Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Frampers on October 06, 2008, 09:48:25
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Morning all!
Sorry to be a pain and pestering you all for new information but as you may be aware we're looking at getting an allotment. The one we're looking at is a private one, we've chosen where we would like to be (thank you everyone for your input :)) When we went down on Saturday to show the kids the guy told me the price........£200 per annum :o :o :o He was quick to point out that we will have a water supply and they've improved the parking area (well put down loads of gravel).
To me this feels waaay out of kilter with what most people pay although having said that most everyone else is on a council plot. There are waiting lists for the local council plots that we're on however these (like most other places) are 2years+.
My dh and I have been umming and ahhing over this over the weekend. We really want our own allotment and can justify the cost against what I spend each week buying fruit and veg (my dh is a veggie so its a big thing for us irrespective of the fact that we all love them!). The plots are all within walking distance for me when I'm out with the dog whereas the others in the village would need a drive. So I can justify it but I feel that he may just have plucked a figure out of the air without due consideration.
As of yesterday morning I was going to say we'd pay the price but I now don't feel that I can without at least challenging him to drop the price. So this is why I've created this poll. I'd also appreciate to hear from people who rent privately as to the charges you incur - is your water included in the price? What sort of agreement do you have? Is it written or verbal? What notice period do you have from the owner to vacate your plot?
Thanks for reading and apologies for having gone on a bit. Look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sharon
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Hi Sharon; That's an outrageous price for your allotment! We have recently got a plot with a council owned, but association managed group & it's going to cost about 13 pounds a year, starting in April, beginning of their financial year. I've never looked into private allotments but it sounds excessive; so you get water and a place to park, they're basics, I would have thought. For that price you should get electric and toilets thrown in too, I would say. But depending on where you are located, maybe like property prices, it's location-location-location. Also a consideration is the actual size of your plot, is it a split plot? ie. once the standard 'double' size now split into two to whittle away their wait lists quicker. Security is another factor. I'm not an expert or even very experienced in the whole culture of allotments, so I could be out of touch with current rates. Good luck with finding a reasonably priced allotment.
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Sounds way over the top to me! We were offered a private one closer to home than the council one we took. Think the private one would have been about 25 a year.
Another consideration is that there might be more chance of a private one getting sold off for building in the future (though maybe not in the current climate!). There's at least some pressure on councils to keep allotment sites but it would be hard to fight for a private one.
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Hi Vitaw - nice to meet you!
There is allegedly a toilet on site but where I don't know. Had to ask because of the kids coming down although I'm sure my boy would be quite willing to help the compost break down with the odd wee or too ;). As for location I'm just north of Bristol in a reasonable area. plot size is long and thin at 50m x 5.4m /270 sq m. There is a big steel fence road side and railway embankment down one side - the other two sides are unkown quantities.
Hi Caroline - nice to meet you too!
The site has been in the man's family for many years (30+) and has previously been a market garden (amazing what you find out when you work in the local pub!). He can't find anyone to take it on as a market garden hence the conversion to allotments. The site is in green belt but having said that the govt have said that loads of housing has to be built in our particular area (but that's a subject for ranting about on another forum ;))
Sharon
x
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OMG!.....£200 a year :o
My £20 a year is nothing compared to that.We have water on tap and the £20 covers what we use.We do not have dedicated parking so park on the streets close by.
I'm afraid I would not pay that sort of money.
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I'm in SW London on a private site. A full plot (10 rods) is £24. We have a secure boundary which is maintained by the landowner but that's all they do. We have a managing committee made up of plotholders that does everything else. We have no mains water supply but have hand pumps which we install and maintain ourselves to bring water up from the water table. All the other facilities on site - composting toilet, cafe, lockups etc we build and maintain ourselves. Our tenancy agreements aren't with the landowner. They are with the managing committee. I think the notice period is 3 months, it probably says written notice in the tenancy agreement but in practice I think it's probably done verbally a lot of the time since the committee members are on site.
Compared to most allotment sites, council or private, £200 is outrageous. On top of that, you have to add on the cost of seeds, potatoes, fruit trees/bushes, tools, nets, pest and disease treatments, shed, coldframe, polytunnel etc. etc. - whatever you decide you need. This has to be factored into the cost of what you will produce to decide if it's economic or not.
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I'm on a council-run site. I have half a plot and pay £11 per year, includes mains water and upkeep of the paths between the plots.
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Sorry for some stupid reason i clicked the £100 + button lol. My bill came in a £4.86 for this years rental. This includes my water, maintenance, etc. We pay £1 (one off) to become a member of the site, and use the tools they have like rotavators, strimmers, mowers, wheelbarrows, etc They give you a qucik lesson on how to use them too.
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hi
im paying £21 for 120ft by 20 ft with water and a car park council owned but i was on a list said to be 2 year so i walked around all the gardens in my area and within 2 weeks of putting my name down i found my own garden well over grown and neglected but its mine
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I pay £20 pa for a Parish plot. With water, a self run committee, our own nursery and allotment shop too. Private allotment rents in a nearby site are £60pa. I think he is just taking the p*ss because allotments are the in thing at the moment. It is pure greed and nothing else. Ask others on the site what the rents have been in recent years and are they all paying £200. I would not pay it at all. No way. I would go without.
If you really must rent his allotment, keep your name on the list for a council allotment..... (at least Dick Turpin wore a mask)
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Thanks everyone for all these replies, it's making me feel better about my decision if nothing else.
Hi and nice to meet you all for those who I haven't personally replied to!
Ceres- nice to meet you!
I am so grateful to you for your input especially as you're on a private site. I've got a couple more questions to fire your way - would it be OK to pm you with them? Cheers.
KTLawson - nice to meet you too!
There is no-one else on the site at the moment. I'm effectively (or rather strongly expressed interest in) plot 3. plots 1 and 2 have already been earmarked by two other people whom I've never met so don't know if he's telling everyone the same thing. I would jolly well hope so.
Sharon
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Of course, fire away!
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£200 is outragous - that would get you over half an acre of agricultural land.
On the other hand, many people (including me) pay £40 a month gym membership & never go - at least this gives you exercise & food for £17 a month!
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I agree - £200 is daylight robbery! If he can con a few people to pay that sort of money, he's sitting on a gold-mine.
We're a private site on registered Common Land rented from the local church charity and run by ourselves. We have water (on or near most plots), a large parking area, very secure gates and a reasonably secure hedge & fence, free horse manure (bit iffy at the moment, that one!) and assorted machinery for use free; no toilets, club-house, shop or electricity. Just under £24 a year for a full-size plot (exactly half what the Borough charges).
And we've got a waiting list!
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Frampers,
I did a mini survey of rents last winter.
I ended up with 86 samples in total.
The overall average rent for 5 poles was £22. In the SE (where I am) it was £26.
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£200??!! *gasp* :o :o
As others have said, that's ridiculous even with water, parking and a loo somewhere. In fact that would be pushing it even with your own personal tap, garage and upholstered throne with pot pourri.
On the other hand (devil's advocate) £200 a year is still only less than £4 a week so maybe still not that expensive...and sounds like the soil will be in really nice condition if it's been a market garden for ages.
But it's still a crazy price for an allotment. I pay £35 for what they say is a half plot but it's still 10 poles, on a council owned but committee run site, including water (tap shared with 3 or 4 others) and we have 2 parking areas, a shop, massive fence/gates/razor wire to keep naughty people out, and are meant to be getting toilets soon.
What to do? ??? Best of luck whatever you decide xxx
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I suppose if he owns the land and it is a private site he can charge what people will pay. It is your decision to pay or wait for a Council site, which I am sure we will all agree is good value for money. My tennis subscription is £210 a year but I play a lot, I go the allotment most days, not only for the produce but for a walk, exercise and good company. Luckily it is Council run and £34 a year, reduced cause I am over 62. I spend over £5 a day on cigarettes (I know I will kill myself) so I suppose looking at the pleasure you will get from the allotment it is not too bad. I do not drive but know petrol is expensive. The only thing I can contribute is do not do a lot of work and treat it as your own if he/she has the right to terminate the agreement in say 3 months. If I had the money to buy a house with a big garden, the size of my allotment, it would cost me thousands of pounds more, so am quite happy with the Council allotment with water, toilets, lock up sheds, and they cut the grass surronds, even community police come round to check the site. Think of it like this, private schools cost a lot more than council schools. I think I am the only person that feels £200 for a private allotment is not too expensive. My council tax is over £100 a month so I suppose I am entitled to a Council site, it is your choice, look around and see what the Council can offer and perhaps wait 2 years, but if you keep trying you may get one sooner. Allotments have become fashionable lately, 5 years ago my Council had no waiting lists, but now everyone wants one and of course the prices will go up. I am just glad that the Council cannot/will not sell it for housing as the site must be worth a fortune if they could build houses on it.
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Hi Frampers I pressed the wrong button to, mines £56 for 9 poles but I think its nearer seven because its on the end, something I'm looking in to. I would have to agree with Electric Lady it sounds outrageous but at under four quid a week is it worth it, the geezer is taking the piss because as said before it's fashionable so he may think he can get away with it and what if he puts it up 50 quid next year. For £56 we get water troughs, parking, locked gates and fenced area, you never mentioned sheds, are they included in the price. ;D ;D ;D
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Mine is due in a couple of weeks and is about £20 for half a plot 30' x 45'.
I personaly would not take a chance for £200, as someone said before what if he puts up the rent by a ridiculous amount?
Neil
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£200..? are these allotments IN Buckingham Palace.
Do you get shares in the farm too?
I'm on a private site, the land was left to the village Parish council and can never be sold. We have water from March to end of October. Free supply of woodchips delivered about 3 or 4 times a year. No toilets or electricity.
We only have half plots approx 60ft x 25ft = £10 and that includes your insurance and membership to NSALG.
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£200 seems an outrageous amount. If there was an icon for a shark, I'd use it! :o will have to do!!
Offer what you feel is reasonable and see if he accepts. It's all very well asking £200 a year - but is anyone actually going to pay that?
I pay £10 a year for a private allotment. 90 sq metres, no water, no shed, no loo, but it is quiet, peaceful, the other plot holders are friendly and generous with their advice and it is 5 mins walk from home - heaven on a stick!
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i pay £40 a year for a full allotment in nottinghanshire, we have running water, parking a chemical toilet and the council keep all the pathways strimmed, although i regularly run the mower up and down when im there.
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It only lets me vote once but I have 2 half plots, both council, different sites & councils
One is £17/year the other £10.50.
Water on both but no sheds/greenhouses/polytunnels
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Well I think most of the posters have missed the point here. It is a private and therefore non-subsidised site and £200 a year seems realistic. Also bear in mind that not only is there a 2-3 year waiting list but it is situated in a convenient location within walking distance saving at least £2 a visit in petrol alone. Several members of this forum spend that much just on seeds.
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i have a full size plot now and pay £116
we have a gate, car park and some cattle troughs
plus free manure but its not useable
its 15 Min's drive away and council owned
i waited 2 1/2 years for it and would pay triple for it
especially if it was closer
lbb
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I can't see what it has to do with how much other's pay for their plots. If it was me it would depend how much I wanted a plot to how much I paid for it.
If it is going to be a hobby is £4 a week too much to pay for a families hobby? Does one ask this question before taking up or joining anything? I wouldn't have thought so.
Sinbad
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If it is going to be a hobby is £4 a week too much to pay for a families hobby? Does one ask this question before taking up or joining anything? I wouldn't have thought so.
Sinbad
I totally agree~you have to decide what you can afford and if its worth paying it!! I pay over £500 a year for piano lessons! Now I am sure there are people across the country paying alot less or more than me but it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is if someone on your allotment was paying £14 for the same size and you had to pay £200.
Decision time!!
Duke
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If you are 65 like me you could spend your heating allowance on it and save on heating by spending all day at the allotment digging. It certainly warms one up. As previously stated it can only be your decision.
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Agree £200 a year seems a lot compared to other sites, however....
would I pay it if I had to, to keep my allotment? YES! Worth it, worth it, worth it! ;D
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When you say £4 per week it sounds a whole lot better and I expect everyone would be happy with that if thats what they could pay....£4 per week!
Not everyone can afford to fork(no pun intended)out £200 in one go.
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If it is going to be a hobby is £4 a week too much to pay for a families hobby? Does one ask this question before taking up or joining anything? I wouldn't have thought so.
Hmmm!
Lots of good comments from you all once again especially Sinbad et al. You've really put the cat amongst the pigeons with that view point.
Maybe its the bargain hunter in me coming out that I want to get as much as I can for as little as I can and I would be gutted if I didn't at least try to get a bargain.
Sharon
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My own allotment association in Dundee charge £15 for senior citizens and £18 for others that is for a ten pole allotment per year.
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Hi all sorry not been on here for a very long while. :(
Regarding private allotments our plots are private and all we pay is £5 per plot for water, £8 per plot rental and our one off sub fees of £2 each.
Most of it is fenced off the rest is open to farmland, it is gated and locked up each night if the last person remembers to do so.
At the moment hubby (Bob) is moaning about paying the water rates for each plot as we hardly use the water only for washing down the lovely veg and doesn't see why we should pay three times water rates when we use it so little, when you come to think about it he does have a point.Hel.xxx.
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its already been said but if 4 squid a week is affordable might be worth trying out.negotiate a 6 month trial time it may not be for you ?no polly tunnels?negotiate a cut price winter rate !
at the end of the day its your shout.
still bloody expensive compared with my 12 quid water 6 months of the year parking and security(as good as you can)
good luck and haggle your heart out
xx
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hi. I am coming at this from the other side. ::). There are huge waiting lists for allotments.so I can put a field to one side, then i have got to: :P Fence it off, make the field secure, put in water supplies, each will have their own tap. supply a compost drum and rain water collection drum, add drainage to the land, have a secure site with lockable steel cargo container, then remove the turf plough the land, fence the plots off, have public liability insurance, hardcore an area for parking, supply and erect possibly up to 16 sheds. hardcore footpaths and access areas as the hedges and fencing have to be maintained. Draw up contracts, maintain the area around the plots. Hope no one dumps rubbish and is responsible, collect the fees. What do you think i should charge... I'm supplying to meet the demand, I'm not a charity and that list doesn't cover the labour!! £4.80 a week isn't a packet of ciggies! not a crate of lager! an evening at the cinema...
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hi. I am coming at this from the other side. ::). There are huge waiting lists for allotments.so I can put a field to one side, then i have got to: :P Fence it off, make the field secure, put in water supplies, each will have their own tap. supply a compost drum and rain water collection drum, add drainage to the land, have a secure site with lockable steel cargo container, then remove the turf plough the land, fence the plots off, have public liability insurance, hardcore an area for parking, supply and erect possibly up to 16 sheds. hardcore footpaths and access areas as the hedges and fencing have to be maintained. Draw up contracts, maintain the area around the plots. Hope no one dumps rubbish and is responsible, collect the fees. What do you think i should charge... I'm supplying to meet the demand, I'm not a charity and that list doesn't cover the labour!! £4.80 a week isn't a packet of ciggies! not a crate of lager! an evening at the cinema...
Or alternatively you could make it secure and plotted out, add a supply of water and leave the rest to the allotment holders. Thats how it is on our council run plot. We only had a car park made last year up to that point it was grass. I pay £35 per year.
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This is farmers and landowners out to make a buck I'm not against enterprise but set aside for the farming fraternity was a blessing, I have never seen so many golf courses, country parks and plant a few trees sit back and collect the money and now its turning their fields into allotments at £200.00 a shot, personally at that price I would buy myself a few tubs and grow bags and have a backyard full of veg, :o
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The question you have to ask yourself is, are you going to be happy paying that much. I'm not sure how big the site is that you are on, or how many plots there are. The problem is this chap is trying to make some money from the land, rather than let it stand idle. If he were to charge £20 per year for a plot, he's not going to make a great deal. The next problem is, how long is the £200 capped for, you could get all the hard work done, only to find that next year it's gone up by £50. I would sit down and add up how much you spend on fruit and veg in 6 months, because you won't be harvesting much through the winter without the likes of a poly tunnel, although you can freeze most of what you grow. Then there is the size of the plot and what you can get from it during the season. Whatever you choose, hope it goes well.
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Well the man asked a fair question even if you thing he's a greedy fat farmer.
Standard business models normally expect capital costs to be recouped on a 15-20 year basis given it is low risk. (No risk actually.) So lets say a fair rent would be about one tenth of the value of the land per annum. Keep it simple and assume land value = £10,000 per acre then a fair rent would be £1,000 per acre per annum. 16 full plots per acre gives about £65 - £70 per plot. Adjust figures to fit the real land value.
Remember. It is not just supply and demand but the landowner has to do all his work even if the site is empty and if the price is significantly higher than indicated there will be poor uptake. 50% occupancy equates to half price plots.
I would be concerned about continuation of occupancy after the first year. I know a lot of farmers and if onions were to shoot up in price to £1 each the farmer would calculate how much he could earn growing onions and void all contracts at the earliest opportunity if there was more money in it.
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We pay £50 a year for ours. It's privately managed, on land which was covenanted to our town for allotment use by what was the local landowning family. We get nothing extra for that £50 - by which I mean no water, toilet facilities, car parking, hedge cutting, etc. And when I say privately managed, I mean that the management company collect the cheque each year, and that's their sole input. :) Each plot has a high hedge, with a door, and I love the fact that they are all individual large private 'gardens'. I know we pay more than the average, but I'm not bothered by it. I think that's the thing - what something's worth is what it's worth to you.
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I have a private double allotment which costs me £34 a year. We have water, toilets (basic) but dont get anything delivered, it being private.
£200 is ludicrous for a single.
I suppose you could put up with the £200 a year for a couple of years till the council one comes up (put your name down NOW!).
Think of it as a training programme.
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frampers, i would tell him where to go, trying to charge that amount, £200!!!!!!! i have two plots which are run by the local parish and i pay £25 per year and that's got water, a loo, parking and a society hut/shed
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My site began with a private landowner parcelling lad up to lease. When the first sites opened about 1720, they were let for a guinea a year for 600 square yards. I wonder how it compares?
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RB,
Although I know what a guinea is, could you please explain to the metric minded what twentyone shillings is all about, :)
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RB,
Although I know what a guinea is, could you please explain to the metric minded what twentyone shillings is all about, :)
[/quote
It's the old horse tax, when a horse was sold the Crown collected a shilling (12 old pence) for every pound the horse had cost.... this led to the horsey set dealing in guineas as they'd always be able to work out how much horse it represented by turning it directly into pounds...
chrisc
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It was a coin originally minted from gold from the Guinea Coast (modern Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone and Liberia). With flutuations in the value of gold, it came to be worth a little more than its face value of 20 shillings. Until decimalisation, expensive things were often valued in 'guineas', which was a unit of 21 shillings, or £1.05 in toy money. This was, of course, before inflation. A pound was worth something then.
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i'm new to this forum so hi every body, i have a private allotment on a site in our village, 30 odd years ago the council built a doctors surgery on the allotments so a kind local land owner gave over a paddock behind his farm to the parish for allotments, i dont know what the fees were then but the rent now is £1/100ft²/year and all proceeds go to the spastic society, i have 2200ft² so £22, £200 a year! he's got to be kidding
mike
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hiya, compost bin, welcome to a4a ;D
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Without reading all of the above, I've recently aquired a 20 x 5m private plot (100sqm) at £2.20 a sqm meaning I'm paying £220 per year. I've one of the smaller plots on the site and there's no shortage of takers. I feel this is pretty expensive but there's a 10 year council waiting list and there's no other sites nearby. At nearly £4 a week I'm certainly not doing it to save money.
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Private local site, half plot, £8 (mainly because landlord distant and never responds to questions - no water, no mowing)
Parish plot further away, half - £21 and whole £42, water, mowing, rotavating for new plot holders.
More local village plot rented from village hall land - £150 or more (not interested so forget exact sum, but huge)!!! Ploughing offered, stream for bucket dipping.
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OK, bearing in mind it is now 2010, and most of these posts were left 1 - 2 years ago, can you all please help us? We mover here 10 years ago from the city. We have 3 acres well off the beaten track, just one road in and one out, the only other way to reach us is over the mountain, and since it kept invaders out, it does the same for vandals & thieves, we can actually leave our doors open and leave stuff outside without any fear. Our neighbours look out for us as we do for them. Our Income shrank seriously 2 years ago when we evenyually bth had to give up work due to ill health and although the income shrunk the outgoings did not. we want to let 2 of our three acres out as Allotments. There is constant water, from stream and stand pipe. Parking. Electricity could be made available although it would have to be reflected in the rent. We could supply a poraloo and tent. Plenty of space for communal compost site, no objection to Chickens and Ducks. We would want to charge £100 per annum, BUT, since none of the land we propse to let is cultivated and we are not able to do it in advance due to ill health, we would be happy to only charge £75 for the first year, this would be excluding Electricity. Also MUST we have Public Liability Insurance? If we do this would have to be reflected in the rent. I thought the person charging £200 per annum in 2008 was over the top, so I am hoping you will all NOT think £2.00 per week too much?/ We do not want to rip off anyone, but do want a sensible income. Not sure if we get notified when a reply has been sent, so please write to our Email address too, if you will? it is cwmhaf@sky.com
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Think we've been here before...but I'll pop me penuth in anyows... ;)
On todays pricing 100 pound a year realy is'nt that steep...basically less than 2 quid a week...now I only pay 25 quid a year per plot x 2....
Now for one plot last year for a total outlay of about 100..possibly less...during the main season I reckon with what I gave away to family and freinds...
took home between 10 & 20 quids worth per week...plus later on the winter vedge...leeks,PSB, sprouts swede ect...
So overall well in pocket....this year with 2 plots....
Total outlay rent, seed ect .....150.00pa....= 3.00 per week..approx
Gains....fruit vedge ect.....say 20 wks@ 15.00 per week
not counting winter vedge...thats 100% profit
Now I'm no accountant...but tell me where you can make such profits, I'll invest.
And on top of all this ...how do you cost the enjoyment, sense of achievement...?
Think about it three pounds a week....cheap hoby...... ;) ;)
Have a great season one and all...happy planting..... ;) ;) ;)
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i think £200 a year is outrageous and unsustainable. Thats £4 a week, you can almost buy all your vegetables for the year for that price, and it doesnt include other expenses such as ferts, compost, hardware (canes, netting).
I wouldnt bother at that price.
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£16 for half plot in essex/london
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My tennis club subscription is £220 a year and I usually play twice a week, my allotment is cheap about £37 a year I think but I go nearly every day and talk to lovely people, get exercise and fresh air and sometimes vegetables and flowers, so would pay more if I had to. It also keeps me away from the clothes/shoe shops so the money I spend on seeds etc is not much when I spend £6.40 a day on 20 ciggies. So it is all relative, if I bought a house with a garden as big as my allotment would have to be a millionaire, so am quite happy. ;D ;D
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our plots are measured linear so we seem to pay more than many of our mates as they have wide plots :(
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ThinK I have said before, in France, allotments tend to be private associations. Ours is subsided by the council but I pay 70 euros a year, water included. That does not seem excessive to me. Not sure if growing your own veg is really economically viable? I guess in raspberries alone mine pays for itself :) But 200 pounds seems a lot...
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I am on a private site rented from a local farmer we pay £80 for a full allotment and £45 for a half. Though they are a little bigger than the standard 10 rods. Includes water and pigs to eat the weeds and also manure but that is a mixed blessing since some is contaminated. Paths are mown, and hedges and fences maintained.
£200 is excessive. Certainly more than agriculture would produce.
I am not convinced that it is cheaper growing veg than buying it. But I get huge quantities of really fresh veg of large variety. I love having an allotment.
Certainly with bean canes, raspberry plants, strawberry plants, netting, fleece and seeds :P it all adds up. If there is no alternative I suppose that you have to pay.
The biggest problem is that if the going commercial rate for allotment rises to this kind of figure there will be pressure for the local authorities to raise their charges to match.
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This would be quite normal for a private plot in N Ireland. On average Council plots are 25 to 50 pounds but private providers will charge £200 plus (because they can!).
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Hi everyone.
My allotment is situated in noth east england,which according to the local newspaper,is one of the largest in england,over 350 plots
the site is council owned,but run by an elected management commitee,the site fee is £50 per year,i have two plots,so costing me £100 per year.
the reason for two plots is a few years ago ,anyone could have had a plot as they were all like jurassic park.
Now you cannot get one.there is a 5 year waiting list,because they have become " fashionable" the thirtysomethings in four wheel drives in shades, with kids strapped in like test pilots have taken over. ;D However never mind, if you like the plot pay the money,as you say they are hard to get hold of,take a chance,life is too short.I would pay it as my allotment,apart from family IS my life,and i spend all my spare time there.
whatever you decide i wish you all the best.
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Now you cannot get one.there is a 5 year waiting list,because they have become " fashionable" the thirtysomethings in four wheel drives in shades, with kids strapped in like test pilots have taken over.
Why are sunglass-wearing 4wd-driving parents any less deserving of an allotment than you?
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In reply to unwashed
I never said they they were undeserving,it was just meant as a humorous :) observation of a sign of the times.
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I know what you mean Germinator. We have about 90 allotments on our site, the number who arrive on bikes and on foot are getting less and less. It just means you don't get the chance to chat to them and find out their names. It's a shame when you have to say "that gent/lady with the big 4x4 has some nice peas" instead of knowing his/her name. :)
By the way our allotment costs have just risen, we pay £50. It includes water rate, which varies depending how much water is used.
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Did I miss the end result to this? Did Frampers take the plot in the end?? :-\
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We have a privately owned one and pay £100 per year. There was promises of water and for the owners to keep the paths in check but has this happened? NO! They get teasy when we are slightly late with our rent and moan when some of the allotments are untidy, yet their own daughters allotment looks like a jungle and if they can't set an example then why should others bother....
Her allotment is the first one as you come in the field :(