[Salkeela]

Okay folks - Just to pick your brains here.

I am considering designating an area of field for allotments; perhaps someone could help me with answers to some general questions?

1. How far will people travel to an allotment site? We are in the country about 2.5 miles from nearest town.

2. What legislation (if any) covers the change of use from field to allotment?

3. What is the usual size of an alloment?

4. What facilities are usually provided? (Water, carparking, fencing etc.)

At present this is not thought through - rather it is a notion I took over the week-end, when my sister commented that her friend drives 5miles to the lottie she works.

Any comments welcome - especially if you have experience of allotment management.

[WG.]

Best thing might be to talk to your Local Authority.

I'd add liability insurance to your list of things to check.  These are litigacious times in which we live ...  :evil:

[Salkeela]

Yup..... just wondering - from those that post here - how far they would be willing to travel etc?

It's probably daft to set up allotments in the middle of nowhere!   :oops:

[brucesgirl]

Mine is a five-minute walk, or a seven-minute drive! We are very lucky in Harlow as there are about 35 allotment sites.

[Aunt Sally]

My allotment is about 2 miles away.

[Knulpuk]

Mine is a 3 minute walk and was the single most important factor in taking the plot any further and it would be difficult to get down their of an evening - weekends not so bad.

That said the waiting list and demand is such that I think people would travel further if it meant they had a plot.

What other plots are in the area - and is there a waiting list?

[e9geezer]

I don't drive so use public transport - it's a 1 and half hour trip each way for me - and I have to change buses!

[agapanthus]

The 'normal' size of an allotment is 10 rods....approx. 90' x 30'.
We have lot of folk on our field that live 4miles or more away

[frazzy]

mines only 5 mins walk but i,m sure people would travel a couple of miles for one . Allotments  are in big  demand in most towns and cities bit  like WG says check out all the legal stuff dont get your fingers burned .

[little sweetpeas]

Mine is a 10 minutes walk away, (25 minutes if with the children) and 3 minute drive. This was a factor when getting an allotment as we only have one car. There are 6 plots behind our house and another site about 8 minutes away but they had waiting lists.

Bristol has loads of allotment sites and do promote them and support them with a recent 1 million pound tidy up plan.

[ytyynycefn]

My allotment is 100 yards from my house  

[richyrich7]

3 miles away for me.

[stu_wat]

about a 2 min car drive for me

[flatcap]

ours is a 30 min walk ,which we dont mind.theres water taps on site to share .parking is outside the plots if we want fencing and buildings we have to put up ourself (fencing a must keep thieving gits out)

[crowndale]

The one I'm on the list for is 100 yards from my back gate to walk and about 3 minutes by car.  It has water on site and security fencing most of the way round, about to be put all the way I tink as there is a vandalisim problem from time to time.  The plots are about 15 x 80-90 feet but were halved to that from 30 x 80-90 about 5 years ago I think for new plot holders due to the demand.