Growing In The Community

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growingin thecommunitysecond edition

ministerial foreword by Communities foreword by the Local Governmentand Local Government (CLG)Association (LGA)Baroness Kay Andrews OBE, ParliamentaryUnder Secretary of StateCllr Paul Bettison, chairman, LGA environmentboardAllotments play a unique role in our community and havedone so for many years. Indeed, they are so importantthat they have enjoyed special protection in law for acentury. The first Allotments Act, which created a dutyon local authorities to provide allotments, was passed in1908. A century later, although there are fewer allotmentsfor many different reasons, they are no less important tothe people and the whole community who get so muchpleasure and benefit from them.Allotments have a vital role in connecting people to theprocess of food production, enabling them to grow fresh,cheap food, whilst reducing food miles. They help toimprove the environment, support new plant developmentand preserve rare and unique varieties. At the sametime they provide opportunities to be active, meet otherpeople, and share knowledge, information and food.In recent years, the government has strengthened theprotections around allotments within the wider planningframework, and within a wider policy of enhancing andprotecting urban green spaces. So far, fewer plots are nowlost annually than a decade ago. That reflects our beliefthat allotments not only promote good health throughexercise, hard work and healthy eating, but they bring thecommunity together across the generations and cultures,to share advice, experience, and a passion for gardeningand growing good things.Everyone benefits from allotments and we are consciousthat there is rising demand, as well as many differentpressures on space in our communities.That is why we are committed to working ever moreclosely with allotment organisations and local authoritiesto support allotments, and to make sure that everyoneunderstands what they must do to maintain andenhance them, ensuring that they will be there for futuregenerations to enjoy.I very much welcome the revision of this verycomprehensive and inspiring good practice guide, whichwill help allotment officers and allotment holders alike toget the best out of their allotments. Local Government Association 2009The many benefits of allotments are now widelyrecognised and this revised guide coincides with aresurgence of interest in and enthusiasm and policysupport for allotment provision at a local and centralgovernment level.There are challenges facing allotment officers andsocieties, which are explored in this guide. However,public and political recognition, support and recentinnovative practice all point to a more positive situationfor allotments.The LGA recognises the good work done by officers andsocieties and is very pleased to commend this guide asa valuable resource and inspiration for all those involvedwith allotments.acknowledgementsThis project was funded by the LGA, and project-managedby the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens.The authors wish to thank the voluntary mentors of theAllotments Regeneration Initiative and the many localgovernment and allotment association officers who sokindly shared the experiences and examples of goodpractice which have been included in this guide. We arealso grateful for the additional input from central andlocal government advisors.

executive summary1The second edition of this guide was commissionedby the LGA in September 2006, and substantiallyupdates the original which was published in June2001. The preparation of the guide has beenmanaged by the Federation of City Farms andCommunity Gardens.7The guide is organised in three parts: the plot,the tools, and the seeds, dealing with objectives,strategies, and practical methods respectively. Eachpart is illustrated with examples and case studies ofgood practice.2The objective of the guide is to assist those who areresponsible for managing allotments, either withinlocal authorities or under schemes for devolvedmanagement, to work efficiently and effectively byemulating examples of good practice.8The ‘plot’ sets out the exciting opportunities andchallenges that allotments now provide to councilsand local communities, and maps out a course forgetting the most out of allotments.93The guide will also help other stakeholders inallotments, including local authority officers in otherdepartments, support organisations, allotmentassociations and individual plotholders, to understandthe opportunities which allotments present forachieving multiple and inter-related benefits, and theadvantages of working together to attain commongoals.The ‘tools’ identifies allotments as a key resource inachieving a wide range of local authority agendas,including wellbeing, health promotion, cohesivecommunities and quality green space. It also identifiessome of the key partners with whom allotmentmanagers should be working, for mutual benefit.4The guide acknowledges the widespread renaissancein allotment gardening that has taken place since thefirst edition was published, including demands fornew sites in some areas and growing waiting lists inothers.5The guide is based upon extensive research intocurrent good practice in the management ofallotments in England and Wales. This has drawnin particular on documentary evidence, informationfrom the internet, correspondence with allotmentofficers in leading-edge authorities and allotmentassociations, and the shared experience of theAllotment Regeneration Initiative’s Mentor Network.6While the guide makes no claim to document everyexample of good practice in allotment managementin England and Wales, it does uncover a wealth ofinnovative and successful ideas, which can be widelyimitated.10 A model is presented for an allotments strategythat links in with other areas of local authority workand offers a fully reasoned and resourced pathto achieving good practice. Key elements of theallotments strategy include: promotion; resourcing;devolved management; effective administration;monitoring performance; and the achievement ofbest value.11 The ‘seeds’ is a compendium of practical means toachieve good practice in allotments management,including: ideas for promoting allotments to convertlatent demand into real users; setting rents andraising capital resources; supporting devolvedmanagement; communicating effectively with otherstakeholders; provision of facilities; management oftenancies; and measures to cope with hazards andnuisances before they arise.12 The guide concludes with a practical summary of keyaspects of allotments law and signposts to furtherinformation.

contents21020322part I the plot: creating a newfuture for allotments04040505part 2 the tools: strategic thinkingand exemplars of good practice2.1 allotments in the bigger picture:working with others to improve the plotallotments and wellbeingfood, health and exerciseleisure, culture and cohesivecommunitiessustaining the environmentgreen spacethe next big thing?050507070709102.2 the allotment strategy: mappingthe way forwardthe need for a strategythe importance of consultationwhat should the strategy contain?a commitment to allotment gardeninga vision of the futureclear plans for achieving the visionactive promotion of allotmentsresourcing allotmentsmanaging changea specified role for devolvedmanagementenhancing the quality of day-to-daymanagementtimetables, monitoring and reviewBest Valuethe summary of contents101010101111111212131414151521allotments for allallotments, education and learningallotments and good healthallotments and disabilityallotments as community gardensallotments, healthy eating andsustainable food suppliesallotments and local sustainabledevelopmentallotments and biodiversityorganic allotmentswaste managementenergy and climate change2223242526272.3 planning policy and allotmentslaw161616161717181819191920record keepingallotment management systems4545463.6 provision and management offacilities on allotment sitesintroductionsite huts and clubhousestoilet facilitiesaccesswater supplysheds, greenhouses and polytunnelspaths and haulage waysfences and hedges4646464747474848493.7 management of tenancies2828293030323.2 promotion of allotmentsuses of an allotmentconditions of tenancyallotment rulessale of produce49495050513.8 livestock and beesintroductionclarifying the procedure forobtaining a ploton-site and other advertisingof vacanciesopen days and NationalAllotments Weekpromotion across boundariespromotion and the pressassistance for new tenantsactive promotion3232333435353636373.3 allotment rents and sources offundingfixing of rentsrent concessionsrent collectionrenewal datesother sources of fundingsupport in kindbringing it all together 3737373737383940leasespublic liability insurancekeeping of livestockbee keeping5151523.9 hazards and nuisanceduty of carepondswater buttsbonfiresherbicides and pesticidescontaminated landtheft and vandalismsite security535353535454545556575860in conclusion: the next stepappendix 1useful organisations and contactsappendix 2a brief review of allotment law3.4 devolved management16introductionallotments and planning policyplanning policy guidance and strategiesassessment of neednew developmentsnew allotmentssafeguarding allotment landother uses for former allotmentsdisposal of allotmentssale for developmentrevenue from the sale of allotment landreplacement sitesintroduction3.1 allotments, wellbeing andsustainabilitypreface to the second editionwhat is good practice?what is an allotment?part 3 the seeds: practical aspectsof allotment management4040appendix 3further reading423.5 communication and consultationconsulting with plotholders andassociationsresolving disputessite contacts and representativesnewslettersthe internetmultilingual communication424243434444growing in thecommunitysecond edition01

preface to the second editionfresh shootsThe first edition of this guide, published in 2001, fulfilledthe recommendation of the 1998 Parliamentary SelectCommittee Inquiry into The Future for Allotments, thatgood practice guidance be prepared for the managementof allotments. Since 2001 there have been somesignificant developments in the allotments movement andin world of allotment management, and these have beenreflected in the updated guide.The last few years have seen a real revival in ‘growingyour own’, in line with current thinking on healthy eating,organic food and exercise. This has been reflected in thedemand for allotments in many localities, with reportsof lower vacancy rates and lengthening waiting lists.The impact is most obvious in London and the southeast, where pressure on gardening space is greatest. Thegrowth in public interest in allotments has been pickedup by the media, highlighting the many positive messagesabout the value of allotments to local communities.The allotments revival is not confined to London or thesouth east, but can be observed in cities, towns andvillages around the UK. Public pressure is leading to thecreation of new sites in areas of under-provision, a turnof events that commands a new section in this guide. It isalso reflected in the sale of vegetable seeds – up 31 percent over the past five years, according to the HorticulturalTrades Association (Amateur Gardening, 5 May 2007),and in the fast expanding bookshelf on everything to dowith allotments. Over 30 titles have been published onallotments since 2001 (with more on the way), more thanhad been produced over the preceding five decades andconsuming some 5,400 pages between them. Allotmentshave their own glossy commercial magazine KitchenGarden, and now a film has been produced on allotmentsbased in Liverpool called, inevitably, Grow Your Own.The Department for Communities and Local Government(CLG) is responsible for national policy on allotments, andrecognises the unique role of allotments as places whichbring all sections of the community together and provideopportunities for people to grow their own produce andpromote health and wellbeing. The government’s aimis to ensure that allotments are well managed, and areonly disposed of where there is no demand for them andestablished criteria are met.growing in thecommunitysecond edition02The central message of Growing in the community, thatallotment managers should take a strategic approachto the management of their allotments through formalallotment strategies, has been taken up by many localauthorities. In 2001 there were only a few examples ofleading-edge local authorities. By the time of the CLG’sSurvey of Allotments, Community Gardens and City Farmsin 2006, some 30 per cent of local authorities had anallotments strategy or policy in place. Many of these havedrawn heavily both on the guide and earlier good practiceexemplars, but also introducing innovative ideas of theirown. Further progress in the development of allotmentstrategies is being driven by planning policy guidance thatrequires a strategic approach to all types of public greenspace. It is to be hoped that the revisions incorporatedinto the second edition of this guide will help speed thisprocess along.Allotments have acquired a new champion, theAllotments Regeneration Initiative (ARI), formed in 2002as a partnership between the voluntary and communitysector, government and a leading charitable foundation.ARI is dedicated to promoting good practice in allotmentmanagement (as captured in the first edition of thisguide), and embedding it on the ground amongstallotment associations and local authority allotmentofficers. ARI has attracted over 1m in grants to supportgood practice, most of it through the generosity of theEsmée Fairbairn Foundation. ARI has proactively promoteda positive view of allotments, and its network of ARImentors have provided many of the examples describedin this guide. Its detailed factsheets expand further onmany of the key issues in allotment management, and wewelcome ARI’s network co-ordinator as co-author of thissecond edition of the guide.There is an increasing amount of wider institutionalsupport for allotments. The National Society of Allotmentand Leisure Gardeners, the representative body forplotholders and associations, has created a charity, theNational Allotment Gardens Trust, dedicated to thepromotion of the benefits of allotment gardening. Othercharitable bodies with a stake in gardening issues havepublished advice that is cited extensively in this edition,and Natural England is also keen to advance the causeof allotments, both for their benefits to people’s healthand wellbeing and for the very diverse wildlife they cansupport.We welcome these developments, and hope thatthis second edition of the guide will help to underpincontinuing progress towards a better future for allotments– and for the communities that derive so much benefitand enjoyment from them.

part 1 the plot: creating a newfuture for allotmentsThis guide has been written to help allotment managersachieve better things for and through allotment gardens.The primary audience is the local authority allotmentsofficer, but sometimes this function is devolved tovolunteers in allotments associations. This guide is for allof you. We place the allotments manager at centre stage:ambitions for the service; colleagues and customers to getalong with; constraints on time and finances to overcome;and important duties to perform on a day-to-day basis.We advocate ambition, without which good practicecannot be achieved, an ambition that encompassesallotment sites which are fully tenanted, well appointedand well managed, open to all, valued in many ways bythe local authority and the communities it serves, and witha secure future.For some the achievement of this ambition will be achallenge, but the examples in this guide show that itcan be done, even from the least promising of starts.For others, good practice is an established fact, withambition tempered by lack of space to accommodate newgardeners. This guide aims to share the lessons of success,and to build on success to ensure that it is sustained in anever-changing environment.As an allotments manager you work with manycolleagues, including planners, finance officers,environment inspectors, social workers, leisure managers,and many more. This guide will also help them tounderstand the allotments service better and promotepartnership working.Allotment gardens provide multiple benefits, both togardeners and to the wider community. But promotingthese benefits isn’t just your job: others wish to seehealthy, active and cohesive communities and qualityservice delivery. Your colleagues are an importantresource at your disposal, and you can work with themto help achieve their agendas, as well as your own, moreeffectively.Your customers are the public, plotholders – present andfuture, and they all deserve a quality service. For currentplotholders this means efficient day-to-day management,including a rapid and effective response to inquiries andcompetent management of files and accounts. Get thesethings right, and the plotholders will look after the land asthey have always done. But the plotholders are a resourcetoo: their handiwork is the best advertisement there couldbe for allotment gardening. Working in partnership withtheir representatives and associations (perhaps sharingresponsibilities through devolved management) can helpyou to deliver the wider benefits of allotments. Existingplotholders have an important stake in the future forallotments, and this guide has been written with theirinterests in mind, to demonstrate the benefits on offerto them through constructive engagement with otherstakeholders.A secure future also depends on the cultivation of aninterest in allotment gardening beyond the currentgeneration of plotholders: this guide looks for innovativeways to promote allotments to all sections of everycommunity. Allotments face an uncertain future if there isno demand for them, but demand will remain latent andunrealised without effective promotion.Allotments face a very challenging funding situation.Rents are often too low to cover even administrative costs,but raising them substantially can provoke resistance andundermine the aim of working together with plotholderstowards a common goal. Capital for repairs andimprovements is always scarce, and sources of fundinglimited. This guide faces up to the problem of resourcesby addressing the issue of a sustainable financial base foran allotment service. It identifies arguments for a higherpriority in the allocation of capital resources (particularlythrough joint working to achieve multiple benefits), andpoints to sources of external funding which innovativeauthorities and associations have tapped into. It advocatesa greater role for devolved management, as a route tocost reduction and the achievement of ‘best value‘ inservice delivery.In the next section of the guide, we focus on a centralpillar of good practice, the ‘allotments strategy’, whichexplains to others what you want to achieve for theallotments you manage and how you plan to secure theresources to make this possible. But we first place yourwork in its broader context, and explain some of theother agendas with which you need to engage, oftenpresented as strategy documents by colleagues in otherdepartments, and through which you can more easilyachieve your own goals. We then explore in detail thecomponents of a good allotments strategy by showingyou where you need to go for guidance. These includea variety of organisations dedicated to supportingallotments (such as the National Society of Allotmentand Leisure Gardeners and the Allotments RegenerationInitiative) or promoting the benefits which allotmentscan help to achieve (eg Thrive, Garden Organic and theFederation of City Farms and Community Gardens).growing in thecommunitysecond edition03

We have liberally illustrated the guide with examplesdrawn from the many leading-edge local authorities,successful allotment associations and proud allotmentholders, w

4 The guide acknowledges the widespread renaissance in allotment gardening that has taken place since the first edition was published, including demands for new sites in some areas and growing waiting lists in others. 5 The guide is based upon extensive research into current good practice in the management of allotments in England and Wales.

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