Allotments 4 All

Hi,

I am trying to get a new allotment project up and running in a small but thriving village in Berkshire.  I am aware of the Alloment and Smallholdings Act which obliges parish councils to find land, but I would VERY much appreciate any further advice any users can offer, ideally based on their own experiences.

In particular:

Availability of funding (other than money from Parish Councils /Parish Plan)

Recommended size of plots and normal annual rental charges imposed

Any further tips or warnings of potential pitfalls!

Many thanks in advance for any help you can offer......

Normal Plot size is probably 300 sq yards... (10 Poles) Rents vary depending on your landlord. We pay £15 pa but the city average is £48+pa... Area panel and Lottery have both given us funding. The allotment/regeneration thing could be useful... hopefully someone who hasn't bee drinking could give you a link...
;D

Do you mean the National Society for Allotments and Leisure Gardens http://www.nsalg.org.uk/ ?

NSALG is good for general advice.

In terms of funding, the link for the allotment regeneration initiative that Saddad is referring to is

http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/

In essence, you have to monitor closely what grants are available at a given time ... money tends to become available under a certain banner for a while until the funds run out .. then you have to wait for the next "banner"

Manicscousers and her site seem to be generally on the ball in this respect.

Remember to add on the costs of liability insurance too

thanks for the replies!

if you're looking for any ideas about funding, go to allotment regeneration initiative, lots there  ;D