On my new site in the over-populated South East (East Sussex) we have a large sloping, wooded field with about 5 active allotments, 3 or 4 derelict ones, and huge areas of rough grass, mown by the council every few weeks, fortunately. There are two water tanks, and I can't understand why so few people use it. There was a tractor down there the other day pulling up young self-sown trees, so now I am a little anxious about the building rumours strongly denied by the council.
On my other site, all allotments are taken, and worked on, and there is a long waiting list and no water at all.
I'm keeping my old site because I have done a lot of work on improving the soil and it is 3 minutes cycle ride away. The new site, 10 minutes by car, will be for tougher veg and fruit that don't need such regular visits, but I have only managed to cultivate about 10 square metres so far. Ground has set like concrete. Have made 2/3rds of it into a lasagna bed, but the labour of carrying all the ingredients down a slippery stony slope has temporarily defeated both me and my sack trolley (it collapsed).
