Information on allotments
Looking for an allotment?
Always longed to have a patch of green to call your own? Wish you could grow your own vegetables, fruit or flowers? Then an allotment could be the answer.
There are 18 allotment sites in Greenwich and we have sizes to suit both the beginner and the expert. Our tenants come from at least 26 ethnic groups and ages range from 18 and 87, so no one will feel left out.
Hosepipe ban from 5 April 2012
Due to the severe drought now affecting large parts of the country, Thames Water has introduced a hosepipe ban from 5 April 2012 until further notice.
Watering of allotments with a hosepipe is now banned and any person who does so is guilty of an offence and may be fined.
Please see the full notice on the Thames Water website.
Help the environment
Having an allotment garden gives you the opportunity to learn about, appreciate and improve the environment.
Many varieties of plants are grown on such sites, which contributes to the biodiversity of the area, providing vital habitats for wildlife. This also helps to keep alive strains of edible plants that are no longer commercially available.
History of allotments
The use of land as allotment gardens goes back to before the reign of Elizabeth I, but it was during the World Wars that allotments became really popular with city-dwellers.
Fresh fruit and vegetables were in short supply so, driven by the Government's Dig for Victory campaign, townfolk dug up public parks, playing fields and village greens in order to grow their own food.
Allotment rules
The Council has produced an allotment protocol that guides the allocation of allotment plots and lists conditions under which a tenant may be given notice to quit. Here is a summary of the allotment protocol, which takes effect from July 2011:
- Plots are offered to the person at the top of the waiting list as they become available
- Allotment applicants can only add their details to one of the available waiting lists
- Waiting lists will close when they reach the same capacity as number of plots on the site
- Tenants who already have a plot on one site cannot apply for another on the same site or another site
- Allotment waiting lists are closed to non-residents of the borough. Such applicants will be encouraged to apply to their own or neighbouring boroughs
- Tenants cannot wait for specific plot numbers on a chosen site
- Greenwich Council will issue five-rod plots as standard. Ten-rod plots will be halved into two five-rod plots should they become available
- Allotment tenancies terminate automatically on the death of the tenant
- To be eligible for a concession on allotment rent, proof of entitlement must be received no later than 1 March to receive a discount for the coming year commencing 1 April
- Tenants who do not cultivate their plots will be sent one warning, allowing them 14 days to show noticeable signs of improvement
- If there has been no improvement to cultivation after 14 days, tenants will be issued with a final notice to quit. Any representations against the non-cultivation warning must be made during the 14-day warning period.
Allotment tenants: update your details
To help us manage the allotments effectively, it is important that we have up-to-date contact information for all tenants. If your contact details change, please let us know by sending an email to us.
Please include your:
- name
- address
- telephone number
- site name
- plot number.