National allotment survey

[Ger-annie-um]

After a three year battle to gain the first new self managed allotments within the Forest of Dean we were successful in leasing two sites from the local Parish Council who in turn had brokered an agreement with the Church Council. Both sites have no water, are on a steepish slope have a mixture of stone, clay and anthills. We're are not allowed greenhouses or sheds on the plots and you should see the rabbits, not to mention the family of newly hatched pheasants, the local boar/deer population. Bit like working with your hands tied behind your back at times! Luckily we have managed to put stock proof fencing up so no deer or boar.......yet. We are all on a very 'steep' (pardon the pun) learning curve so any advice on water conservation/fundraising/how to run the sites and rabbit proofing the crops would be very warmly welcomed.

[gillian62]

I found a lovely little book called 'Lincoln Allotments' in our library catalogue, which was really interesting about the history of the allotments around Lincoln. I say interesting, but I don't think it was to the rest of the family, you have to own an allotment to find it interesting! LOL. It showed all the allotments around the city, how long they had been there. It is interesting to see how many aren't here today, and what has been built on these sites, some very established areas.

It also discussed how the associations had to fight for allotments during some years.

[chris]

Is your site quite old then, gillian62? The above photo shows where my plot are (they're old - but I can't find out "how" old..) - looking at the site where my new plot is, there's nothing there, so I doubt they're that old.. waiting to hear back from my site secretary about it!

[gillian62]

Yes, I may have clicked the top button wrong, but it definately 50 - 100 years old council plot. The site I am on is only 5 mins walk away but there are quite a number of different sites around the city. There are still 3 or so different associations too. Our site is a bit forgotten. It has had a lot of work done lately to get rid of brambles to make the plot usable again. It does have a vandalism problem though, so not the most sought after area.

The book I read was really good showing some of the sites over the years, maps & photos of some areas.

[Storming Norman]

Himself showed me a local history book recently with our allotments mentioned. We are in a hedged off corner of a local park. During the war the park was actually all allotments. Its now -
One Multi Use Games Area One Bowling green Children's playground Five Football pitches of various sizes Two Tennis courts, plus the green areas for dog walkers and of course the 32 small and subdivided plot we have now.
Can you imagine what that must have looked like when it was all allotments? I'm sure there is a photo somewhere.
Apparently it was bought by the local council in 1934 for circa £5000.00.
Just the though of the bowling green once being allotments makes me chuckle.
We have a development of the edge of the park [now overlooking the allotments] where the new road has been named after our allotments, now that is different.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I am not an allotmenteer but for the oldest hedged allotments in the country go here.

St Anns Allotments

Colin

[binley100]

Our lottie site is 100years old this year and its history can be found on our website for anyone who is interested .

London Road Allotment Association, Coventry

[rustylady]

I managed to have a chat with our Site Rep yesterday, and he has been gardening on our site for 50 years. It was really interesting talking to him. What appears to be one site has been expanded from the original smaller area where he has his plot, and he tells me that that part has been allotments since before the 2nd war (i.e. pre 1940). The part where my plot is was apparently a builder's yard until the 1960's. He also told me that there were a lot more allotments around here then, and in fact the site of the local Middle School used to be allotments.