Sad World - I have to wait for some poor soul to DIE !

[stevejohnson53]

Just re-applied for an Allotment in bonny Burnley, Lancashire.

Only 6-8 YEARS WAIT....

Unless some one dies.

S A D.

Steve

PS Anyone got anything poisonous they don't need

[ina]

Move to the place where I live. According to the council website, there is only one allotment in my little town - but no waiting list. I find that a bit suspicious...

[thesunflowergal]

I live in Swindon, the council have shut the lists here. So no hope for me

[Clara]

You're lucky it's only an allotment, here you have to wait for someone to die before you can have a landline

[wolfsong]

well, your in luck, the waiting list will vanish when they all read this article.
May i suggest that we declare a green Jihad against this man, he is obviously out to make gardening look impossible, why if I had the capability to write a counter article, I would!
Yet again BBC-magazine shows an awful level of editorial-ness, that is the reason I read the Guardian .

[ina]

The only point this article proves is that that man is (or was, back when he tried gardening for himself) an idiot. Not prepared to learn from others, or use brain before brawn, he failed. So what?

[Annpan]

That is just what I was thinking Ina. So he had to keep weeding, and planting and picking stuff.... well who would have thought you had to put in some work .... and even then, it's just a little bit of work... it isn't really hard graft if you think about it and plan in advance.

And it was 10 mins drive away, and he had to spend 3 hours a week there... oh the poor soul...some people, eh

[spider8]

I'm not sure if this would be the right place to say this (newbie - have patience!) but have you seen the Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall thing called 'land share'? Perhaps there are participating people in your areas.

[Big Al]

I've posted this either here or on another site but what all of you can do is see if your council do a partnership scheme.

If they do then you are quids in so to speak.
The way to get your own plot is to walk around your chosen allotment site and talk to people. Let them know that you are looking for a plot to work and are on the waiting list.

Ask people if they know of anyone who could use some free labour to maintain their plot in return for a little space of your own. Once you find someone [ a plot holder] and get on with them talking like, tell them you want to help them to do the allotment in return for being a partner on the council register and a small piece of ground for yourself.
The idea, if the same as up here in the north east is that if you are a partner on the list for more than a year when the original plot holder leaves the plot you have first shout on taking it over. Therefore of you help out they will see you are keen and if you take a bit of land in return for helping them then a lot will go in your favour.

This piece of the plot might only be a few square yards of terrible overgrown poor soil but if you take it and turn it into a good area the plot holder will know you are serious about the plot.

There is a complication that on some sites if long standing productive plot holders have a good plot then they will want to "sell it" on when they retire. This is not strickly legal but is common practice so bear that in mind hence the need to get your name on the register as a partner....

The biggest tip is to ask for help and advice. All gardners like to think they know it all so asking an old plot holder for advice makes them feel good and actually endears you to them.

Make the effort to help but do as you are told, don't be bolshy and a know it all even if you do don't let on.

Take part in all the associations offer, go to the plot regularly, at least every 2 days etc to show willing.

For me that's the best way but another way is to look at your chosen site and keep an eye on different plots that have been forgoten about. Make a note of plots not being worked and ask the council if they have had any rent from these plots in the last year. As astonishing as it may seem a lot of allotment departments are not on the ball and if some have not had rent from a plot for a while offer to take it over now and ask what the rent is and where you can pay it.
They will probably come back and say you have to wait until April but be persistant and enthusiastic and say it would be a shame to wait as you have the time and energy to turn this plot around from now if given the choice.
Get a name of the allotment officer and ring up every 4 or 5 days to ask if any plots are available now. If you know which are not being worked you can then say " what about plots numbers......

They then know you have been around the site and know the score so invariably they will then look at giving you a plot to get you off their back.
If all else fails ask the allotment officer who his / her line manager is and of course they will ask why to which you reply "Well you have helped me thus far and it's only fair you get a bit of credit for this so you want to write a letter to the boss praising you. Alternativly find out who their boss is and drop this into the conversation that you are gonig to write to "*Joe bloggs*" praising them up.

The allotment officer will then sit up and pay attention to getting you a plot asap because they don't want to be known and don't really know what you will say in the "praising " letter.

It works but you need to be persistant with the council bods.

I hope this is of help and give it a try but be aware allotmenteering is bloody hard work but when you get the first pick of the ripe veg there is no better fealing of I grew that......

Big al.

[Plotter]

I think like Al says a bit of persistence pays off.

When I had to move plots a couple of years back I applied to the council via the application form as you do. I had already had a sneaky look at one of the sites and seen plenty of abandoned plots so was confident of getting one quickly.

After a few weeks and no word from the council I started phoning the allotment office, leaving messages etc. for the allotment officer as I was concerned my application had not reached them. Anyway, eventually the officer called me back (he said he thought my messages were from someone else with the same surname) and he informed me that the two sites I had enquired about had waiting lists of about twenty something and thirty something! I was a bit gobsmacked to be honest because there were clearly vacant plots to be had. It turns out the waiting list was for council-prepared plots - they have a programme of renovating derelict plots, clearing, fencing and rotavating for new plot holders. There were plenty of un-improved plots available so next morning I met up with him at the site and had my pick of any number of overgrown/derelict plots. I chose one and got it there and then!

Two years, some hard work and a bit of fencing later I have a partially tamed plot which has provided me with some fantastic veg and fruit with the promise of more to come as I bring more ground into cultivation. Meanwhile several of the 'waiting list' prepared plots have been taken on, partially worked and then abandoned as people get disillusioned and give up.

So my message, if I have one, is that if your local authority is anything like mine keep pestering them, and if that doesn't work remember that waiting lists may go down quicker than estimated as people find they don't care for the hard work and commitment required in allotmenteering.

And if all else fails move to Middlesbrough!