[janet12000]

I might just be, just maybe getting an allotment! 

After making enquiries I found out that there were vacant plots at my local allotment site.

I must have bugged the poor man at the council so much today phoning up, but my persistence seems to have paid off and have arranged to meet him on Thursday morning at 8 a.m. to view potential sites.

I had a nosey down there this evening and it's quite obvious that the vacant plots are very overgrown and will need a lot of work, but hey? I'm up for a challenge!

The only thing that seems a bit odd to me, is that in the whole of Birmingham there are waiting lists as long as your arm for plots. Why has this place got 17 vacant?

I'll be unable to concentrate on anything until Thursday morning. 

[Mitsy]

Great news....good luck 

[Elcie]

Fingers crossed for you.  Let us know how you get on

[savbo]

a few years ago I did a little statistics project for a course i was doing and I used data on manchester allotments and their vacancy rates - of all the factors I looked at the only significant correlation was with household/population density - the sites with vacancies just didn't have as many people around them (any more....) - could this be the case with yours?

M

[Carol]

Having 17 to look at means you will be able to be able to choose the perfect one for you.  Good luck and enjoy.

[crowndale]

it may be that it is prone to vandalism or that the council has plans for the site that is rumoured or actually known about so no one wants to commit.  worth checking out why the chap thinks so many plots are empty.  and check with other plot holders too.  better than putting in a load of effort to find it wasted.  but hopefully its only lack of interest and you'll have the pick of the best empty plots.

[janet12000]

Thanks for the replies.
The council have apparently done a major horticultural makeover ( whatever that means :blink:) to restore 62 plots on the site that i'm interested in, so that may be the reason that there are vacant ones.
I do live in a bit of a rough area of inner city Birmingham and it is definitely not underpopulated here!
When I had a look there last night the place was barbed wired everywhere so maybe vandalism is a problem.
Oh I just don't know!!!! I guess I'll go tomorrow and see and make my mind up.
For £22 a year it seems a bargain, and if it doesn't work out then I'll just have to put it down to experience.
Will let you all know!

[Yabba]

Tad like old seeds, if you don't try you don't get

¥

[BobandJack]

Give it a go but don't invest in too many expensive things then if it doesn't work out you won't be too much out of pocket 

[savbo]

re the 'horticultural makeover'...councils are going to be making food growing a big thing cos it fits the health agenda - conference by Greenspace on that theme coming up soon. So allotments are good, but I can see councils starting to be more focussed on how well they are used - and by whom  - to be able to show they offer the ratepayer value for money, as opposed to us plotholders...
quite right too in my book M

[janet12000]

 
Plot number 9 is mine!
About waist high in overgrown stuff, but has the obvious potential.
Added bonus of been given it rent free until october! 
What a lovely start to the day.

[Mitsy]

Congrats 

[Rangerkris]

We want to see piccie's

[Aidy]

Plot number 9 is mine!
About waist high in overgrown stuff, but has the obvious potential.
Added bonus of been given it rent free until october! 
What a lovely start to the day.

Fantastic news, hope you get loads out of it. Bit mean of your council, here in the tropics of Blackpool the council charge for the first year then you get your second year FREE, seems to work keeping people on the site rather than leaving after 3  months.

[theakston_uk]

Great news, lets see some pics of what you have to deal with.