Allotmenteering

A few years ago I was approached to redesign a standard allotment plot creating a single community plot for the established Edgbaston Guinea Gardens (historic listed allotments off Westbourne Road and adjacent to the Botanical Gardens). The idea behind this came from various conversations and a study that I had lead whilst working on an Emerging Masterplan Study at the listed St Ann's Allotments in Nottingham circa 2020.

The work on the Emerging Masterplan at St Ann's and my own personal experience of being part of an allotment society (EGGS) allowed valuable insight into the work on both of these projects. The scheme allows new allotmenteers to start off getting to know the allotment community with a small raised bed, access to the poly tunnel, sheds and other facilities on the plot as a taster. It also allows older established members the chance to down size but remain onsite. Valuable and experienced people to also disseminate their knowledge of planting and working an allotment to the newbies. This relationship works both ways of course as there are often new areas that people wish to explore, such as, no dig, raised planting beds which have been subjected to the 'lasagne' method of layering vegetative material and rainwater harvesting.

At St Ann's we looked at areas for starter community plots amongst the wider network of existing plots, specifically looking at the more overgrown plots that could be bought back into cultivation, we had access that could be improved and that possibly could sit next to accessible plots.

St Ann's Allotments Emerging Masterplan, Nottingham (image above, ADP)