Hello
Just had word today that there are allotments available near me and a list of vacant plots and maps is on it's way!!!!......any advice on what to look for when choosing a plot??
Fisrt thing I did was ask lottiers at the site which was the best plot. Second thing to do is to inspect the weeds - lots of wildflowers for instance is a sign of poor soil but good healthy growth of things like nettles and other perrenials that you will spend hours trying to get rid of are a sign of good soil. Other things to look out for are access and the nearness of water. If there is a shed in OK nick on the site then this is a bonus - it does happen, just not to me.
But there is nothing to beat the knowledgew of fellow lottiers on the site.
If there is no shed and therefore no water butts choose the one nearest the tap (if there is one ofcourse).
Remember there is no perfect plot they all have their advantages and disadvantages just go for it, pick one, and get stuck in and enjoy.
Dare I say more, you will probably be stuck with what you choose, so take your time and imagine what you want from your plot. Consider if you need car access, or privacy etc, but pay attention to everything said before you make your mind up.
I wish you the best of luck
Derekthefox :D
Thanks I will bear all that in mind..soooo excited can't wait, driving everyone mad going on about it and I haven't even got one yet!!!!
Just hope we don't have too cold a winter so I can get digging /prepping before Feb...
will let you know might be back if I can't decide.....
Okay so I have been down with my list/map etc (also with baby and a toddler in tow , OH gone mountain biking!!) attracted a lot of attention (being female with baby in sling and map in hand looking lost!!) and had lots of 'advice' mainly in the vein of ' you do realise you are going to have to dig don't you?' etc etc..however also lots of useful stuff about which plots have never been cultivated, which flood and has come to a toss up between
no.4
* near 'parking' ( consists of using no.15 plot that the others have laid down to hard core)
* adjacent to other used plots so not too isolated
* Near water trough
* has couch grass and nettles but no brambles
* not been touched for about 5 years
or
no 102
* triangular corner plot
* no parking
* has 'shed'
* mainly grass but borders onto large bank of dense brambles and then the culvert for the main road ( am thinking rats!!)
* lots of uncultivated plots around and therefore quite isolated ( from a security point of view)
* used a couple of years ago
whaddya reckon??????
yes I have just been for another look (without the sprogs) and I think that is the one to go for , the plot behind it that is also vacant has a 'shed' of sorts on the border of no.4 that I might be able to run a water butt off, sure no one will mind until I can save up for a shed of my own .
It was just getting dusk while I was down there and boy are there some foxes about , so I suppose thats a no for keeping chickens!
Will ring tomorrow and say No 4 please ....then need to get OH down there over Xmas break to help with the digging/clearing
soooooo excited !!!!
I'd also go for Number 4 sounds the better of the two.
Good Luck
Chris
No 4, without hesitation ...
Derekthefox :D
Well done,looks like you've made a good choice - exciting isn't it!!!!!!!!!! ;D
 :) ;D :D aaah.. thanks everyone for all your help ...I cannot beleive how excited I am especially as now I can bore the pants off the OH about my 'lotty' instead of him boring me about his mountain bike..
and I have A4A to hog the internet with too...gggrreat!!
just hope the council are quick off the mark with the paperwork (who I am fooling!) so I can get stuck in ..although I'm sure there is no harm in starting ?