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Why Have an Allotment?
Eat Fresh
Love the Environment
Love the Environment
Eat fresh, tasty, organic fruit and veg that you have grown yourself.
Love the Environment
Love the Environment
Love the Environment
Work with nature and turn food miles into food metres.
Improve Health
Love the Environment
Improve Health
Unwind whilst getting regular exercise in the fresh air and making new friends.
Longcroft Allotment Association
Overall Purpose
Longcroft Allotment Association run two allotment sites on behalf of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. Our purpose is to manage the sites for the use and enjoyment of our members, promoting allomenteering in Welwyn Garden City and providing help and mutual support for members
Member Information
Our income comes from plotholder rents and members subscription fees. This income is used to run our sites and maintain and improve our facilities.
Both sites have running water for irrigating crops. Unlike many allotment sites both our sites have toilet facilities.
The Digswell site also has a well equipped kitchen.
Members also receive four newsletters a year, a chance to participate in a discounted seed scheme and invitation to a social events e.g. Summer BBQ.
We are always more than happy to receive ideas for how benefits of membership can be further developed and enhanced.
FAQs
Member Information
Our income comes from plotholder rents and members subscription fees. This income is used to run our sites and maintain and improve our facilities.
Both sites have running water for irrigating crops. Unlike many allotment sites both our sites have toilet facilities.
The Digswell site also has a well equiped kitchen.
Members also receive four newsletters a year, a chance to participate in a discounted seed scheme and invitation to a social events e.g. Summer BBQ.
We are always more than happy to receive ideas for how benefits of membership can be further developed and enhanced.
FAQs
Q: How much time commitment is needed to manage an allotment?
A: This is difficult to answer. It will depend on many factors: what state the plot is in when you take it over; what size is your plot; what you want to grow (some crops are more demanding than others); what horticultural methods you employ (raised beds, no dig gardening, mulching, double digging, etc.); and the weather (in dry spells watering is an essential commitment).
In general though, you could bank on needing to commit a few hours each week through the peak growing season, and in dry weather 30 minutes of watering every other day.
But having said all that, as with most things, the more you put in the more you will get out - of fresh air, exercise, enjoyment, sense of achievement and of course beautiful and tasty fresh fruit and vegetables.
Q: How much does an allotment cost?
A: Not as much as you may think. Rent is £11.04 per pole, per annum (half of all rents collected are then paid to WHBC) and plots vary in size from 2 poles to 7 poles in size.
There is a 50% discount for the over 65's.
On top of the rent there is £5 subscription to be paid per Association member.
Q: What is the expected standard of plot cultivation?
A: 25% of the plot is expected to be under cultivation within 3 months of taking on a new plot and 100% within 12 months.
Plots aren't expected to be kept pristine, they are for growing vegetables not an ornamental show garden. You will though, be expected to keep weeds under control, and mow the grass paths surrounding your plot. Nothing too onerous but showing consideration to your neighbouring plotholders.
Q: What communal responsibilities do plotholder have?
We are a community association and there are inevitably things that need doing on behalf of the whole allotment community. There will be several work parties each year and we encourage our plotholders to volunteer as much as they can.
In addition volunteers are always needed for mower maintenance, water pump care, contributing to the newsletter, running the shop, joining the committee, cooking at the summer BBQ, etc. We encourage everyone to get involved, meet new friends and have fun!
Improve Your Health
Spending even short periods on your plot is shown to benefit our physical and mental health. Gardeners tend to have a lower body mass index and have higher levels of fitness than average. Growers also tend to suffer less fatigue, anger and tension whilst having higher self-esteem.
Simply spending time outdoors experiencing nature is good for us and research indicates that this can translate to a physical improvement that is equivalent to being up to five years younger.
Many of us may also experience a relief from stress when working their plots which, in my case, can start from the minute I go through the gates to the site. Allotment provide the peace and quiet that is so rare in modern life. And the repetitive nature of digging, planting and harvesting lives the mind a chance to truly relax or to ponder any nagging issuese that can be resolved without interruption.
In fact, there is a natural antidepressant in the soil? Mycobacterium vaccae bacteria are found in soil and are ingested and inhaled when we are outdoors or spend time gardening. This bacteria stimulates the brain part responsible for producing serotonin, a chemical which helps to reduce feelings of anxiety and improve cognition.
Last but not least, allotments bring the nutritional benefit of fresh, seasonal produce.
For more information see the following links:
https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/article/38/3/e336/2239844
https://www.nsalg.org.uk/allotment-info/benefits-of-allotment-gardening/
