guide to allotments in West Dorset (pdf, 5Mb ... - Dorsetforyou.com

Allotment provisionin West DorsetMap key= Parish with new allotments planned= Parish with allotments where peopletypically wait up to a year for a plot.=Parish with allotments but where peopletypically wait over a year for a plot.= No allotment provision within parishThere are currently 1,079 allotment plots in the district butnone are vacant and 406 people are on waiting lists-(Information correct as at October 2008)To find out about allotments in your area, contact your parishor town clerk. Details available from www.dorset-aptc.gov.uk3

2. Assessinglocal demandEven if there is no waiting list, the demand forallotments may still exist. Some people giveup on the idea of an allotment if their councilcannot find the land. Others end up renting aplot from another parish or joining thatwaiting list. This is not ideal because it putspressure on these parishes and increases carjourneys – and carbon emissions – to andfrom the allotment site.Parish and town councils need to have anaccurate assessment of the demand forallotments. This can be picked up through theparish or community plan or by a local survey,which might also identify other parish needsthat could be met on the same site.If there are conflicting opinions about whatthe parish needs, these may be resolved bydividing the land, for example to create achildren’s play area plus an allotment site orcommunity orchard. These options should beagreed and planned at the earliest stages.3. AllotmentlawUnder The Small Holdings and AllotmentAct 1908, it is the duty of parish and towncouncils to provide allotments if six or morepeople on the electoral roll make a writtenrequest. Councils are obliged to try to findsuitable sites, either owned by the parish,town, district, county council or privatelandowners. National and local planningpolicy is generally supportive of theprovision of new allotment sites, and theirretention once they are established.There are three types of allotments and it’simportant to know which type you have– or are aiming for – because they havedifferent rights:• Statutory allotments are protected by lawunder the Allotments Act 1925. This landis owned by parish or town councils andthey cannot sell it for development or useit for another purpose without thepermission of the Secretary of State.If permission is given and the land is sold,the council must provide allotmentholders with an alternative site of asimilar standard.• Temporary allotments are on land leasedby parish or town councils from a thirdparty such as the district or countycouncil or a private landowner. Unlikestatutory allotments, these allotments arenot protected from disposal. If disposaloccurs, councils are still obliged to seekother sites to meet demand fromresidents.• Private allotments have the same statusas temporary allotments but the land isowned by a charitable trust, an individual, abusiness, or by a private estate.4

© George Wright54. Finding newlandIn some parishes a local landowner may bewilling to lease land for new allotments.When a parish or local authority alreadyowns suitable land, converting the site intoallotments only requires a council resolutionand does not usually require planningpermission. If suitable publicly owned landis not available then it is worth searchingfor available land in private ownership.Sites considered for newallotments should avoidfeatures of historical,archaeological and natureconservation interest.In general the larger landowners andestates may be more inclined to providenew plots than the smaller landowners.Where land cannot be found via theseroutes, it will be necessary to make amore in-depth search for possible sites.

Below are some helpful tips from council clerks, the district council,landowners and allotment managers on how to find new land:Step 1: Researchyour landIt is vital to know precisely who owns whatland in the parish, so you know how toapproach the owner. West Dorset DistrictCouncil’s technical services team and theproperty terrier at Dorset County Councilwill advise on land owned by the districtand the county councils respectively.Privately owned land can be researchedfor less than £10 at the government LandRegistry. The online aerial view facilityallows you to identify patches of land. Landwill only appear at the Land Registry if ithas been registered i.e. it has changedownership within the last 18 years.Rural land is often not registered, especiallyif it has stayed in one family for generations.In this instance the best way to find out whoowns the deeds is to talk to any longstandingresidents of the parish.In West Dorset, the view is taken thatallotments do not require planning permissionfor a change of use. However, it is stillworthwhile contacting the planningdepartment to discuss the suitability of anysites being considered. It is important to avoidfeatures of historic, archaeological or natureconservation interest and the planningdepartment will be able to identify if any ofthese constraints apply.Step 2: Pinpointyour siteThe guidelines for West Dorset are thatallotments should be within ¾ mile walkor a 4.39-mile drive from people’s homes,however, this varies in practice. Allotmentland can fill almost any available space– ranging from a tiny corner of gridlockedland in a town, to a large space onagricultural land.The topography of the site will be importante.g. is it steeply sloping? Is it very exposedor heavily shaded? How accessible is it?The soil should ideally be well-draining butpoor quality soil can be improved bycultivation and the additon of organic mattersuch as garden compost.Step 3: worktogetherIt’s generally agreed that success relies ongoodwill, co-operation and the ability tocompromise. As well as highlighting thebenefits of allotments, it’s also importantto consider the individuals concerned andany issues they may have. In general it isfar better to work with parish councils,landowners and developers and reach aconsensus rather than focusing on legalrights and responsibilities.6

7The average allotmentrent for one acre ofallotments is £400 perannum compared to theaverage agriculturaltenancy rate of £100 peracre per annum.5. Buying orleasing landBuying landFor councils and individuals willing to investtheir money it is possible to purchase landusing a Public Works Loan. These loans areavailable from the National Loans Fund andare managed by the Public Works LoanBoard (PWLB), part of the UK DebtManagement Office, an Executive Agency ofHM Treasury. Land for allotments at BurtonBradstock was purchased using this scheme.Under the 1908 Allotment Act, if alandowner refuses to make land availablecounty councils can make a compulsorypurchase – or hire – of the land for theprovision of allotments. This is a rarely usedpower, mainly due to the prohibitive courtcosts involved, and should only be usedas a last resort.Leasing landIt is often an advantage to landowners tolease land for allotments because the land iskept clean, tidy and well-maintained. Thissaves money – public money – where theland is owned by the county or districtcouncil, and is especially the case whereland is affected by flytipping. Bridport hasrecently leased land from West DorsetDistrict Council for a community orchardand allotment site.Allotments can also provide a useful income.The average allotment rent from one acre of

© George Wrightallotments is £400 per annum, based on anannual rent of £25 per plot, which is a muchbetter return than the average agriculturaltenancy rate of £100 per acre per annum.Any individuals owning land of 5+ acresmay be interested in leasing some forallotments, plus other organisations such asbusinesses, churches or charities.Landowners may have concerns about plotholders not paying their rent or having tosort out maintenance problems. These fearsshould be covered by the tenancy agreement(see page 11), which will be agreed by bothsides. In addition, an elected allotmentmanager, who acts as a go-between andhandles the everyday running of the site,should take the burden off the landowner.If land has development potential –for example if it is within a defineddevelopment boundary (see the adoptedWest Dorset District Local Plan 2006) it canbe more difficult to persuade a privatelandowner to lease it.However, landowners may consider it as away of providing an income if tenants agreeto an annual lease only.8

© George Wright96. New housingdevelopmentsWhen considering planning applications fordevelopment, section 106 of the Town andCountry Planning Act 1990 allows a localplanning authority to make a legally bindingagreement with a developer to delivercommunity benefits. Section 106agreements can require the provision ofallotments, play areas and woodland areas.Wherever large-scale development isproposed, parish and town councils have theopportunity to be involved and identify whatcommunity facilities are needed. Forexample, if a parish states a need forallotments in its parish plan, it can help tojustify the local planning authority asking thedeveloper to set aside allotment land as partof the proposals.In the smaller towns and villages wheredevelopment potential is limited in scale,it is unlikely that any section 106requirements would be sufficient to deliveran allotment site. However it may bepossible for a number of developmentsites to contribute to a larger pot of fundsthat could be used to help pay forallotment provision in the locality (seefunding opportunities on page 17). It isvery important that this happens at theapplication stage, before planningpermission is granted.

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© Countryside agency jim hodson138. Allotmentsfor allAllotments can serve the wider community,through fun days and food events such asApple Day. Allotments can also benefitvulnerable groups and consideration shouldbe given to the needs of older people,children and those with a physical or mentaldisability.Dorset Partnership for Older People Project(POPP) aims to help people stay in their ownhomes and communities for as long as theywish. Projects that involve allotments mightinclude food sharing, barter schemes, lunchclubs and allotment working groups. To thatend, POPP is able to provide staff resourcesand seed funding to develop communityprojects that are identified by local peopleaged 50+.Many children miss out on any experience ofhands-on gardening, growing and eatingtheir own produce and understandingnature. Allotments can help by allowingschools or children's clubs such as Cubsand Brownies to take a share of a plot andallowing school visits.

© nick squirrell15Allotments can encouragewildlife by incorporatingfeatures such as compostheaps, native hedgerows,fruit trees, log or stonepiles and beetle banks.9. GreenerallotmentsWildlife protectionIn West Dorset animals such as thehedgehog, common frog, slow worm, grasssnake and a host of wild birds find valuablerefuge on allotments. Such wildlife is highlybeneficial as it helps keep unwanted pestsaway and is much more environmentallyfriendly than using pesticides. For example,a blue tit may feed a brood on a total of15,000 caterpillars and a bat can catch3,000 flying insects in one night.Allotments can encourage wildlife byincorporating features such as compostheaps, native hedgerows, fruit trees, log orstone piles, beetle banks (grassy stripsbetween plots) and even small ponds.Native flowers and flowering herbs are agood source of nectar for pollinators andlook very attractive, planted betweenvegetables. The use of bird, bat andhedgehog boxes will also further attractbeneficial wildlife to an allotment.Peat preservationThe UK has lost 94% of its peat bogs,almost all due to the use of peat productsfor gardening. Peat bogs are essential forlocking in harmful carbon and providingwildlife habitats. Peat also has uniquepreservation qualities, which has producedimportant archaeological finds. Allotmentplot holders can play their part individuallyand together in preventing furtherdestruction of peat bogs, by adopting apeat-free policy and using alternativeproducts, which are readily available.Going nativePlanting traditional local fruit and vegetablevarieties helps to keep the individualcharacter of the area. Boundaries can becreated from native hedgerow species or byusing locally coppiced wood for fencing.Locally coppiced hazel makes beautifulbeanpoles and pea sticks. By buying these,instead of imported bamboo, we can help tosupport the ancient skill of coppicing, protectwoodland and boost the local economy.

© George WrightOrganic growingBy using organic gardening methods, we canplay our part in protecting the environment forfuture generations. Everything on an allotmentcan be grown free from pesticides in healthysoil, maintained with compost from recycledmaterials, which benefits us and theenvironment. For details on organic gardeningmethods, visit www.gardenorganic.org.ukVisual appealAllotments can be made to look much moreattractive by planting flowers or a permanentnative fruit tree (e.g. apple or pear) withineach plot. It may also be appropriate in somecases to restrict the use, number, or size ofsheds, polytunnels, etc, used within theallotment to ensure that the site sits well inthe landscape.16

11. Costs and whereto go for fundingThere are local and national funds currentlyavailable that focus on community healthy foodinitiatives. When you make applications forgrants, it’s important to know exactly how muchmoney is needed, bearing in mind that providersmay give less than is asked for.Dorset Partnership for Older People Project(POPP) funds small projects up to £2,000 whichare run by, and for the benefit of, older people(aged 50+).The Local Food Programme is a recent fundingstream that will distribute lottery grants to avariety of food-related projects to help makelocally grown food accessible and affordable tolocal communities. Visit www.localfoodgrants.orgor Tel: 0845 3671 671Awards for All England awards grants ofbetween £300 and £10,000 for activities thatpromote education, the environment, health andhealthy eating. Visit www.awardsforall.org.uk orTel: 0845 600 20 40 for more information.The Woodward Charitable Trust gives smallgrants for projects for disability charities.Visit www.woodwardcharitabletrust.org.ukThe Co-Operative Community Fund offerssmall grants for local groups or charities, judgedby local people. Visit www.co-operative.coop/ethicsinaction/communities/fundsandfoundationsDorset AONB Sustainable Development Fundoffers small grants for local groups or charities,judged by local people. Visit www.dorsetaonb.org.ukWest Dorset District Council section 106 funds.Contact the section 106 officer at WDDC fordetails of any available funds. Email planning@westdorset-dc.gov.ukTel: 01305 25101012. Where to go formore informationParish and town councils:Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils,DAPTC offers advice, support, training andassistance to parish councils including seminarson allotments. Visit www.dorset-aptc.gov.ukTel: 01305 260972 email daptc@dorsetcc.gov.ukLand search:West Dorset District Council, Technical ServicesTeam: technicalservices@westdorset-dc.gov.ukTel: 01305 252264Dorset County Council, Martin Sargent, PropertyTerrier: m.l.sergeant@dorsetcc.gov.ukTel: 01305 221000The Land Registry has details of all registeredland i.e. land that has changed ownership in the last18 years. Visit www.landregisteronline.gov.uk to useaerial land locator. Nearest office is Weymouth:weymouth.office@landregistry.gsi.gov.ukTel: 01305 363636Planning advice:West Dorset District Council planning receptionTel: 01305 251010 or emailplanning@westdorset-dc.gov.uk17

Landscape and wildlifeconservation:Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty(AONB) www.dorsetaonb.org.ukTel: 01305 756782Dorset Wildlife Trust www.dorsetwildlife.co.ukTel: 01305 264620Natural England www.naturalengland.org.ukemail dorset@naturalengland.org.ukTel: 01929 557450© George WrightDorset Coppice Group promotes naturalsustainable wood products.Visit www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.ukTel: 01258 472299Starting up and growing:National Society of Allotment and LeisureGardeners (NSALG) gives information on allaspects of allotments and has a south westrepresentative. Visit www.nsalg.org.ukTel: 01536 266576For information on allotment associations, adownloadable leaflet ‘How to form and run agardening association’ is available on thewebsite, click on About us/Useful information.Allotments UK is an online allotment communitysite for sharing information. It has practical tipsand advice with links to other relevantorganisations. Visit www.allotments-uk.comFarm Garden including the AllotmentRegeneration Initiative. Visit www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari for a range of helpful factsheets.Royal Horticultural Society For advice on allaspects of growing. Visit www.rhs.org.ukOrganic growing:West Dorset Organic Gardening Group(WDOGG), Visit www.wdogg.org.ukTel: 01305 263730Soil Association for organic food information andlibrary of research. Visit www.soilassociation.orgTel: 0117 314 5000Gardenorganic publishes a full range offactsheets on organic gardening. Visitwww.gardenorganic.org.uk Tel: 02476 303517Community outreach:Garden Tools for all Seasonswww.gardentoolsforallseasons.com includesinformation about tools for disabled people.Dorset Partnership for Older People Project(POPP) contact Sue Warr www.dorsetforyou.com/popp Tel: 01305 225920Disability Wessex For mor information on tools fordisabled people visit www.disabilitywessex.org.ukTel: 01202 589999, text phone number 0120229394018

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