Allotments 4 All

Allotment Stuff => Allotment Movement => Topic started by: Squash64 on July 20, 2009, 16:49:04

Title: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Squash64 on July 20, 2009, 16:49:04
I love looking at other allotments' websites.......so, does yours have one?
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Sparkly on July 20, 2009, 16:57:44
Ours does have. although it is still under design (by us). Should be officially launched over the next few weeks. So watch this space  ;D
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: jimtheworzel on July 20, 2009, 17:00:22
http://www.prestonallotments.co.uk/
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Mr Smith on July 20, 2009, 17:52:24
We don't have one but try this one, 'Hartley lane Allotment society', :)
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: asbean on July 20, 2009, 18:04:07
Our site has one under construction http://www.wnahs.org.uk/ (http://www.wnahs.org.uk/)
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: saddad on July 20, 2009, 18:14:56
Same here Sparkly... under construction...
www.littleoverlaneallotments.org.uk  ;D
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: SMP1704 on July 20, 2009, 18:17:44
here is ours - working on the typos ::)

http://www.parkroadallotments.webs.com/
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: BarriedaleNick on July 20, 2009, 18:36:37
Sort of..

See http://www.barriedaleallotments.org.uk

but it's just me - hard to raise any enthusiasm from other on the site though
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Flighty on July 20, 2009, 18:50:55
My allotment site [Newton Park East] hasn't although my Flighty's plot blog [link below] is all about my own plot.

The Newton Park Horticultural Society has a webpage on the Harrow in LEAF website
http://www.harrowinleaf.org.uk/index.html
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: lavenderlux on July 20, 2009, 19:58:28
Yes - its:
www.onesuffolk.co.uk/castlehillallotments
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Sparkly on July 20, 2009, 20:00:32
Quote from: BarriedaleNick on July 20, 2009, 18:36:37
Sort of..

See http://www.barriedaleallotments.org.uk

but it's just me - hard to raise any enthusiasm from other on the site though

Just bear with them Nick. I know there are plenty of allotmenteers on the web (hence this site), but there are also many for whom the internet is not part of their life. I have been involved with designing a few websites for organisations and many of these were brass bands. I am talking from 10 years ago ish. For the first website I did many of the members were of the attitude of "why would we use the net for that?" Now it is a fact that for the majority of brass banders the first place they look when searching for a new band or when someone is looking to book a band is the internet. That has been the case for about the last 5/6 years. All bands have websites now. Allotments are likely to go in the same direction. It just takes time!
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: radar ears on July 21, 2009, 09:51:04
We've got a site, it's live but we (well I !) have only just started adding bits to it, as I go along.

It's a free community one that is hosted between "recipero" and "BT".

It's  www.gaynesparkaga.btik.com

If you want to build a free one, go to www.communitykit.co.uk and that gives you all the information.
It is for registered charities and community projects.

It has several of it's own templates to use, we have used one of these, because it's "autumn leaves" and that's appropriate for an allotment site!

I'm also building one for my friend's Animal Sanctuary and I used a "custom template" on that one, I used our own Sanctuary logo which I uploaded to create the borders etc.

Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: busy_lizzie on July 21, 2009, 10:08:52
I am on the committee of Redhouse Farm Allotment in Whitley Bay Our website address is www.rhfs/btik.com You can see me on the gallery with my pumpkins. busy_lizzie 
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: busy_lizzie on July 21, 2009, 10:11:31
Hi Sorry I put the wrong address down on my last post (silly me!)  :-[
It is www.rhfas.btik.com  busy_lizzie  ;D
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: BarriedaleNick on July 21, 2009, 10:15:25
Sparkly - I know what you mean!  I had to persuade our committee to stump up the £6 to reg the domian name for two years.  Paid it myself in the end! - people are starting to use it a bit more but the idea was that we would get contributions from other plotholders.  I remain hopeful!
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Mme Muck on July 21, 2009, 10:43:49
Hi all (my first post)

This is interesting as I've just had a go on the first page of our new site - again the BT/Recipero free template one (I chose 'autumn leaves' too!) - need to sit down and get some more stuff on it now.

Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: flowerofshona2007 on July 21, 2009, 10:51:05
We have a lovely site and a great web master here.........
http://www.braa.co.uk/
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: BarriedaleNick on July 21, 2009, 10:51:53
Does no-one use the blog sites like wordpress or blogger.com? Free and easy to use..
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: BAK on July 21, 2009, 11:10:47
I normally wait until the autumn to pester people into penning a history of their own site. However, this seems like too good an opportunity to miss.

Why not investigate the roots of your site - it can make for an interesting winter project. Write it up and put it on your web site.

Have a look at what other sites have done ...

http://www.sunningdaleallotments.org.uk/OtherSiteHistories.html

Consider yourself pestered. ;D
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Eristic on July 21, 2009, 22:03:11
Now you've seen the rest, that only leaves the best. Not about the site itself (yet) but mine designed, built and hosted by me, (The plot and the web site).

Eristic's website (http://downtheplot.com)
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Squash64 on July 22, 2009, 06:19:43
Thanks everyone for the replies.  There are some really good websites - I haven't had time to look at all of them yet, but I will. 

When I made our website in March 05 I thought that maybe only a few people at our allotments would look at it but how wrong I was!   I get many enquiries because of it. The BBC came and filmed us, we have also hosted Gardeners Question Time.  Monty Don and Chris Beardshaw have visited us for the programmes.  Some of my photos are in a book by Matthew Biggs (he was on the GQT team) Whenever there are allotment-related stories, the local newspapers ring us up for comments (like I'm some sort of expert  ???) We get lots of enquiries for plots through it, and lots of visitors to the allotments too. 

If any of you have a look at it, please leave a comment in the guest book and say that you are from A4A.
www.growit.ik.com


Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: ODD on July 22, 2009, 13:20:54
i would agree that web sites are very useful. Our allotment Society has  a web site which we find very helpful particularly as we organise competitions and events open to the public.e.g scarecrow and paited compost bin competition (August 15), Sunflower day(12 sept) and Pumpkin day (31 October) it is very useful in providing a point of contact for those outside of the village who want to support us.
It also provides a means of keeping members informed of news and provides a source of photos of events.  Link to site  :eagsociety.co.cc
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 22, 2009, 19:11:03
Here's my site's site:

http://www.edgbastonguineagardens.org.uk/
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Sholls on July 22, 2009, 21:39:41
Quote from: Eristic on July 21, 2009, 22:03:11
Now you've seen the rest, that only leaves the best. Not about the site itself (yet) but mine designed, built and hosted by me, (The plot and the web site).

Eristic's website (http://downtheplot.com)

Eristic, the text your site is interesting and I've always wanted to see your images (Oca in particular); however, they don't display on any browser/operating system combo I use. I'm a web designer & developer, so I use the whole gamut...

You seem to be reasonably web savvy, so hopefully you can, with the aid of your site stats, sort the 403's your images are throwing. :)
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Flighty on July 22, 2009, 22:13:07
Scholls I use Firefox and can see Eristic's website, webpages and all the images on them!
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Eristic on July 22, 2009, 23:01:23
Scholls: There is security built in to the site but normal browsing should be allowed without hassle. Assuming you are not running with extreme client security with normal firewall access and not running through proxies and not trying to be naughty and browse the directories etc. the pages should all display complete with pics.

Is your browser sending normal headers or are you trying to run under a cloak?

If your system is normal and you still find problems then send me a PM giving details of browser and operating system used and ip address if known and I will check it out but 403 errors usually mean "naughty naughty, you cannot do that".
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: I love digging on July 23, 2009, 00:46:52
Mine's at allotments.fsnet.co.uk  -  I'm on St Agnes field - which on it's bottom border (sort of east) is Horfield Prison - so at times we have very fruity comments (although they can't actually see us, it's just their 'exercise banter'!)  Our current waiting list is apparently now two years - phew! lucky I got in quite a few years ago now when allotments weren't so trendy!
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: 1066 on July 23, 2009, 06:51:41
Betty, what lovely photos! keep up the good work  :D

And Robert, I love the history of your site. Are there any of the summerhouses left? And just for info it was very slow to download, it would help users if the photos were re-sized for web viewing

1066
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 23, 2009, 21:29:36
I wasn't responsible for the site, but I've noticed how slow it is too, I'll pass it along. One summerhouse remains in pretty much the original condition, one has been rebuilt, and we plan to rebuild another. From what I can make out, about a third of the plots had the brick summerhouses, and the rest had wooden ones. There was a 1930's-style wooden shed on one plot when I arrived on the site, but it was very dilapidated and soon disappeared.
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Squash64 on July 24, 2009, 05:35:19
Quote from: 1066 on July 23, 2009, 06:51:41
Betty, what lovely photos! keep up the good work  :D
1066
Thank you!  :)
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on July 24, 2009, 08:08:04
what a great site Betty! PS give someone else a chance with the pumpkins this year!
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Squash64 on July 24, 2009, 08:20:06
Quote from: Rhubarb Thrasher on July 24, 2009, 08:08:04
what a great site Betty! PS give someone else a chance with the pumpkins this year!
Thank you  :)
I think the pumpkins last year were a bit of a fluke.  I only 'found' two of them the week before the competition because they had made such a dense growth of leaves they were almost completely hidden.  I'm very lucky to have such helpful plot-neighbours because there is no way I would have been able to roll them into my wheelbarrow.
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Squash64 on July 31, 2009, 18:51:02
Just looked at the guest book and seen that three of you have signed it -
thank you so much, very nice remarks too!

If anyone is thinking of making a website for their allotments,  I can recommend the website builder that I use, very easy with lots of options and it's FREE.  www.communitykit.co.uk

Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: pigeonseed on October 17, 2009, 21:09:31
I love the Wallsall Rd website site too, Betty. Especially the photos of the plot-holders. It's so touching somehow. The photos seem to reveal a lot about the people, and yet there's lots more you don't know about them.
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Digeroo on October 17, 2009, 21:47:29
We have not got a site but this has given me some encouragement to give it a go over the winter.

Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Squash64 on October 19, 2009, 07:29:51
Quote from: pigeonseed on October 17, 2009, 21:09:31
I love the Wallsall Rd website site too, Betty. Especially the photos of the plot-holders. It's so touching somehow. The photos seem to reveal a lot about the people, and yet there's lots more you don't know about them.

Thank you pigeonseed, that's very kind of you.

Most people are happy to have their photo on the website but I don't insist if they are reluctant.  You might have noticed that I am not on it....... :)
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: adrianhumph on October 19, 2009, 08:55:38
Hi all,
          My sister & brother in law are lucky enough to have a plot at this site,
http://www.thornburyallotments.com/ It is a very well run site, due to the hard work of the commitee members, & all the plot holders, Thornbury is between Bristol & Gloucester.
                                                  Adrian.
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: shirlton on October 19, 2009, 09:05:29
Well Betty I still have the piccy of you sittin on yer pumpkin. I owuldn't put it on here without your permission so don't worry girl ;D Someone asked  what you were gonna do with it. I reckon you should scoop the innereds out and make a wee hoosy for yerself. You would definitely fit inside it
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Squash64 on October 20, 2009, 06:30:59
Quote from: shirlton on October 19, 2009, 09:05:29
Well Betty I still have the piccy of you sittin on yer pumpkin. I owuldn't put it on here without your permission so don't worry girl ;D Someone asked  what you were gonna do with it. I reckon you should scoop the innereds out and make a wee hoosy for yerself. You would definitely fit inside it

I'd forgotten about that pic Shirl - I almost squashed the poor thing when I sat on it, no wonder it's a funny shape.  (It would need to be a few hundred pounds heavier for me to fit inside  :))
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: lightyears on October 28, 2009, 20:05:05
our site doesnt have a website, but ive recently set up a group for all the allotments in norwich to use, with full support of our council. link in my signature.
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Unwashed on October 28, 2009, 21:38:56
My allotments (http://www.emilyware.co.uk/veg/news.php).
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Squash64 on October 29, 2009, 06:16:28
Quote from: lightyears on October 28, 2009, 20:05:05
our site doesnt have a website, but ive recently set up a group for all the allotments in norwich to use, with full support of our council. link in my signature.

I like the idea of a forum for all allotments in an area.  How are you going about getting people to join it?
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: saddad on October 29, 2009, 07:49:40
Derby City Council tried to start one up a few years ago... not run one but help it get going... but it failed... there were only two types... a few who wanted something "positive" for all lotties and those who were in it to see what they could get for their site... maybe it was too soon and it would do better with the currently increased interest..  :-\
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: BarriedaleNick on October 29, 2009, 08:55:27
Quote from: Unwashed on October 28, 2009, 21:38:56
My allotments (http://www.emilyware.co.uk/veg/news.php).

Like the site Unwashed..
Did you setup the content management stuff? - thinking of moving to something like that myself to encourage more people to contribute..
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Unwashed on October 29, 2009, 09:06:09
Hi Nick.  E107 (http://e107.org/) is a free download.  It's quite flexible with lots of different themes and options for the kinds of things you'd want - forum, gallery, calendar, newsletter, comments, etc.  It needs PHP5 and MySQL, but that's pretty standard.
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: BarriedaleNick on October 29, 2009, 09:10:43
Quote from: Unwashed on October 29, 2009, 09:06:09
Hi Nick.  E107 (http://e107.org/) is a free download.  It's quite flexible with lots of different themes and options for the kinds of things you'd want - forum, gallery, calendar, newsletter, comments, etc.  It needs PHP5 and MySQL, but that's pretty standard.

Cheers Unwashed - got a day off from playing with computers all day at work so to make a change I'll play with that at home!
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: thespade08 on November 01, 2009, 11:46:02
A website............my allotment society are living in victorian times,they still use a ledger system when paying rent
and use an old typewriter  for the newsletter  ;D
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Kea on November 01, 2009, 15:36:14
Yes

http://www.hraa.org.uk/
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Flighty on November 01, 2009, 16:21:32
Kea I think that's a really good website being well laid out, easy to read and up to date.  :)
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: saddad on November 01, 2009, 16:30:39
Great website Kea... must update ours soon as the Open Day info is out of date...  :-[
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: 70fingers on November 03, 2009, 08:42:19
Fairly new site for growers in Bedford : www.bedfordgardeners.org.uk  (http://www.bedfordgardeners.org.uk) looking for help tips on ways to improve.

Many thanks
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Isleworth on April 01, 2010, 12:33:40
Quote from: SMP1704 on July 20, 2009, 18:17:44
here is ours - working on the typos ::)

http://www.parkroadallotments.webs.com/

The website has now been updated and improved ;)

New address is: http://www.parkroadallotments.org.uk/ (http://www.parkroadallotments.org.uk/)

(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww293/smallholder2009/praascreen.jpg)



(Also, I think all the typos are now sorted! But feel free to correct me :D)
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: detailista on April 01, 2010, 12:53:33
No, but the site down the road has a lovely site and a lovely site!

http://www.moorsideallotments.co.uk/

Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Auntie J on April 05, 2010, 10:22:12
We have only just started a contact web page thanks to Neil one of our members.
http://nursery lane allotments.ning.com
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: :( on April 05, 2010, 10:35:15
Your link is wrong auntie, it should be

http://nurserylaneallotments.ning.com (http://nurserylaneallotments.ning.com)

with no spaces
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Squash64 on April 05, 2010, 12:19:52
Quote from: Isleworth on April 01, 2010, 12:33:40
The website has now been updated and improved ;)
New address is: http://www.parkroadallotments.org.uk/ (http://www.parkroadallotments.org.uk/)
(Also, I think all the typos are now sorted! But feel free to correct me :D)

When the website opens it is in a small area in the middle of my pc screen and the writing is so small that I can't read it.  I have obviously gone wrong somewhere!  ???
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Isleworth on April 06, 2010, 23:45:47
Hmmm, thanks for letting me know Squash. Not sure why thats happening, checked it on the work systems and just checked again at home and all seems to be working fine for me??

??? ???
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: :( on April 06, 2010, 23:52:26
Your website isnt readable for me either. Zooming in seems to make it smaller and making the text size larger doesnt do anything.
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Kea on May 17, 2010, 15:45:40
Quote from: Flighty on November 01, 2009, 16:21:32
Kea I think that's a really good website being well laid out, easy to read and up to date.  :)
Quote from: saddad on November 01, 2009, 16:30:39
Great website Kea... must update ours soon as the Open Day info is out of date...  :-[

Thanks...though it's our Chairman's son who did it originally I think it was an A level project!

Sorry posted on this thread and never went back but it might be interesting to put it back up and see if any more allotment websites are around.
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: 1066 on May 17, 2010, 16:23:38
Kea - I trust the person good a good mark in their A level! But what I'm interested in at the moment is your "build for wildlife day" (mentioned on your website) - how did it go, what did you do, organisation etc etc?

Thanks
1066

ps sorry to go off topic......
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: spiritofold on May 21, 2010, 19:17:59
http://valleyallotments.org.uk/
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Kea on May 22, 2010, 20:06:39
Quote from: 1066 on May 17, 2010, 16:23:38
Kea - I trust the person good a good mark in their A level! But what I'm interested in at the moment is your "build for wildlife day" (mentioned on your website) - how did it go, what did you do, organisation etc etc?

Thanks
1066

ps sorry to go off topic......

It went quite well, we didn't raise huge amounts of money but we didn't intend to it was more a social event. Our secretary prepared birdbox kits made from reclaimed timber and people nailed them together and took them back to site on their allotments. We ate cake and chatted and the childeren did a quiz.
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: 1066 on May 25, 2010, 06:13:16
thanks Kea, it sounds like a nice day - well any day invloving chatting and cakes is defined as nice  ;) But it's given me some ideas for our site so thanks
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Warren on May 26, 2010, 22:58:08
I bet I'm the only one who has a website, but no allotment site (yet...) :'(
www.paxcroftmead.org.uk

Warren
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: Squash64 on May 27, 2010, 05:24:14
Quote from: Warren on May 26, 2010, 22:58:08
I bet I'm the only one who has a website, but no allotment site (yet...) :'(
www.paxcroftmead.org.uk

Warren

Yes, I think you are right!
It's a good page though, with lots of information for prospective plotholders.  Hopefully one day soon you will get an allotment site and a website of your own. :)
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: bionear2 on June 18, 2010, 22:43:36
www.aylestonediggers.org.uk/

Council site in Wigston, south of Leicester
Title: Re: Has your allotment got a website?
Post by: lottiedolly on June 21, 2010, 16:25:41
Our little allotment has not even got a fence, gate, commitee, hut or anything let alone a website  :'(, sometimes i do get a little envious of the facilities that some sites have, but then as our site only has 8 allotmenteers, the camaradarie between us all more than makes up for lack of facilities  :D.