Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: topman on September 29, 2008, 13:46:38

Title: Size of allotment plot
Post by: topman on September 29, 2008, 13:46:38
Does anyone out there know if there is a minimun size an allotment should be and if councils have to make trhem available .
My plot in Newham london east is only 85sq metres which seems a bit on the small to me.
    Thanks JOHN ???
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: PAULW on September 29, 2008, 13:56:03
How much are you paying for the plot, Maybe this is a trial plot and once you prove yourself you will be offered more ground.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: topman on September 29, 2008, 14:18:36
Hi PAULW
NewhamCouncil are spliting all there plots into two when they become available because of there long waiting list.
I have had my plot for ten months and find it is to small for grwing things like potatoes and brassica at the same time.
My annual rent is £37.70+£10.60 for water supply and £8 for society fee =£56.30 although they are going to reduce the annual rent but i dont know by how much .

     Thanks JOHN ::)
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: topman on September 29, 2008, 14:39:06
P.S
 Most full size plots on my allotment site are between 250 & 270sq metres ,the full size of the plot of which i have half is175sq metres. 
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: BAK on September 29, 2008, 15:19:47
John,

I am not aware that there is a minimum size. If you are a member of NSALG (or you know somebody who is) you could try asking them.

Splitting plots in half is a gradually growing trend. It is being brought on by the current increasing demand coupled with the reduction in the amount of available land.

The average size of plot on our site is approx. 5 poles (125 sq metres); the smallest is just over 2 poles; and the largest circa. 10 poles.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: kitty on September 29, 2008, 15:31:23
hmmm...does seem a tad small-but there again-lincoln city council have our allotments on the agenda for selling to developers so i'd be pleased if we could keep any size!!!
kitty
xx
(and yes-we are going to fight it!!)
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: Kea on September 29, 2008, 16:46:10
We've got 3 new plots on our site which have been recently made out of one plot i.e they're 1/3 of the original and they would be about that size. I notice someone with one of those has just put a rather big shed on their plot looks a bit strange it's taking up quite a large area. I hope they're getting charged 1/3 of the rent as well but I bet it's only been halved. We have a big waiting list now which is leading to lots of smaller plots. Don't think there are any rules against it.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: Borlotti on September 29, 2008, 17:02:02
I am very lucky to live in London and have an allotment for £40 a year.  My house has a small garden and is worth about £25,000.  I certainly can see the value of the enormous allotment site if the Council were allowed to build on it.  Some of the allotments are not used or not cultivated.  I feel that I am the owner of a country estate and it is a lovely wild life area and only hope that it will stay that way.  For less than a £1 a week I have all the advantages of a very large garden, the Council even cut the grass and cut the trees down and provide water etc.  I would love to live in the country but had to work in London to buy the house and my children and grandchildren would miss me so am grateful for the opportunity to rent this land.  The local school has taken on one plot as some of the children do not have the advantage of large gardens, some live in tower block flats and do not know where their vegetables are grown.  We are lucky with plenty of parks around this area, and lets hope it remains that way.  A lot of my allotment friends are Italians, and very, very nice people and good gardeners, although they do like their broad beans, which I am not too keen on.  Funnily enough they are the first people to moan about foreigners as they are English although they still speak Italian.  My Portuguese friend hates Portugal.  It's a funny old world. My neighbours from Corfu, hate Corfu, I love it.  They love our shops and people, so we can't be all bad.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: saddad on September 29, 2008, 18:47:03
Our normal plots are 10 poles ( 300sq yards) for the bargain of £20 pa... although I'll get it put up to £30 asap...
 :-X
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 29, 2008, 19:35:07
Ours are 600 square yards. Metres hadn't been imported in 1840. We split empty plots quite often, as not many people manage to cultivate the whole plot and cope with the hedges as well.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: Trevor_D on September 29, 2008, 19:47:09
We've been splitting plots in half as well, to cope with the waiting list. And most of them look at the area I've marked out and say, "Blimey, that's big!". So I offer to cut it in half again to get them going. And within a few days they say, "Is the other bit going as well?"

Better to start off small and expand. I'm still suffering from the era when allotments weren't "in" and folk were encouraged to take on more than they could manage.

For the record, a half plot on our site is about 30 feet by 30 feet (proportions vary, but the area is about the same) and costs just under £12 a year (including water, car park, machinery & horse manure). And we still have the odd person who moans when their rent goes up by the rate of inflation (ie. 30p a year!).
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: Lauren S on September 29, 2008, 19:50:46
Our entire site is made up of half plots. Now we have a four year waiting list each new plot that comes available is going to be split into quarters.

Out of the hundred or more allotmenteers on our site I think we only have one person with a family (of four). The rest are either growing just for them selves or a couple. We like to grow our veg close together.. all cozy  ;D
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: Mr Smith on September 29, 2008, 19:57:29
Topman, allotments tend to be in the region of about 250m2 give or take a bit, yours does seem a little on the small side :)
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: posie on September 29, 2008, 20:03:22
My allotment is about 55 metres by 20 metres and I pay about £26 a year for it.  No idea what that is in poles n perches lol  ;D
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: lavenderlux on September 29, 2008, 20:19:15
On our site we split any ten rod plots which become vacant into two;  we also have some 'odd' size plots, such as 8 rod, and these would also be split into two if they became vacant.  Our council charges 'per rod' so anyone with a smaller than usual plot would only pay for the size of the plot they have.    We find that people taking on a five rod plot are much more likely to be able to manage this and therefore they stay - anyone who takes on a five rod plot and fully and successfully cultivates this is allowed to take on a further five rod plot after a year - but they do have to go on our waiting list for their second plot

Do you think 'Topman' that your council are charging you half the rent of a 'full' ie 250 sq metre plot - rather than half of a 175 sq metre plot?  May be worth raising this point with them.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: artichoke on September 30, 2008, 10:56:06
Under Rother in East Sussex we pay £21 for a half plot of 125 square metres and £42 for a full plot of 250 square metres, with water included and some mowing and rotavation done for us.

Your plot sounds small and expensive in comparison, especially with paying extra for water and membership.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: Flighty on September 30, 2008, 11:05:00
I've got a half plot, on a site in Harrow, measuring no more than 30 by 60 feet. As it's just me that is plenty big enough for my needs.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: twinkletoes on September 30, 2008, 11:07:49
My plot is about 100 ft long and 30 ft wide (sorry not good with metric measurements).  Pay £25 a year and water is included as is membership to our Allotment Association.
twinkletoes
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: kt. on September 30, 2008, 11:14:09
My plot is 8x30 metres.  It is average size for our site though there are others that are larger.  All plots on our site are charged the same rent of £20pa.  Rent will rise in 2009.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: TheEssexYorkshireman on September 30, 2008, 13:32:01
Our site has 5 and 10 rod plots. I had a 1/2 plot but have just taken on the 1/2 plot next to mine so in total I have 300 square yards.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: jimtheworzel on September 30, 2008, 13:59:05


our plots are 306 sq yds  £30 a year     £15 if 65 or over
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: Amazin on September 30, 2008, 23:13:21
My half plot in Barnet is 60ft x 18ft. It's just over 50 quid a year including water.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: hopalong on September 30, 2008, 23:51:59
My plot in East Finchley is full size - 10 poles, about 120 ft by 30 ft, or enough to feed a family of four for a year.  Rents in 2008 are £49, or £20 if you are over 60.  We used to charge people who live outside the Borough a lot more, but now everyone pays the same.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: kitty on October 01, 2008, 13:16:52
ok-i own up!
of course-i've heard the terms...but how many rods to the pole or the perch?

how many poles to the language course?
how many budgies to the perch?
the last 2 were a joke-but i would like to know the answer to the measurement question please!
kitty
xx
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: PAULW on October 01, 2008, 13:53:20
A Rod, Pole or Perch is five and a half yards
Four Rods to a chain 22yds length of a cricket pitch
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: kitty on October 01, 2008, 16:06:09
ahaaa!
light dawns!
thanks for the info paul.....
in that case my plots is my plot is 6 poles long by 2 and a half poles...
funny-seems bigger when i'm digging it...
kitty
xx
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: essexsue on October 01, 2008, 20:00:27
I have no idea what size our allotments are - I do know that i have just doubled the size of the one I had last year but I still only have half a plot.
Our council split them as people nowadays tend not to have much time on their hands and they find that people maintain the smaller plots much better. As people get used to the plots they are usually offered a bigger space.  I feel extremely lucky in that after our meeting last night we found out that the prices are not going up and I paid £6.00 for my half plot for the year!!! What a bargain ( and that is with the council cutting the grass and maintaining the water supply)

Sue
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: amphibian on October 01, 2008, 20:13:01
I have 5 rod plot, it is a half plot. The plots on our site range from 5 to 20 rod. I want more but there are no plots going. I may ask to go on the waiting list for more ground, but I am not sure it would be fair to take more grund while others wait for any ground at all.

Can't remember what I pay, put I think it is c£15/annum.

Rod/Perch/Pole are the same thing, One of them = 30 1/4sq Yards or 1/160th of an acre, which is roughly 25sq metres.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: sawfish on October 01, 2008, 20:14:54
I have a double plot 35 x 30 yards and its £28 a year.
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: telboy on October 02, 2008, 22:16:56
This has been on before & I'm still blessed.
Two one chain plots for £6/year. We have just tapped a spring into a sunken bath for all to use & we're clearing overgrown land to open up for anyone else in the Village who's interested. And it's south facing.
 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: Amazin on October 02, 2008, 22:58:59
Yes, but apart from that, what are the advantages?

 ;D
Title: Re: Size of allotment plot
Post by: allaboutliverpool on October 03, 2008, 12:37:49
There is a legal maximum size of 1 rood, but below that it is anyone's guess.

I have explained it on :-
 http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments3_finding_an_allotment.html

That is why you have so many answers.
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