Allotments near Swadlincote, Derbyshire

[littlepooley]

Hi, I'm fairly new to the area so don't know where the local allotments are. I have looked on the councils website and it says there are no free allotments and that they can't add names to the waiting lists - however it was dated July 1st so I have emailed them anywhere to enquire anyway on the off-chance.

I have found allotments in Repton, which is close enough to me - I have a car and I'm used to driving a lot so as long as it isn't too far I don't mind. There are abandoned looking plots there which a plotholder there told me had been cleared a few months ago by a newbie and they hadn't been back since. So, I've emailed Repton Parish Council to enquire about these overgrown plots.

Are there any other plots fairly close? I know there are lots in around Derby and the sub-urbs but I don't know that area and is too far to travel to tend frequently. Burton or Swadlincote are would be ideal.

Can anybody help? Ta very much if you can!

[zazen999]

Hi Littlepooley

I've just checked on the website, as when I last looked, it had them listed - but the same page has the notice about them being fully allocated.

We're in Shardlow, and ours are run by the local parish council; SDDc just passed their details to me. I got on the list a year ago and got my lottie in April - but I called regularly, and even offered to help clear overrun sites for them...they didn't take me up on the offer but I made myself a nuisance.

It is annoying, my neighbouring plot is half overgrown [taken on by newbie the day I took mine over] and has 3 rows of blighty toms which have been there for 2 months - blowing lovely spores all over my plot. Nice. Plus the 4ft high weeds are blowing seeds all across our patch every day.

We've also got plots that have nobody on them, the old boys use them for storage and every time they get a letter they plant one row of a crop and say they are 'cultivating' them...I know there are others on the list so it really annoys me. One guy just has 4 beehives - I love the bees but what a waste.

If I were you, I'd go see that plotholder, and get a number off him for the person running the plots, and call direct.

Good luck.

[littlepooley]

Thanks for your reply. I've had a reply from the nice parish council lady, she says that there is a meeting tomorrow so she'll see what the situation is and she agrees that the overgrown plots should be put to use - so hopefully that means I should get one! I did name drop admittedly because my OH's grandad has an allotment there and has done for 10 years, well cared for, so I mentioned his name in the hope that she'll realise I will take good care of a plot - so fingers crossed!

[littlepooley]

Does anybody else know of any allotments around the swadlincote area? I've managed to get in touch with the Midway allotments, and the Darkland Road allotment association - I just wanted to know if there any others in the nearby area? As it took quite a bit of detective work to find out about those ones, none of them have a website or any information on the council website!