Choosing a council allotment garden

The 16 allotment sites we manage vary in size, layout and character. If there's more than one site accessible from your home, the descriptions on the individual site pages will help you choose which one might suit you.

All our allotment sites now have waiting lists. How long you will wait for a plot varies a lot between sites. Contact the allotments administrator for information on sites in your area.

Site waiting lists are kept by the volunteer site secretary for each site. The allotments administrator will tell you the name and telephone number of the site secretary for your chosen site so you can ask for your details to be added to the list. The site secretary will contact you when your name comes to the top of the waiting list and a plot is available.

A traditional allotment is around 300 square yards in size. Keeping a plot this size in good condition takes quite a lot of hard work. Many tenants find a 'half plot' of 150 square yards more suitable and this is the size that is usually offered to new tenants on our sites. If you are new to gardening or have limited time available, you may prefer to start with a quarter plot to see how you get on.

Cost

The rent for your plot will depend on its size. A livestock charge is paid by tenants keeping livestock on their allotment garden. There are discounts on your rent and deposit if you're aged 60 or over, a student, disabled or unemployed. See How much will it cost? for details.

Council allotment garden sites