Allotments

Allotments are an important part of the culture within Charnwood, and provide a wide range of benefits to communities and to the environment. They have many advantages, providing fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers, free from pollutants, at a fraction of the cost paid in supermarkets. They also provide valuable recreational opportunities for healthy physical activity and social contact, a place where people can relax and unwind. Allotments make a significant contribution to our green spaces, and provide habitats for many forms of wildlife.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide allotments for the public. Charnwood Borough Council manage 9 allotment sites within the Loughborough area (if you are interested in an allotment site outside the Loughborough area, please contact the relevant town or parish council - see Contacts document for details).

The nine sites managed by Charnwood Borough Council are:

Site/location	Status	No of plots	Number on waiting list (updated Nov 10)
Mountfields, Epinal Way	Permanent	64	42
Lodge Farm, Forest rd	Permanent	44	28
Ingle Pingle, Forest Rd	Permanent	22	23
Park Farm, Hazel Rd	Permanent	20	14
Beacon Road, Epinal Way	Permanent	13	27
Meadow Ave	Permanent	22	17
Alan Moss Rd (Phases 1 & 2)	Permanent	61	46
Great Central Road	Permanent	36	39
Castledine St Ext.	Permanent	2	3

In 2011/2 the rent is £13.40 per 100 sq. yds. (permanent sites). Concessionary rates are available for 60+, students in f/t education and those in receipt of income related benefits (proof of eligibility is required)

A full sized plot varies between 200 and 400 sq. yds., and there are a limited number of smaller plots available. To put your name down on the allotment waiting list simply fill in the application form and e-mail/post to the parks section at Charnwood Borough Council. Allotments require frequent visits and hard work in order to keep them to an acceptable standard of cultivation. It is recommended that you choose a site relatively close to where you live. Demand for allotments at present is quite high and the Council try to divide larger plots up wherever possible, in order to reduce the size of the waiting list. If the popularity of allotments continues the Council would need to investigate possibly adding to the allotment stock. In the meantime there are one or two interesting initiatives that may help to bring more local land into cultivation such as 'landshare' (see Landshare link)

Waste disposal is undertaken by Charnwood borough Council at no extra cost, although tenants are urged to compost as much green waste as possible themselves, otherwise it may go to landfill. A water supply is provided for each site, apart from Castledine St. Ext. Site. Most of the boundary hedges, the fencing and roadway maintenance are also the responsibility of Charnwood Borough Council.Plot holders are responsible for any internal hedging work on their plot.

New tenants usually have the option of having the plot cleared of vegetation and rotovated free of charge. Existing tenants can purchase plot rotovation for a fee of £37

Allotment Application Document (Word Document, 0.4 Mb)
Allotment survey 2007 - results (Word Document, 0.1 Mb)
Allotment Survey 2009 (Word Document, 0.2 Mb)
Rules and regulations for CBC allotments (Word Document, 0.1 Mb)

News

2010 Allotment Survey

The 2010 allotment survey was posted out to tenants during the first week in April. The views of tenants are important to the Council, and help set priorities for improvements to the service.

Allotment Survey - Report May 10 (Word Document, 0.3 Mb)