Do you fancy growing your own fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers and herbs? Is your own garden too small, or do you only have a yard or balcony? An allotment might be the answer.

There are more than a thousand plots on our sixteen allotment sites and over 700 further plots on 20 sites around the City run by parish councils or independent groups. There's sure to be a site near you. 

What are the benefits?

Allotment gardening offers a great way to relax and unwind in the fresh air, with the chance to meet people who share your interests. Cultivating an allotment is healthy exercise for people of all ages and abilities, with something to show for your hard work at the end of the day.

Growing your own fruit and vegetables means you get really fresh, good tasting seasonal produce. You can choose to grow organically, or grow unusual varieties that are hard to find or expensive in the shops.

Growing your own means that you are doing your bit for the environment, helping to reduce the energy use and pollution from the transport and packaging of shop bought food.

How do I rent an allotment?

To find your nearest allotment site, go to the online maps section of the Council's website and enter your address or postcode.

• For more information about different sites, choose from the lists of council managed allotments or other allotments in York
• Once you know which site or sites you are interested in contact the allotments administrator for the name and telephone number of the site secretary
• Contact the site secretary to find out if there's a plot available on your chosen site. If there are no plots free you can put your name on a waiting list or choose another site
• Give your contact details to the site secretary
• Arrange to meet the site secretary at the allotments to view the plots available. Once you've found a plot to suit you the site secretary will send your details to the allotments administrator
• We will send you a tenancy agreement for you to sign and return

Site secretaries

The site secretary is a volunteer who helps run each allotment site. They will:

• show you round the site
• help you choose an allotment
• take your contact details to pass onto the allotments administrator

Your tenancy agreement

After you've found an allotment we will send you a tenancy agreement form. Sign this and post it back in the envelope provided, together with your deposit payment. You can download a sample tenancy agreement from the right of this page.

The main points the tenancy agreement covers are:

• you agree to pay a yearly rate
• you inform us of any change of address
• you agree to keep your garden free of weeds
• you may, with permission, keep chickens, pigeons or rabbits but not cockerels
• you may erect a shed or greenhouse, but must ask for permission first
• if you light a bonfire, it is according to the council's environmental guidelines
• you can download an example of an allotment tenancy agreement. Do not fill in this form - it is only for reference

Allotment associations

Tenants on some allotment sites have formed associations to help improve their sites. Joining an association offers many benefits such as advice and support, the chance to buy gardening supplies from the association shop, social events, meetings to share information and ways of working with the council to develop the site.

Giving up your allotment

If you want to give up your allotment, contact the allotment administrator who will cancel your tenancy agreement.

If you become ill and cannot look after your allotment, contact the allotment officer to discuss ways of managing your allotment until you can garden again.