HOW TO GET A NEW ALLOTMENT PLOT | Waiting Lists | Choosing your Site / Hints and Tips

It's the start of a new year and plenty of people look to get their names down on waiting lists for a new allotment plot.
Patreon Membership Page is here: / beansbrewsandbread
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Don't despair: here's my run through from getting on a list, what to look for, how to choose a site and how to make sure that you get the plot / patch of land that's right for you.
Also, what to do to maximise your chances of getting a plot and what to do while you're waiting!
Link to:
‪@GreenSideUp‬ for his playlist series on getting your first allotment plot
• Starting a new Allotme...
‪@robinscontainergarden‬ for all your container gardening questions and inspiration.
Welcome to the Beans Brews and Bread Channel! This is where I share my content on my three main passions: Growing, Brewing and Baking. I've had an allotment for nearly 10 years, been homebrewing for 7 and baking since I can remember.
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Website: cellarhombrewing.com (hosting Beans Brews and Bread content)

[@Beverly.73]

I was on the council list for 7 years and got offered a plot last week. The weeds are up to 6 feet tall there is a homemade shed of 8m x 3 m that the roof /floor is falling in and rubbish galore on the plot . BUT it’s 280 SQM of potential a massive grapevine and water outside the gate. I have been growing at home with the no dig method for five years while I have been waiting and learnt a lot while doing it and every year I struggled as I didn’t have enough space so I know it’s the right decision. Can’t wait for the 25th June when I can get stuck into it. I know it will be a couple of years before its to how I want it but I always say you get out what you put in.

[@andysbucketgarden]

I’ve been waiting two years now for a plot, started off 128th on the list, now 40th! A lot of work has been done tidying up the list and sorting out non cultivated plots and plots being given up by the council. So moving in the right direction but I dont expect to get one this year. I will be making the most of my limited space on the decking by growing in buckets.

[@sootybond9498]

We tried to find an allotment when we moved here 22 years ago. The council didn't even have any allotments in the area. Our council covers a large sprawling area made up of many towns and villages. In the meantime my husband has died and since then I have got rid of nearly all my lawn and made raised beds to grow vegetables and fruit. We still don't have allotments in our town but they have started setting up community gardens. A good idea but I want my own land . It's getting to the point that now I am in my 70's I don't relish starting an allotment from scratch but I still would like to know that they exist here for younger people to enjoy. I have tried to shame my council into providing allotments to no avail and when I see abandoned allotments online it makes me very sad when there are so many of us that have waited so long and infact have now given up.

[@beverleysmith4215]

We waited for 4 years. To keep up with demand, when a full size plot becomes available the council split them in to 3 to make 3 small plots. We have one of those.

[@leejohnson7471]

Warrington Borough Council tells me people from the 2015 waiting list are just being offered a plot this year.

[@beansbrewsandbread]

Blimey! You would think that Warrington being based a bit more in an area surrounded by countryside wouldn't have a problem with allotments. Could be a very popular site? We have sites with lower profiles with shorter waiting lists. Andy

[@katebettesworth2638]

I know an allotment where the 'waiting list' is not really how they operate. Its more about proving your commitment to work there and cultivate, make progress and look after the place. My friend is after getting half a plot there so we went for a stroll around it. I have to say, it was the most beautiful and tended allotment I have ever seen. Maybe this is a better way to do things, instead of a list??? Although a list does seem the fairest way - I am guessing there must be a probation period ??

[@donnamartin4299]

Hi Andrew... I'm a new subscriber to you.. looking forward to sharing your year of growing🙂 Great to post such an informative video about getting a plot. I'd recommend people actually visiting their council and discussing how they run their plots... It seems to work here but then I live in a very small town. Would also recommend aspiring plotters join their local garden club. The National Allotment Association should have information about groups in your area🙂

[@beansbrewsandbread]

Hi Donna! Thank you for following and watching! That’s a great set of tips! A face to face chat with the council can’t hurt and I forgot all about the NSALG which I think I’m a member of! 🤣 Cheers, Andy ☕️

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

You know what is upsetting, folks that have them and never ever go or grow anything. Keeps it from others

[@beansbrewsandbread]

And that is what a cultivation notice is for. We're often handing them out via the committee on our site. It at least gives people a chance to get things right and starts a process if they should volunteer to give the plot back, or start a clock ticking to take it back. Not nice, but if they are worded right it can at least let people be honest and say - it was too much to take on, or I couldn't cope, or it wasn't for me - to let someone else have a go. Andy

[@wjp555]

I waited 2.5 years for a council plot and that was with a large commercial provider opening loads of plots which I think were about £500 a year!

[@danabella6540]

Great video. Million thanks for posting. I just have a new allotment and this video helps me a lot.

[@beansbrewsandbread]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you found something useful in there. I'm thinking of doing some more allotment starter content over winter as people do tend to get new allotments at the end of the growing season when the rents are up and people vacate. Cheers, Andy!

[@DoodleBuggamin]

Took me 3 months 😁

[@beansbrewsandbread]

Now that’s quite a quick turnaround! Hope you’re enjoying it?

[@leejohnson7471]

Your very luck....enjoy.

[@helenp9166]

3months but our list is now 18months

[@beansbrewsandbread]

Thanks for commenting! That’s not too bad. But shows how demand is going up. Cheers, Andy

[@lorrainegodwin3885]

I been waiting for plot since 2021 I put my name down 5 allotment but in mean I been growing in my front garden but my neighbours and housing officer not happy about it can't grow some stuff. I went to vist one of the.plots I have name down one just to see what it like if there any coming up or if I can help out on plot till mine comes up now it only a small allotment 14 plots now there is 6 over grown not looked after plots broken shears and green houses weeds and tree as tall as me I was told that they been empty since 2020 some longer two had gone a month ago to new people but the only come once not been back but when I call the council they say that there none available and that people have been waiting since 2019 that I'm 297 on the list I'm confused why there empty plots but the council not giving them out I can't get one at any time soon my housing don't want me having compost bin any thing that taller then my fence and also I had veg stolen out of pots to

[@Portsmouth1978]

Its a shame that in the areas where the wairing list is 5 years that instead of people building houses on land that lower i ncome people never get anyway that maybe they should instead create new alottment sites

[@beansbrewsandbread]

There have been some big sites I've noticed in our area that look like that have been land banked by developers and not used. I'd make a law that required if the land is not developed after a certain length of time it should be put over to social /affordable housing and include allotment provision with it!

[@Portsmouth1978]

@@beansbrewsandbread I completely agree 👍

[@leighbishop6213]

Really useful info but perhaps rename it what to do when you are assigned a plot! I’m ready to take my camera and have a walk through my 3 local allotments. I’m taking Pictures of plots, I will contact the committee then the allotment prick in the the council then I’ll be taking my beef to my local council meeting! There’s too many plots neglected and dumped on. It should be a rule! Have 50-75% of your plot cultivated or jog on

[@catkitty6457]

I hope they post a letter to you ifnits that long of a wait. People change their email addresses all the time.

[@myrustygarden]

Lovely video Andrew 🥰 we are lucky enough to have an acre but Sarah @She Sows She Grows and I were just saying it’s a blessing to have an area to grow in and enjoy 👍👍🇨🇦

[@beansbrewsandbread]

HI Ali! Space is at such a premium here in the UK that I hardly expect that spare land next to or near living space would be given over to allotments which is a shame. But people need places to live. It is a bit of a culture shock to see other countries with a bit more space - with houses with massive plots of land around them. They look like mini farms! 😂 Cheers, Andy!

[@myrustygarden]

@@beansbrewsandbread we don’t have any allotments here in Canada it’s a shame really but yes people must live somewhere. Up the road from us were huge acreage homes some 5 plus 😭😭😭 they are all now high density houses and condos (thousands of them)

[@Crocs4cats]

I applied Monday … they said the wait is 5 years🫤 Luckily my landlord is a decent bloke and he’s let me grow in containers on the front paved area for the last 3 years so I’m practicing😅

[@beansbrewsandbread]

Hi and thanks for watching! Someone else commented that 5 years is average in some places. Containers are great - I'm finding that they are giving good if not better harvest results than the open ground (carrots, fennel, and lettuces based on my other square foot gardening videos!). Cheers, Andy.