Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi all - The waiting list around here is over 400! I didn't even bother putting my name down. If anyone knows of a spare plot within reasonable distance of Ladywell I would be very grateful. I thought I heard something on the news yesterday about councils having to make more land available for allotments but can't find anything about it on the web. Anyone else heard that?

Thank you, Fran

The allotment situation is very difficult in some London boroughs. Ours are also way, way over subscribed. Ours are also self-managed and I suspect certain people never actually come to the top of the list, which is very sad.

The protection afforded allotments will largely depend on the colour of your Council and how well it is doing with providing land for other uses - i.e. housing. Allotments are not a priority land use. Some Councils try and sell as much land as they can get away with to "raise funds" and generally reduce the hassle of ownership. Others attempt to protect valuable community resources such as allotments, but this obviously has costs.

There is currently no policy or legislation in place to require Councils to increase the amount of allotment land, but they are enabled and encouraged to consider this and other amenity requirements in new development. Allotments in use are given good protection, but when they fall into decline their future is numbered.

No one - politicians & tax payers, that is - can afford to have "unused land" hanging around in London when increasing the amount of housing is so high on the agenda.

The situation in other areas of the country is different.

Thanks for your reply. I did manage to get one 10 years ago in Grove Park where there was a huge area of old overgrown allotments next to the railway line waiting to be developed. We started clearing it and digging - then I realised that the cluster of buildings running alongside the railway were sidings where the nuclear train transporting used plutonium rods for reprocessing at Sellafield stopped.

I'm afraid my heart went out of it then. I couldn't reconcile organic gardening with the possibility of radioactive contamination! Perhaps I was wrong. Should I investigate them again?

I remember those trains - and the stories!!

I really doubt there would have been any contamination, though. And I am no supporter of the Nuclear power industry.

I was doing some online research on the trains yesterday and found that there were higher radiation levels at some places where they stopped. It wasn't grove park tho.

Hi guys. Guess what! I've just been told I can have an allotment! Next week!!!! I went to see some last w/e and I'll soon find out exactly which one. They are a bit (!) overgrown but I can't wait to start digging. I'm so happy!!!!!!

Fran

Hi Fran
Thinking of moving from Blackheath to Ladywell and just wondering where you found an allotment - I'll only be looking for a half - they all look very overscribed in Lewisham, and Greenwich for that matter!

Have fun, and happy digging!
Jenny

where is your allotment fran?
I used to live in Sydenham - Lewisham and had an allotment years ago just over the border in Dulwich near the golf course ...it was wonderful but then we moved to right to the other side of the borough so couldnt keep it on...still have a house in Lewisham which my daughters live in....

Well done Fran hope it goes well
Keep digging

Hi Jenny - sorry for taking so long to reply. Reason is I haven't got it yet. Next w/e looks likelynow, but unfortunately it's not in Ladywell. It's in Grove Park, about 3 miles away.
I'll let you know what happens and how long the waiting list is and if there are any going. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping it all works out!

Glad you're thin king about moving to Ladywell. We've got some good green spaces as well as the usual urban blight! It's a good place on the whole!

Fran

Oh you were so lucky having an allotment in Dulwich. It's a lovely site. You can't get one there now for love nor money. The one I hope I'm getting is in Grove Park - about 3 miles away - but beggars can't be choosers! Do you have one now - and if so where....?

Fran

Hi Fran

Thanks for your reply. I'd love to hear how you get on and how often plots come up there. I am not in too much of a hurry (current waiting list on preferred site 69 for 9 plots - so just as well!), as I have a few raised beds in my tiny garden - just planning ahead and making sure I don't end up living in a-no-site type location when I do finally move!

Fingers crossed that you get onto your new allotment soon, and let me know if you need a couple of hours digging!

Jenny

Hello Fran
whereabouts in Grove Park is the allotment?
we live in France now so have a piece of land rather then an allotment - it is however covered in brambles and trees and will take years to clear...
best wishes and love to Ladywell...especially Hilly Fields...

Hi Jardinier -

Do you come from Ladywell? How lovely to hear from you! Whereabouts? My allotment is in Grove Park, just off Baring Road, and hopefully I will get keys on Sunday. Whichever one it is, it will be very overgrown - but I don't care! 10 foot high brambles etc.......I think everyone else turned it down!

Of course I'll give my love to the environs!

Best wishes,
Fran

Lewisham actually - the girls still live there - just off the high street between the hospital and catford.
the girls went to Prendergast School.

I am a member of an allotment society in catford with a waiting list of 1!!!!! the site is run really well, we have water plumbed into each of our plots and have manure delivered into the site twice a week for free.I have never understood how we do not have a huge waiting list and when you hear of council sites having a list of 400 people, you really would think that they would pass on our details to other groups. So locals the sites are out there for other allotment societys.

where are the allotments in catford? I cant picture any -

I'm also looking for an allotment in Catford. Recently moved to the area. Can you give me the contact details of the allotment society in catford?

x

Hey Fran
I was on Lewishams list for 4 years!!!. I have finally got a plot in Deptford as there are none available where I live in Brockley. Theres is a 1/2 plot available next to mine. The allotments where mine is are considered hard to let because of their location, you may be lucky if you speak to Katie the allotments officer and ask about Windlass place.

hello strawbs and sionapdale - Ex lewisham resident here- would love to know where the allotments in catford are? know allotments in deptford........