from a vacant plot is okay, provided you don't take it all. The plot has to be properly vacant according to the lottie sec....almost none are though because, as you say...the council rarely evict so if the tenant has paid rent that year but never shown up...the plot is not vacant.

If the plot is not vacant, if you take anything it's theft.
On our site that's practically a lynching offence.

[ldsau93]

Thanks for the quick responses. I should've mentioned that some of the plots are now choked with brambles which have the biggest crop of blackberries I've ever seen. Whilst these might've been planted, I suspect that these are wild and have picked several kilos of fruit from them. I'll put the blackcurrants back on the bush....

[Thelma Sanders]

Thing is - you don't know if the tenants are just waiting for the fruit to ripen to harvest it themselves, before giving the plot back. If they've paid the rent - then sorry, it is their harvest - not yours.

[sparrow100]

Vacant = no holds barred on our site, but taking from a neglected plot is theft.

[Guest]

Like everyone has said it is theft. I have known well tended plots as well as neglected that have harvests that are not cropped for various reasons. If you think it is going to waste and want some, try and get hold of the tenant via the council or your committee just don't hold too much hope.