I've just received a list of allotments from the council and need to get back to them with which one(s) I wish to go on the waiting list for.
The nearest one is a 5 min drive or 15-20min walk away (I think) and all the others on the list are 15-20min drive away and too far to walk - they all have 10-15 plots except for one which has 70 plots.
How do I decide which allotments to put my name down for? How many should I put my name down for? (don't want to look greedy LOL)
How close is your allotment to your home? Would distance put you off? I just presumed that most people lived a few minutes walk away from their allotments :-[
Also - why are they so hard to find? I drove around to try and see where they were but had great difficulty spotting the allotments (except for the largest one)and even more trouble seeing where the entrance is.  ???
thanks from a gardening newbie ;D
i am one of the few very lucky people who live within one minute from the lottie ;D
i think i would put my name down for the nearest one, unless the waiting list there is awfully long. because you will be more motivated if it's only round the corner. i am on my plot every day - not necessarily doing anything, but just checking all is well, and pick whatever veg i fancy that night (i call it 'shopping at the allotment'). sometimes i even water the odd plant ;D
good luck.
Our plot is a few minutes drive away - it is walkable ( probably 15 mins) but I'm afraid we don't. There would be OK but back less so! Sites are often tricky to find because they are tucked away on odd bits of land. In princple I would agree nearest is best, but visit them because the sites vary tremendously. I wish ours was nearer, like at the bottom of the garden!
We can get to our plot, on foot, in about 7 minutes. It was a consideration when I applied for an allotment as we don't have a car. The plot we have now is ideal as it is just beside the lottie gate and it is easy for us to use a wheelbarrow to transport anything from home. If you have a car then it might not be so important unless the Site doesn't have good parking facilities.Â
If you have a look at the localities that interest you and you pick a few that would be suitable, I would put my name down on all that you are interested in. It will give you a better chance and you can always turn down any that you have a change of heart about. Some allotment societies put your name back to the bottom if you turn down a particular plot however, so that is something to bear in mind. :) busy_lizzie
Mine is about 5 mins drive from the house but what is most important to me is that (if I choose a certain route!) I drive past it on the way home so there's no excuse not to go in and do 10 minutes of admin of an evening.
I suspect I could walk it in 15 mins but thus far I haven't - I don't have a shed yet so I need the car just to shift tools and stuff around. However, I AM thinking of long light evenings next summer with a bottle of wine amidst the runner beans, and then staggering home :>
It's not the very closest site to me, but I chose this one as it's larger and more secure, and had vacancies. I wouldn't have chosen one further away though. HOWEVER, my lottie-owning friend at work has a 25 minute drive to get to his, so I think I'm quite lucky!
our lottie is at the end of our street - will be a 3 min walk.
BUT, we currently drive as when we go there we are fully laden with tools etc... been laying slabs to put the shed on, putting planks down to make walkways!
We have just bought a shed for the lottie and will be getting doubles of tools we need at both the garden and the lottie and then we will be able to walk/ cycle there.
I think unless you have tools etc. stored at the lottie it doesn't matter how close it is to your house, as you will need to drive to transport stuff, like Suzylou said. Mine is also on my drive too/ from work so will eventually pop in in my lunch hour/ after work, once we have some thing growing!
Mine is a 20 minute drive away :-\ There are some nearer but I took the plot next to my Dad's when it became available. It's nice to both be there together and he's got a greenhouse which is handy when it rains!
I would definitey spend more time there if it was nearer though.
Go for one close to home. :)
I don't drive, so am having to think of creative ways of transporting stuff (eg how much weed suppressant fabric can you get in a rucksack). I would have loved a lottie at the end of the street, but all the sites in the city are at least ten minutes bike ride away. I chose the one that has no hills/steep bridges in between and it's a very pleasant journey, though I may think differently in February :). If you have a car then your considerations are different; if you don't, or want to avoid driving, then I'd say ten minutes on a bike is about the limit before you start thinking 'oh, I can't be arsed'. I have nearly a shed and my entire equipment right now is a second hand spade and the rusty stuff the previous owner left behind, so all I carry with me is a pair of gardening gloves and some secateurs for the evil brambles, and I can get up for an hour most evenings. If you can only get up there at the weekends, or you don't have a shed and you're tool-heavy, then make it as close to home as possible. If you have a shed and a car then go for the site with the best facilities and security.
I'm lucky to mine is about a half minute away plus i have to go past the local club on the way."thats the hard work"
But think the nearer the better as Svea said you will be more motivated to go.
I think it also depends on your personality! I knew that I'm too lazy to hike for miles or even undertake a drive of more than a few minutes - it would just allow me to think 'Oh it's too difficult right now; I'll go later.'! So mine's only a five minute-ish drive (and I still manage to put it off sometimes!)
Being out in the sticks, we weren't spoilt for choice, so our nearest and local site is in the next village, about a 10 minute drive along tree crammed country lanes.
My allotment is 1 1/2 miles from my home. I walk each day with my three year old and carrying tools. It hasn't put me off.
Well I'm impressed at you both!
I went for the only one with sites available- try asking for the sizes of lists- you may be able to take 1 now and go on the list for some others. Incidentally my allotment is a 20-30 minute walk away, so i cycle (without tools) and im there in no time. Also check if there are main bus routes that pass by the sites, and as for being hard to find- it makes less of a target for vandals
Amphibian, my hat is off to you. My son objects to the walk to the car ;D
Mine is a ten minute cycle ride there, and a five minute cycle ride home. I live at the bottom of the valley and the lottie is up on the heath. It is the closest one to home and a couple of fellow lottiers drink in the same pub that I do - including the lottie secretary.
Quote from: ellkebe on August 17, 2005, 19:03:15
Amphibian, my hat is off to you. My son objects to the walk to the car ;D
It's probably the absense of a car in her life that means she is willing to walk (most of the time)
15 minute drive! unless im at my uncles when its at the bottom of his garden.
Mine is about 15 mins walk 20 mins on a warm summers day. I dont drive so I have to walk which I do not mind. The best thing about walking is you can have a few tipples whilst weeding or harvesting. I bring most of my stuff back in my dads car, and any major stuff like my rotavator also goes down in my dads car :D. If I was just digging or weeding then a walk is great.
The_Snail
lol I like that 1 ;D
MIne is a 20 minute walk or 5 minuts by car and car wins everytime! The big advantage is that often I will stop off on my to or from work for 30 minutes or so just to wander about and gran a few weeds or some harvest. As a result it does get plenty of attention which would be lacking if I had to make an effort to get there everytime!
I do like the idea ofa wee tipple in between fighting bindweed though - maybe a conversion to walking (or staggering ;)) is looming...
Iain
Ours is a 5 minute walk, and we had a choice of further away. We take the car at the moment as we dont have a shed, but its on its way!!
We have to pass the pub on the way home too.... ::)
I can get to my allotment by hopping over the ditch at the bottom of our garden - although I'm not supposed to and usually do it when noone's looking - otherwise it's a 2 minute bike ride away - riding your bike with a hoe and fork in hand is an art form the requires alot of practice!!
Mine is a good 20 min cycle away. but is on the way home from work so I often pop down for a potter on my way home. I could have opted for a plot 5 min walk from home, but I chose this one because it's away from the main road so is lovely and peaceful, like being in the countryside. We also have a good lottie association and shop, and security.
Hi
My allotment is a good 20 to 30 minute drive away from me.
I chose it as Id been there before and knew it was nice and they had plots straight away.
The allotments near me had waiting lists of about 3 years, werent very private and the locals looked at me as if I was a bit strange, being a girl I suppose.
Melanie :)
The one I've just got is about 10 minutes in the car - the nearest were full with waiting lists so went for the next nearest with vacancies. And yes, it was hard to spot - drove past it once before I spotted it a high fence/gate between two buildings. But then you drive through the gate and the whole site just opens out into 51 10-rod plots!
Cheers,
Rob ;)
I'm lucky. My plot is a couple of mins walk away. If it wasn't for a railway bridge I'd be able to see it from my front window.
Mine's five minutes in the car, about 10 minutes on a bike there and about half an hour back up the side of a mountain, at least it feels like that when you've got a stone of tatties in your rucksack.
Go for the nearest plot, my plot is at the end of my street about 1 min walk
did a test walk to new allotment with son in buggy yesterday, took 18 mins. don't have shed though so will take car to begin with - unfortunately a combination of bollards, dual carriageway and absence of crucial roundabout mean it takes over 10 mins to drive to anyway.
On a good note, when i got to site i found that the first of my beds had been rotovated by superstar lottie rep - hurrah!!
Ours is 15 - 20 minutes walk, or 3 -5 minutes drive. I try to walk when I can with the buggy, as it is a pleasant route. I find that the main advantage of taking a car is that if you get caught in the rain you can make a sharp exit in the dry!
I'm another 5 mins in car, 10 mins walk person. Ok 15 mins walk back up the hill... Luckily the little alleyways between houses (I want to call them jitties :) but they don't call them that down here!) shorten the walk considerably.
The advantage to car is that it's my travelling toolbox and veg transporter. There are occasions when I walk, often with a cold bottle of wine which I share with a couple of others up there, and a rucksack, and carry stuff home in that.
Sometimes I have too much to even carry back to the car in one journey let alone the house!
moonbells
Consider myself fortunate, my plot is just over the road, visible from my window, 10 secs walk or 5 mins if the traffic is bad as it is a sticky junction.
It still amazes me that cars continue to accelerate towards me, having come from nowhere when I'm carrying armfuls of tools and buckets - I refuse to jump, I'd rather hurl the forks and shovels at them!  :o
RosieM
Our lottie is just outside our back door. so no more than 30 seconds away. :) We were lucky it came with a shed too ;D
;D mine is at the end of my road but once on the allotment site, getting to our plot is like climbing the north face of the Eiger!
Helen
mine is only 15 mins tops by car :)
My plot at the end of the street
15mins walking.
Mine is 5 mins by car and 15 walking. I drive it at the moment as I have no shed and have to lug stuff there and back. Luckily my ploit neighbour lets me store my fork and spade in her greenhouse.
As for why they are difficult to find; very often sites were created in landlocked parcels of land between rows of housing (like mine is) and access is by a path or gate tucked away between a couple of houses. I suppose these sites are fairly safe from development as theya re landlocked and have no possibility of road access.
My allotment is a 25 min walk away, or 5 mins in the car. At the moment I use the car as I don't have a shed to store my tools. I don't think my daughter would be too happy with them piled on her lap in the buggy! ;D
I do feel very guilty using the car. Maybe I will get a trailer for my bike! Will have to de-rust my bike first! ;D
There are some allotments about 2 mins walk from my house, but unfortunately they are all taken. I'm sure if I had one of these I would spend more time at my lottie.
Just put your name on all the lists and see what comes up! Even if you take one on that isn't ideal, you can still be in the running for others.
i must b the luckey one my allot is at the back of my garden only takes 15 sec walk lol ;D but i would go for the one closest to u
Just found this thread - very interesting as it isn't looking good on me getting a plot near to home. As it is we don't have any at all in our tiny village and the nearest look full up. I was wondering if the effort of getting in the car and going further afield would dampen my enthusiasm :-\ I would imagine the next closest (and no idea if they have any available) would be a 15 min drive away.
Mine is about 3/4ml away, so until I get a shed to put stuff in it'll be under 5min by car. Once the shed is up & I can keep tools there I'll walk, about 10 mins.
One of important factors for me was to have in walking distance ... what better way to start & end a stress busting day on the allotment than to idly wander there & back, particularly in summer!
Keep my fingers crossed for you.
Thanks. Ideally a nice amble there and back would be perfect and I envy those that can do this - my dad only has to fall out of his front door! ..... but I guess a drive in the car is better than no allotment at all.... :)
my lottie is a 5 mins in the car, about 10 mins on the bike and 20 to 30 mins walk from home, but if I am @ work it is just a 2 min walk.
I don't have a shed @ the moment, but I will get one soon.
I will be buying a trailer so I can transport my tools and any veg and flowers I havest.
There is also a pub on the way.
I have one veg. garden at home and my extra vegetable garden is in the grounds were I work.
Very handy. During lunchtime and after work. Tools are supplied in shed for all gardeners, toilets and showers. Ideal. A few minutes drive and stress free at home. ;D
Hi purplesmiley,
I have just taken on an allotment 6 miles from my home. Not through choice, but after waiting for ages and taking that which was available.
My advice would be to take into account what it is that you do each day. My OH and I pass the allotment on our way to work twice each daily - (together passing with kids at various times on the weekend) which makes it workable - and an opportunity to show the kids that veggies don't grow in a bag.
Finally ....Take what is on offer.....but first clarify what you are accepting and which waiting list you can remain on for your primary choice.
Regards
Ours is a 2 minutes walk away which usually (in summer) takes 1/2 hour because of the people you talk to on the way.
We exercise our dogs in the fields behind the allotments so either myself or my wife check up on the chickens @ least twice a day, which is handy because they always knock their water over!
I find it easier to go up there for shorter more frequent visits than long occasional visits. This is especially important when things need watering or the caterpillars/slugs are active
Mine is about 5 mins by car/ 15 mins on foot. It's the other side of the golf course next to our house so in theory I could just cross the golf course. In practice however I don't think the golfers would be too thrilled!
mines 15 mins away walking
Mine is about 10 minutes walk, through the park and past the bus garage.
Mine's about 20mins on foot, 8 by bike and probably the same in the car. It's hard to choose if you have that luxury. The lottie I chose is on a v. small site, only 20 plots and the soil is verging on clay. I could have accepted a sandy soil plot, with good views but hungry deer who like to compete to eat the veg, ten minutes in the opp direction by car. Then there was the promise by the local parish council of opening up a site three minutes away from our house (newish etate with land reserved for allotments).
Glad I chose the site I did, it's on my cycle route to work, has good security and water troughs; people a very friendly. Only down side is no loo which limits my stay to around three hours..........
Mine is a 7 minutes walk, 4 minutes cycle ride. There is a closer one at the end of our road, but it's very small and I never see anyone there, so I opted for the bigger side. However, the deciding factor was the view. The plot I chose is on a site with a lovely secluded feel. My plot is also the closest one to the lottie gate, which makes it so much easier when I carry buckets of compost from the car.
Mine is 3 miles away, 10/15 mins by car depending on traffic, 20 mins by bike almost all on cycle trail and off road ;D nad too far to walk! Although I have a couple of times.
There is a closer site to us, but it is very neglected, few plots taken, no water, no security and part scheduled for redevelopment (plus side is improvements will happen to rest of site.) Also tests last year showed soil contamination. So no choice but to go further afield. Plus side is nice location, friendly people, water, parking - and now i've put in lots of work on my plot.