National Trust Allotments on Landshare
The National Trust are now listing hundreds of plots on Landshare. Last year, they pledged to create 1000 allotments by 2012, and share them here on Landshare. Although many of the plots were snapped up straight away, there are still plenty of plots available, and growers can add their names to the waiting lists of those that are currently full.
Over 20 National Trust properties are now running allotments or community gardens or orchards on their sites, many of which are stunning historic properties with incredible views as well as great growing soil. At Kingston Lacy in Dorset a set of 118 new allotments have been established. There are 40 allotments for members of the local community; 26 for school and community groups and a further 52 subsidised plots for individuals referred through local housing associations.
The plots lie between the formal gardens and Home Farm in an area formerly used as the kitchen garden and never before open to the public. There is also an area of raised beds for special needs groups and wheelchair-users, and the team hope to recreate an orchard and pond at one side of the garden.
In Surrey, Grace & Flavour is a community garden situated on National Trust Land as part of the Hatchlands estate. Members are invited to come join in and share the crops with discounts earned with time spent in the garden. The site also offers a number of allotments, which are offered through a partnership with their local Parish Councils.
A new community of gardeners is also blossoming at Minnowburn in south Belfast. Minnowburn Community Allotments sits between the local landmarks, Shaw’s Bridge and the Giant’s Ring in south Belfast. The community Allotments are as diverse as its gardeners - some specialise in vegetables, others love to grow flowers, and social and health groups have taken on raised beds.
Allotment Waiting Lists
Waiting lists for council allotments across the UK are still enormous – at the last count, 87,000 people are on lists, and that doesn’t account for everybody who’s trying to get an allotment. So the National Trust allotments are great news for frustrated allotmenteers as well as councils who are struggling to meet demand.
The National Trust Landshare also send a strong message to landowners everywhere that it is possible to create allotments and community growing spaces on different types of land. Have a look at the case studies to see other types of Landshares.
Visit the National Trust group and check their listings to find out if there’s a National Trust plot near you.
