Allotments 4 All

Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: sarahbell on April 01, 2014, 21:30:03

Title: Lawns on allotments
Post by: sarahbell on April 01, 2014, 21:30:03
Someone showed me a photo of an allotment where someone has lawned half their allotment.

The person has a young family who need entertaining whilst they look after their plot.

Is it an acceptable use of an allotment plot?
Title: Re: Lawns on allotments
Post by: Digeroo on April 01, 2014, 21:36:38
This rather reminds me of a Thelwell cartoon with some plots with a guy working away on his plot and the other sitting on this lawn in a deckchair.

http://www.tomdickandharry.co.uk/blank-greetings-cards/punch-greeting-card-allotment.html

Sorry rather off topic.

Some sites are more fussy than others.  Certainly better than lots of weeds in my opinion.
Title: Re: Lawns on allotments
Post by: goodlife on April 01, 2014, 22:11:41
In some cases it can be acceptable..

I have couple of large and old apple trees..not much can be grown underneath so rather than let weeds grow..lawn is easy keep tidy and grass clippings are very valuable form of 'mulch', trenching material when planting potatoes and good addition into compost bins.. :icon_cheers: Nothing goes waste.
I also have small area for relaxation and that is grassed over.

In our allotments we don't see it problem as long as the lawn is not the main point...largest area is cultivated for growing crops...so having grass paths and small lawns where they are needed is just useful and part of the 'charm'.

Oh, and to add..proper 'lawn'/turf is not problem when it comes to turn it back into cultivated ground..if one is trying to nurture jungle of couch grass as a 'lawn'..that is no-no!
Title: Re: Lawns on allotments
Post by: gavinjconway on April 01, 2014, 22:13:58
I would say to lawn around your fruit trees yes is acceptable..
Title: Re: Lawns on allotments
Post by: sarahbell on April 01, 2014, 23:15:09
I am reminded of that bloke who had some fruit trees on his lawn. I mean allotment.
He got kicked off didn't he? Did that go to appeal?

Title: Re: Lawns on allotments
Post by: Jeanbean on April 02, 2014, 07:06:31
Our tenancy agreement says 75% cultivated, By that we take it to mean 75% actually producing crops so I am not sure this amount of grass would be allowed.
Title: Re: Lawns on allotments
Post by: galina on April 02, 2014, 09:37:56
NSALG stands for Nat. Soc. for Allotments and Leisure Gardens.  That just came to my mind.  The idea of a leisure garden isn't so far fetched and with pocket handkerchief sized gardens in tightly packed housing estates or blocks of flats without any, there is definitely a need for leisure garden space.  It would need to be kept tidy though and need its own set of rules regarding swings/slides/barbecue pits etc.

However, on a site with a waiting list for people who want to grow food, it would be entirely inappropriate.  Otherwise - good on them for keeping their kids off other folk's plots and under supervision.
Title: Re: Lawns on allotments
Post by: Ian Pearson on April 02, 2014, 14:09:07
I once saw a few rolls of turf that had been flung in a skip, so I laid them on a one of my raised beds. But upside down.