Allotments

Allotment gardening gives people a chance to enjoy a healthy lifestyle all year round. Allotments help with things like having enough food, eating well, being eco-friendly, and staying healthy in both body and mind. They also help the environment and wildlife.

This guide is here to help parish/town councils and others in South Cambridgeshire to make their allotments the best they can be. For more tips on how to look after an allotment, visit the Royal Horticulture Society’s website.

If you want your own allotment, we have a list of allotments in South Cambridgeshire. If you know of an allotment not on our list, tell us so we can update it.

Governance 

The first step to hosting a successful allotment is to have good governance with an active committee. The committee could be made up of members from a parish/town council, local trust, or any other community members or groups. A committee can help with future goals like buying items such as soil conditioners, help with maintaining gates and fences, and developing a main water supply.

The roles of an allotment committee could include:

• informing plot holders about good practice
• representing user needs
• engaging with users
• identifying pests and advising on solutions
• nominating points of contact
• maximising use of plots
• coordinating building work
• keeping the site secure
• setting and collecting fees
• arranging services and insurance for the allotments
• organising the group purchase of essentials such as seeds, manure, etc

Cambridge Council for Voluntary Services (CCVS) can offer guidance on setting up a committee and policies. Contact them by emailing enquiries@cambridgecvs.org.uk.

Water management

Water plays a key role in the success or failure of allotments and Cambridgeshire is the driest part of the country where long periods without rain is common. Bringing in your own supplies of water takes a lot of time and needs the right kind of vehicle with large containers. At the same time, it can be challenging and expensive to lay on mains water, especially if the allotment is very far from the nearest building. Deciding on this is the first step to a better allotment and without it other improvements listed in this toolkit are less worthwhile.

Key tips for reducing water use across your allotment site: 

• encourage users to use water sensibly due to its importance and cost
• where possible, use rainwater harvesting through water butts
• consider providing multiple water outlets on the site for accessibility – this will also lead to better uptake of plots by users
• reduce how much water is being used by users by building links with local farmers who can help provide manure to keep the soil moist. Organic compost and mulch can also help the soil to lock in moisture

Pest control 

To help avoid pests, you may want to: 

• install fences to keep out pests like rabbits and deer. Rabbit fencing is required to be around 1 meter in height and dug into the soil to a depth of 15-20cm to stop rabbits form burrowing underneath it. Deer can also be a threat; but a larger fence in height will be needed to keep them out

• an active committee can help address pest issues quickly. They may be able to organise for an entire site to be fenced off and gated, rather than individual plots, which can save plot holders time and money

Community engagement

The key to a successful allotment is integrating it into the community. This could be done by:

• putting on educational programs for schools or community events
• donating any excess food to a foodbank - see this list of Foodbanks in South Cambridgeshire. They can be contacted through communities@scambs.gov.uk to arrange donations 
• making sure the community can access the allotments. This can be done by providing facilities like toilets, nappy changing stations, and accessible parking.

Supporting nature

Allotments are part of a wider network of green spaces in towns and villages, serving as stepping stones and wildlife corridors. You don’t necessarily need to maximise growing space as animals can pollinate crops and eat allotment pests.

Hedges, particularly along boundaries, are rich areas for wildlife, providing habitats and food sources for insects, birds, and mammals – which will also help pollinate your crops. Hedges offer protection for the allotment from unwanted intruders, act as windbreaks, and allow the movement of wildlife in a safe way.

To help support nature:

• encourage users to avoid using chemicals for weed and pest control to protect beneficial species
• encourage users to carry out natural methods like companion planting, netting, and attracting natural predators such as lacewings and ladybirds by providing habitat piles

Grant funding

Funding is available from South Cambridgeshire District Council and other organisations for improvement projects.

Funding avenues include:

• South Cambridgeshire GrantGrabber
• South Cambridgeshire Community Chest Grants
• South Cambridgeshire Grants for Biodiversity Projects
• CCVS - how to find funding
• Support Cambridgeshire - find-funding
• The National Lottery Community Fund
• Cambridge Water – PEBBLE fund
• Cambridge University Raising and Giving (RAG)

Case study – Swavesey Allotments

Swavesey Allotments was set up in 2012 after a year of planning by a working group that involved residents and parish/town council members.

The site consists of 61 plots, mostly 125 sq. metres in area, catering to individuals, couples, and families of all ages and backgrounds. Originally leased for 10 years, the lease has been renewed for 20 years.

Notable features of Swavesey Allotments include effective fencing to keep out rabbits and deer, pathways between plots – which allows tractors to get through, cycle racks, a spacious car park, and a waterless toilet.

“Having an allotment plot and growing your own food is not only physically and mentally invigorating, but also lots of fun!” – Swavesey Allotment Association Chair.

Governance

Swavesey Allotment Association manages the site and sets a low level of annual rent to allow the allotments to be inclusive to all. There are no extra costs for water, muck, or compost. Community links have led to donations of manure from local horse owners and farmers, and access to wood chippings for plot pathways from local tree surgeons.

The National Allotment Society (NSALG) were helpful to Swavesey with information and guidance when starting up, and provided templates for tenancy agreements.

Funding

Initial setup costs were £13,337, funded by grants from various sources including Awards for All, Swavesey Parish Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cambridge Press Relief, and Cambridge Water. Additional grants were later received.

Water management

Mains water supply is used, with help from a local farmer for polytunnels.

Water conservation measures include the use of 'dipping tanks' for watering cans using galvanised sheep/cattle troughs fitted with ball valve fillers as opposed to taps as they may be left on. There is the installation of 8 water tanks plumbed into the mains system, which gives easy access to users.

No hoses are allowed to be used.

Accessibility

A waterless toilet, funded in 2019 by National Lottery Funding, has helped attract a diverse range of users.