Interested in taking on an allotment?

Taking on an allotment can be a rewarding experience – mentally and physically – as well as supplying lovely fruit, vegetables and flowers. Before adding your name to our waiting list it may worth considering both the benefits and challenges that having an allotment brings;

The benefits

Of course, there’s the obvious growing and eating your own fruit and vegetables. You may choose to grow organically, grow things you have eaten before, try new recipes to use your produce, challenge yourself to use up gluts by making chutneys, jams and discovering new freezing and drying techniques – having an allotment does open up new discoveries.

Making new friends – with more of us working from home life can sometimes feel isolating. Popping up to the allotment provides an opportunity to meet others, chat about ‘this and that’ and of course pick up tips on growing great produce.

The benefits of working outside is well documented for both physical and mental health.

The challenges

In order to prepare your plot for the growing season you will need to be prepared to put in some hard work – clearing, digging, maintenance of paths, etc. Think about your level of fitness and how much you can manage.

You are required to keep your plot tidy and weed free and you will need to decide how to manage your weeds. You may decide to try a variety of methods. (remember that it is advisable to use a watering can for chemical weed killers as the wind can blow droplets of spray onto neighbouring plots). Whatever method you choose it is likely to require physical effort – weeds are persistent so you will need to make regular visits to your plot to keep them at bay, especially during the growing season.

Allotments need regular visits. It is recommended to visit at least twice a week to keep on top of the weeding and in hot weather you might need to water your crops every day. Have a think about how you would realistically fit this into your routine and day to day life.

What do I do next?

Get yourself on the waiting list by contacting the secretary bridgeallotments.secretary@gmail.com your name and contact details will be added to the appropriate waiting list – all depending whether you live in Bridge or outside of Bridge.