Nearly 2,000 Allotment Plots Filled in Hounslow Borough
One of the largest amounts in any part of London
Increase in use comes despite recent rise in fees
May 19, 2023
Hounslow Council says it now has one of the largest allotment portfolios in London with nearly 2,000 plots now filled.
This is the highest rate of occupancy recorded for many years and comes after the council introduced a range of measures over the last year to allow residents who want to grow their own fresh fruit and vegetables, the opportunity to cultivate land that they can call their own.
With an explosion of interest in gardening and living a sustainable lifestyle, the Council outlined its ambitions in its Allotment Strategy in 2020 with the aim to offer an improved and modernised service by 2025. This strategy also saw a rise in allotment fees from £71 a year to £120 which the council said only brought charges up to the London average.
Lampton Services Greenspace, which delivers allotment services on behalf of the Council, has been working over the winter to clear a backlog of allotment plot clearance works required, post Covid-19. Over 182 plots were renovated or improved for letting. This project now means the Council has reached 100 per cent occupancy across the 29 active allotment sites.
Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Parking, Parks and Leisure said, “Allotments are vital to the health and wellbeing of Hounslow’s residents. We have worked hard and continue to meet the demand for allotments. They are essential for the biodiversity of our borough and for our ambitions to see a greener Hounslow.
“We want to ensure all residents who value and treasure land have a space they can call their own. That is why we are bringing in measures to optimise the spaces on our sites that are not being cared for as they deserve and given to residents on our waiting lists.
“I’d like to underline our commitment as a Council to maximising plots available to residents as we know that demand remains high. We are working on a new project to further increase allotment capacity across the borough.”
The council is encouraging tenants to keep it informed of any changes in address or contact details; this will also help the Council to understand if the need for a plot remains with a tenant or if the plot is no longer needed and can be re-let.
An allotment plot often requires restoration after a period of non-cultivation. This can be a resource-intensive process but the Council says it is committed improving availability and cutting the waiting list.
There are also alternatives to letting an allotment if residents want to work on a gardening project. Residents can adopt trees through Hounslow Greentalk, join a ‘local friends’ of parks group and/or the Environment Champions programme. There are also opportunities to volunteer at local community gardens or identify spaces where new community gardens could be created and maintained by volunteers.
To apply for an allotment place, visit this link or call: 020 8583 6618
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