Council clears the way for more local growers

More green-fingered people are getting to grips with spades and shovels as part of the Council’s commitment to provide more allotments.

The Council has recently cleared an unused area of land within the Lower Compton allotments to make way for nine new plots.

Council staff cleared trees and massive bramble bushes which had taken over the area. They also tilled the soil and marked out new plots, six of which already have tenants and four others under offer.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Brian Vincent said: “We wanted to create more allotments and I’m delighted that by clearing an area of land that had become completely overgrown, we’ve been able to create new plots for people to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

“We think it is important that people have somewhere to grow fruit and vegetables and to enjoy gentle exercise outside.”

There are now 50 plots at the site which has been in use since the 1940s. People living nearby have also been pleased with the transformation from undergrowth to new allotment plots.

Across the city there are 33 hectares of allotment land with 1,559 plots over 35 sites. There are 1,215 half plots and 344 full plots. Allotments have become more popular in recent years and the Council is committed to bringing overgrown plots back into use and monitors plots to ensure tenants are cultivating them. Vacated full plots are also now split into two, which has really helped more people to get growing.

The Council works with private landowners and National Trust to help set up sites and link to the city’s own waiting list and last month saw the opening of 22 allotments at Saltram. A further nine plots were ready for digging at Knowle Avenue in May.

The Council supports a host of community projects including the award-winning Diggin' It, East End Community Garden, SCOPE, Highbury Trust, Refugee Support, the Reatch Centre, Lifehouse, DCFA and many school projects. There are also 10 community garden projects.

The Council’s Youth Offending Team runs an allotment project involving young offenders carrying out work at the allotment, with any veggies or plants grown donated to local charities and community groups.