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Am I owed a plot to grow my dinner?

whenthiswasfields

Posted by whenthiswasfields over 2 years ago
Last active about 1 year ago 5 responses

Dear London, my Hackney based missus has been struggling for years to get an llotment to snatch a bit of the good life locally. She’s been on the local allotment sciety’s list for over 3 years, but still has no idea of where she stands in the pecking order for plots. Apparently local councils have a duty to provide each of us with a plot of land to grow our dinner (probably ancient compensation of nicking our common land), can anyone shed any light on this? And has anyone successfully enforced this right?

Dave

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5 responses

whenthiswasfields

From what I understand, you can sign up for an allotment in any borough: some have shortages and some have surpluses. So if youlive in Hackney and nothing’s doing you might check out Tower Hamlets, etc. Right about now’s the time people get kicked off for not keeping them up, so you may be in with a chance. Having just got one (in LB Ealing), I know it also helps to know a mason.

Green Bum

Posted over 2 years ago by whenthiswasfields

whenthiswasfields

As I understand it, local councils are theoretically obliged to provide allotments roughly to the level that there is demand for them, but in practice this doesn’t really get enforced (as witness the 3-4+ yr waiting lists in many parts of London). Indeed, a lot of councils are trying to get rid of allotments rather than providing more (so they can sell the land off to developers to build yet more posh-yet-teeny flats on). Might be worth her contacting her local councillor about it if she feels like kicking up a fuss about the provision? Also, has she tried phoning the allotment society (or going down the allotments on a Saturday to have a chat with folk) to see how the waiting list is doing? My local society (in Bermondsey) were v informative when I was on the waiting list (I finally got my allotment in September, hurrah!). And tell her, when she does get an allotment, she should invest in a storm kettle: http://www.eydonkettle.co.uk/ Boil water for your cuppa in a couple of minutes, then sit in the corner of the allotment surveying your domain… best feeling ever, and the tea tastes great!

Juliet

Posted over 2 years ago by whenthiswasfields

whenthiswasfields

I can’t help on this one but as a Hackney resident myself I would love to be able to have a patch to grow veg. Due to the intensive nature of my work I don’t have the time to commit to a plot of my own and so am looking for a possible time-share in an allotment or even an allotment group. We all pitch in together and get a share of the produce – would solve that surplus of tomatos/runner beans prob too. Any takers?

hackney

Posted over 2 years ago by whenthiswasfields

zcrookesy

You know a mason too?? I also got a plot in Ealing and suspect it was due to my Mason connections also. freaky weird. unless you are my husband, being anonymouse…are you? are you my husband, you green mason knowing freakster?

Posted about 1 year ago by zcrookesy

rhodri

An chum of mine is starting up a scheme called Swopaplot which might be interesting to some people.

Posted about 1 year ago by rhodri