Poll: How many Allotment plots do you have?

[hamamelis]

I'm waiting with interest to find out if the council thinks I have one or two- the previous tenant had one full plot, it was underused (and she broke a few site rules I believe), so she was told to give up half, which I took on. Now, after two years of doing nothing but strimming the grass every few months, she's given up the other half and (seeing as we have several empty plots and no waiting list) I've taken on that as well.

Do I have one full plot or two halves? I suspect the answer to that is 'whichever winds up being more expensive'

[dim]

it's wrong that more than 1 plot is allocated per person ..... there is a huge waiting list for people wanting plots ..... people who live in flats with no gardens

I don't have a plot, but I have a veg patch in my garden .....

there should be a law stating that anyone who owns a home with a garden should not be allocated an allotment plot (I think there is a waiting list of over 100 000 in the UK?)

[Samurailord]

I have a single plot, but it just happens to be the largest full plot on the site at 216 sq metres.

If there is no waiting list I don't have a problem with people having more than one full plot as long as they are able to cultivate it all, and don't keep one for growing and one for sitting on.

Andy

[sammy_roser]

My garden is enough for me right now If my health improves then maybe I will be able to manage an allotment.

[leonmc0708]

I picked up the first of mine as a helper for my uncle who had it for years but couldn't utilise it anymore.

I obtained the other half of the plot 6 months later when it was left in disrepair and I was offered it by the committee because my half (of the same plot) was immaculate.

I am you g and keen as mustard and have friends in the building, joinery, glazing and gardening industry meaning I get loads of freebies and lots of help.

I often help the older guys on the site - with clearing their land and also the committee with clearing areas that are used by all. This meant that when other plots became available (there are strangely 5/6 empty plots and 25/30 unkept ones on a huge site of almost 300 and despite the waiting list being significant the "ageing committee" don't seem to manage it too great) I was top of the list so to speak.

I took on another plot which was overgrown near mine and had it cleared and fenced off over one weekend so another plot next door to this was offered to me.

I now have two which are full to bursting with vegetables with 4 greenhouses on which supply me, my family and some friends with more than enough and the final plot which was not grown on for 3 years and allowed to rot as it was a local schools who fell outside of the usual rules in upkeep. This is currently covered in black woven fabric (some 12m by 15m whilst the weeds are killed off. Plan is to manure it all in the autumn and get it covered in fruit trees and bushes when they are dormant later this year. An orchard.

I understand people's angst at people having 2nd and 3rd plots but on our site it's really not an issue

[Littlefox2000]

Hi,

I just want to echo Leon's post. At my site there's no waiting list. And there are more plots becoming vacant. If there are current plot holders who are willing to take on and manage extra plots, that's surely better than them being in disrepair.

To be honest, I'd now happily help others or even work with my allotment committee to get plots in a good state for new plot holders. But I can't help how the country has skewed allotment requirements and long waiting list in other areas. And I know my site is benefitting from some plot holders agreeing to cultivate more than one plot.

As for people having a garden being banned from holding allotments. I do have a teeny tiny London garden, not fit to swing a cat in, so to speak. My allotment is the only way I can actually grow anything more than a few tomato plants. If my garden was the size of an allotment plot, I'd much rather be using it...no issues with power, using a hose pipe and no travelling. But many of us don't have the luxury of a reasonable size garden.

[Martin H]

I think taking multiple plots is absolutely fine, with a proviso: that second and subsequent plots are allocated only a year at a time, with no automatic right of renewal. The committee should be able to serve notice by the end of May that the extra plot is to be given up to a new allotmenteer at the end of the current season.

[leonmc0708]

I think taking multiple plots is absolutely fine, with a proviso: that second and subsequent plots are allocated only a year at a time, with no automatic right of renewal. The committee should be able to serve notice by the end of May that the extra plot is to be given up to a new allotmenteer at the end of the current season.

I am not sure what that achieves or if you actually have ever put hard work and effort into turning over a run down tip of an allotment.

My 3rd one for example, I wont expect to be able to get a decent season in that until next year at best (I got it in February this year) possibly the year after as its full of bricks, bottles, bindweed and generally the lands pretty unfertile.

I would certainly not consider taking it on if it was on a year by year basis - not a chance.

[Speed Gardener]

I have three plots, all adjacent, that total 22 rod. Got them when there were empty, overgrown plots all around. I see newbies, mainly one year wonders, come and go, their plots never looking properly utilised. I asked the council at the time, no problem, they said. Nowadays, there is a one plot policy, in fact they are halving plots to Mickey Mouse size (2 1/2 rod).
I feel absolutely no guilt in having multiple plots, when I took them on, the council were itching to prove that the site was underused so they could sell it for housing. But for people like me, there wouldn't be allotments here any more. You can't have a waiting list on a housing development!

I have about one and a half plots worth of fruit spread over the whole area, two greenhouses and quite a few pollinator attractors like buddleas (strictly controlled).

[Veggielot]

One fairly large one which I have finally just about got sorted after 3 years. Part of me is now thinking about what I could do if I got a second, a nice little orchard appeals with bees appeals. Probably best trhere aren't any spare on my site as I never seem to have enough time as it is.

[shona_b]

There's no option for a half plot! Its big enough as the are just two of us to feed and we both work. On our site you can only have more than one plot if you had them before the end of last year - now the council wants it to be strictly one plot per member which is fair due to the waiting lists.

[phil the shed]

it's wrong that more than 1 plot is allocated per person ..... there is a huge waiting list for people wanting plots ..... people who live in flats with no gardens

I don't have a plot, but I have a veg patch in my garden .....

there should be a law stating that anyone who owns a home with a garden should not be allocated an allotment plot (I think there is a waiting list of over 100 000 in the UK?)

well there's an attitude my apologies for my anger but my postage stamp of a garden wouldnt provide what i need to reduce my bills and help subsidise my family budget. i have 2 plots approximately 100sq metres in total and provide fresh fruits vegetables and potatoes for my family allowing us to feed our children a varied and healthy diet.
all surplus is donated weekly to the homeless hostel to help provide hot meals for those less fortunate than ourselves.
my second plot 40sqm was taken on when nobody accepted it before 31st may it currently is covered with squash pumpkin and courgette 12 varities on the plot providing ample for my family and others and just to add no waiting list on our site and still plots available.

[allotmenteer ashford]

There are allotments in my village but they are privately owned. By that I mean each plot is owned individually. So, a lot of plots are owned by folk who no longer live in the village (a lot because it's a patch of land they have inherited as the old owners die) and have no intention of working them. They are shoulder high and more in brambles. It's a shame, but there is no water and no security on the site either, the land is open to anyone, no fence. I wouldn't invest in one, because it would be hard to sell again if I move house.

Not sure about this one, but I believe if you own it it ain't an allotment????

[Penellype]

I applied for an allotment this spring (they are just round the corner from my house in this village) but I was told that there were a total of 20 allotments and 25 people on the waiting list, and that the turnover rate was around 1 a year. I decided to leave it as by the time I get to the top of the list I am most unlikely to still be living here.

[Bill HH]

I put my name down online and was told there was two year waiting list, after two years i E-mailed them to ask how close i was to the top of the list only to be told they had no record of my appplication.. So now I have another two year wait!!! at 65 another two years is a long time. if I thought there were people on those allotments with multiple plots i would consider it the height of selfishness to be honest.