Allotments
In June 2011, Perth & Kinross Council approved a
paper [PDF: 298Kb] to allow them to support 5
predetermined areas to set up allotments. These areas are;
Letham, Tulloch, Crieff, St Madoes and Scone. The
Council will support the establishment of Allotment
Associations in these 5 areas. This means that those keen
to have allotments can manage them for themselves.
This will encourages local people to actively participate in
the management of their local facility and develop new
skills.
Unfortunately this is all resources will allow for at
present, there is no Council Allotment Officer to support
other groups. We have set up these two webpages to provide
information to other people and groups who are ltrying to set up an
allotment plot, or find a plot in an existing allotment
site. Allotments are a great way of producing good and low
cost food, involve healthy exercise, promote social contacts,
provide valuable green open spaces, contribute to the retention of
traditional skills as well as being highly beneficial to the
wildlife of the region.
Information about some of the allotments and community gardens
around Perth and Kinross can be found on the
next page.
Allotment Conference - cancelled
The free "Grow Your
Own" conference scheduled for Saturday 28th May at
the North Inch Campus in Perth has been CANCELLED.
Allotment Associations
An "Allotment Associations" is made up of plot holders in
each allotment area, their main purposes is to:
- Manage the letting of plots
- Promote the interests of plot holders
- Provide a forum for discussion and dissemination of
information
- Offer cultivation tips and promote good practice
- Encourage initiatives to protect members from theft and
damage
Associations generally have an elected committee with duties
to:
- Assess and manage applications for allotments
- Advise on the tenancy rules and ensure they are
followed
- Resolve disputes and pass on management issues requiring
resolution by the Council
- Liaise with existing and potential plot holders and the
Allotment Associations.
- Fund raise to continually improve the site.
Allotment or Community Garden?
Allotments are not community gardens, although there may be both
on a site. The legislation covering allotments dates back to the
1892 Allotments (Scotland) Act. Allotment Plotholders are
growing produce for their own use (families and friends) in their
own way and of their own choosing. A community garden is
looked after jointly and there will be some agreement about how to
share out any produce. These are two different
arrangements.
Useful Resources
- The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), is launching National
Gardening Week for 16 to 22 April 2012, to get the nation
growing.
- There is information on composting on the
Council website
- The Scottish Allotments and Gardens
Society works for allotment sites and plot holders
throughout Scotland. They have a great page with
relevant information on setting up an allotment and are very
happy to deal with any questions from individuals and groups
- Allotments - A
Scottish Plotholders Guide. This guide covers the basic
culture of allotment gardening and allotment law.
- Tayside Biodiversity Partnership
website page for both the "Biodiversity in Community
Gardens, Orchards and Allotments" booklet and the Scottish
Plotholders' Guide.
- Trellis is the national Scottish charity that
supports, promotes, and develops the use of horticulture to improve
health, well-being and life opportunities for all.
- The Allotments
Regeneration Initiative work with anyone regenerating or
creating allotments
- Landshare connects those
who have land to share with those who need land for cultivating
food.
- The Scottish
Beekeepers Association is the national body that represents
Scotland's beekeepers within the UK, throughout Europe and
globally
- The National Society of
Allotments & Leisure Gardeners Limited is the recognised
national representative body for the allotment movement in the UK.
The society is owned, managed and funded by its members to protect,
promote and preserve allotments for future generations to enjoy.
This organisation offers insurance for allotment holders.
-
The Big Lottery Fund. As part of Investing in Communities,
Community Spaces Scotland supports communities to become more
involved in, and to take responsibility for, their local
environment, communal spaces and places. This will provide funding
for communities to improve the appearance, functionality,
accessibility, effectiveness and sustainability of local spaces and
places (including buildings).
- SLUG
Allotments. Sunny Lochaber United Gardeners (or SLUG for
short) are a group of Lochaber based individuals that share one
common pleasure - their allotments.
-
Food for Life Scotland is a key programme of work for Soil
Association Scotland. It sets out to build sustainable food
economies based on the development of regional and local models of
sustainable food production, processing and consumption.
Importantly it is also designed to transform food culture
throughout Scotland.
One of the aims of the Cairngorms Food for Life
Development Plan is to increase the opportunities for
communities in the Cairngorms National Park to grow their own
food. If you are within the Cairngorms National Park boundary
and want some assistance with sourcing allotments, creating
community gardens or simply want opportunities to meet others to
increase your horticultural know-how, please get in touch with bridmckibben@cairngorms.co.uk
-
Perth & Kinross Grants Direct is a
one-stop-shop to help individuals and local community groups from
the Perth and Kinross area to access funding. The service was set
up by Perth & Kinross Council and partners to provide an easy
access to information, advice and support to local community groups
seeking funding.
-
The Royal Horticultural
Society (RHS) is the UK's leading gardening charity dedicated
to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening.
Their goal is to help people share a passion for plants, to
encourage excellence in horticulture and inspire all those with an
interest in gardening. They also offer insurance for
allotments.
-
Community
Growing Solutions is a horticulture community enterprise
based in Fife, supporting all community growing activities
nationally across Scotland and the UK. They meet the
demands of individuals, communities and organisations setting up or
developing existing community based projects such as allotments
sites, community growing spaces and other associated activities
through training and skills, developing horticulture knowledge and
abilities and identifying key funding streams to help respond to
their specific needs
-
Beautiful
Scotland is a community environmental improvement campaign and
award scheme in Scotland.
-
Beautiful Perth
works in partnership with others and is supported by local
businesses, commerce, Perth and Kinross Council and a great many
volunteers. Beautiful Perth projects and activities vary from
the creation of large floral feature flowerbeds and hanging basket
displays to supporting the city's Eco Schools Programme, improving
and upgrading derelict ground, biodiversity schemes, anti-litter
and recycling initiatives to local and national marketing and
promotional activities. Local action is exactly what
beautiful Perth is all about - caring for the environment and
encouraging a sense of civic pride.
-
Eco Schools Scotland - Food
and the Environment Section
-
Garden
Organic is a UK organic growing charity which has
been at the forefront of the organic horticulture movement for 50
years and is dedicated to researching and promoting organic
gardening, farming and food.
-
You Can Cook
organises cookery classes, workshops and demonstrations on
food related issues all over Scotland
-
Nourish believe
a more localised food system would be better for the environment,
health, community and economy of Scotlansd
and hope people use their site to network and connect to
others who are interested in local food.
-
The Fife
Diet is a consumer network of people interested in local
food
Possible sources of funding:
Benefits of Allotment Gardening
Tending to tomatoes, raising runner beans and caring for
cabbages could all reduce stress and encourage healthy ageing,
according to new research released by Cardiff Metropolitan
University. Researchers at the Cardiff School of Health Sciences
have been investigating whether outdoor physical and leisure
activities may offer more benefits to health in later life compared
to indoor activities. In a recent study, they found that allotment
gardeners aged over 50 had significantly lower levels of perceived
stress levels when compared to other adults of similar ages who
were active in other outdoor and indoor activities.
