Allotments Regeneration Initiative

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A summary of

a programme

to support and

develop the use

of allotments across

communities

in the UK

Allotments

Regeneration

Initiative

2002-2006

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“We would like to express our thanks to

Allotment Regeneration Initiative staff

for providing us first class local Mentor

support and best of all a travel bursary

to attend a project in Swindon working

with vulnerable adults.”

Kevin Chubb, Inroads Go! Allotment Project for people with drug and substance mis-use issues.

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Allotments Regeneration Initiative Introduction 3

Introduction

The Allotments Regeneration

Initiative (ARI) was launched in

2002 by the Federation of City

Farms and Community Gardens

(FCFCG) with the support of Esm

é

e

Fairbairn Foundation. A total of

£1,070,968 was invested in this

initiative by the Foundation.

£850,000 was given to support the development

of best-practice models for regenerating

under-used allotment sites, or for finding complimentary

ways of maintaining allotments as publicly

accessible open spaces.

In 2005, the Federation of City Farms and

Community Gardens, the representative body

for city farms, community gardens and similar

community-led organisations in the UK, was

awarded a further grant of £220,968 over two

years to continue the advice, mentoring and

training services.

Allotments provide

an oasis of green in

built-up areas, and

provide access to

publicly owned land.

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time for urban green spaces of all types and I will

follow its progress with interest."

Tony McNulty, Parliamentary Under Secretary, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2002-2003

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demand. Consequently, provision has varied. Some allotment sites have been lost to development, while others have thrived and have become vibrant and pleasant places.

“Good ideas about

how the Council

can facilitate local

allotment groups to

benefit plot holders.”

Comments made by participant at ARI event: London regional seminar, 14/09/04

History and background

Allotments were created as a response to urbanisation

following the industrial revolution, providing small

pockets of land for displaced rural people and the new

urban workers to supplement their income and diets.

Allotments as we now know them have been an integral

part of the urban landscape in the UK for over a century.

Allotment gardening initially peaked in World War I, and then again in the 1940s when people were urged to ‘dig for victory’ during World War II.

From the 1950s, greater affluence and convenience shopping led many people to stop growing their own food, and this meant that allotments often became under used and neglected. In the twenty-first century, allotments are going through something of a renaissance, supported by the Allotments Regeneration Initiative. They provide a

sustainable source of healthy local food, as well as exercise, and education for local

communities, plus an important biodiversity habitat for native flora and fauna. Allotments provide an oasis of green in built-up areas, and provide access to publicly owned land.

The UK’s wide cultural diversity is reflected on allotment sites, with different allotment sub-cultures

apparent at country, regional and local level. The stereo-typical image of the allotmenteer is of the retired, white male plotholder tending his vegetables. But there are many other allotment

cultures to be celebrated too, with sites playing host to a mixture of people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds who are growing foods from the UK and around the globe. Families are learning about where food comes from; organic growers and competitive

vegetable growers practice their own particular style of growing. All are gardening on allotment sites throughout the UK.

Legislation to provide and protect allotments varies across the UK and has affected their distribution and uptake. Local authorities in England and Wales have a statutory provision to provide allotments, but in Scotland and Northern Ireland there is no legal obligation on councils to provide allotments on

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“We would like to express

our thanks to Allotment

Regeneration Initiative staff

for always being on the end

of the phone or email when

we needed advice.”

Kevin Chubb, Inroads Go! Allotment Project for people with drug and substance mis-use issues

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ARI’s partners had previously worked together on a steering group during the writing of

Growing in the community. ARI adopted and formalised this partnership. A steering group of representatives from the partners has managed ARI’s strategic direction. FCFCG has been involved in day-to-day project and staff management.

ARI’s vision is to get more people growing on allotments, both individually and as communities. ARI has done this by working with anyone interested in being involved in allotment regeneration. An eclectic mix of people and organisations are involved with allotments, encompassing plotholders, allotment associations, council officers, community groups, statutory organisations such as NHS, SureStart, Probation Service, Wildlife Trusts, Friends of the Earth, BTCV, Groundwork, voluntary and community

agencies, and elected councillors.

While not a membership

organisation, since its inception ARI has collated a database of organisations interested in allotment regeneration. To date almost 3,000 entries have been registered, representing the diverse organisations and individuals working toward a positive future for allotments in the UK. The users themselves have helped shape the ARI programme. Research, feedback and suggestions from users have helped form the ARI programme to become a service that reflects its users needs. All contacts receive a regular copy of the ARI newsletter, access to a wide range of publications, invitations to events, and are encouraged to engage with ARI services on an ongoing basis to develop a supportive network.

Between 2002 and 2004, funding was provided by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation specifically for

practical allotment regeneration via three grant schemes.

ARI – the project

In 2001, the Local Government Association published,

Growing in the community, a good practice guide for the

management of allotments

. This publication, along with

some significant changes to planning policy, was the

major outcome of the 1998 Select Committee Inquiry

into the future for allotments. ARI’s starting point was

to use

Growing in the community’s

recommendations

as the core of its work.

“Really like the new all

colour ARI newsletter –

carry on the good work.

It has always been very

readable and I keep

every copy.”

Joan Russell, Prudhoe Community Allotment

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The volume of applications submitted to the schemes pointed to a trend of under-investment by local authorities and government in many allotment sites, while also demonstrating a need for allotment associations to take a more active role in seeking funding for site improvements. The funding needs were diverse and included:

■ nature gardens

■ disabled access plots

■ fencing

■ promotion and publicity

■ plot clearance

■ toilets

■ events

■ training

■ orchards.

Sixty organisations submitted preliminary bids for larger grants, of which seven were successful. All were pilot schemes to

regenerate sites that had fallen into partial disuse and provided examples of good practice in allotment regeneration, to be disseminated and built upon nationally. Kate Lampard, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Trustee, announced the recipients of grants at the ARI launch seminar in Birmingham in April 2003.

“After many years of

effort, we have managed

to obtain over £30,000

of grants and now have

a special plot for people

with special needs and

wheelchair users.”

Jane Baxter, Sefton Park Allotments, Liverpool

3,000

organisations registered on the ARI database

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Allotments Regeneration Initiative ARI – the project 9

‘Those of us at Esmée Fairbairn involved with the Allotments Regeneration Initiative have been delighted with the number, variety and quality of the projects submitted for funding. We believe that some of the projects that have been chosen will provide examples for allotments

regeneration elsewhere. We hope that the initiative as a whole will raise awareness of the threat of dereliction and sale facing many allotment plots, and focus attention on the many environmental as well as social benefits of allotment gardening.’

Kate Lampard Trustee, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Following on from a high-profile media campaign to launch the project, ARI engaged with mainstream and specialist publications, radio, and TV, in order to promote a positive and vibrant image of allotments. Articles have appeared in a range of national publications that cover a vast spectrum, from The Sunday Times toThe Organic Way, fromDisability Now toEve Magazine.

“The information

received was both

useful and appropriate.

I cannot praise his

(mentor P Gomersall)

input enough. Thank

you for establishing

this mentor system!”

Comments made by recipients of a mentor site visit: Wakefield Allotments Network

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Meanwhile, ARI Mentors have been profile raising in the regions, with regular press, TV and radio coverage. ARI’s pilot projects did their bit too. The ARI funded Environ Allotments for All Officer in Leicester persuaded a local radio station to take a plot and give it a regular programme slot. This lead to BBC Radio 2 and a host of other stations taking on plots too. ARI has helped support TV producers in search of allotment locations for news items and programmes, for example candidates for green lifestyle TV programmes, and finding a female plotholder willing to get up at 6am for a BBC Breakfast Time to feature alongside FCFCG Director Jeremy Iles in Bristol.

Events have been a key feature of ARI’s aim to facilitate and share good practice. All these events have helped to inform the development and direction of ARI, as well as providing useful resources for those involved in allotment regeneration.

ARI events kicked off in 2003 with a national launch seminar in Birmingham, followed by a series of five regional seminars open to anyone involved in allotment regeneration. Via interactive workshops, delegates learnt about different aspects of allotment

regeneration: accessing

funding, working in partnership, devolved management of

allotment sites by associations, site infrastructure improvements, and promoting allotments.

“The networking is always

beneficial, the content of

the course excellent.

Covered every aspect of

fund raising, excellent,

well presented.”

Comments made by participant at ARI event: York funding course 30/4/05

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Case study:

YOE! (Youth Organic

Environmental), Birmingham

Based at Uplands allotment site in Birmingham, YOE! was awarded £2,500 under the small grants scheme to purchase gardening tools and books. Since the project’s launch in March 2003, 900 children have taken part. Project Manager Neville Lilly outlines their work ‘YOE! aims to encourage children into gardening, helping them to relate to the soil, understand how to grow vegetables and eat healthily.’

Allotments Regeneration Initiative ARI – the project 11

Delegates also had the opportunity to meet with representatives from national organisations who are able to support allotments. Following the success of the seminars, ARI developed a three tier training course programme in 2005, aimed specifically at allotment associations, whilesimultaneously working in partnership with the Institute of Leisure and Amenity

Management to deliver training courses for councils, and providing bespoke courses for individual clients. Topics followed on from the seminars but at greater length and depth. Topics included:

■ introduction to allotment regeneration

■ managing health and safety on allotments

■ improving access for people with disabilities and mental health needs

■ finding funds for allotment regeneration.

Central to all ARI events is the opportunity to meet with others involved in allotment regeneration, in order to build supportive networks. Although allotments have strong

community history within individual sites, allotment residents have not always networked or shared good practice with their kin. By meeting others and forging links and partnerships, ARI events serve to stimulate an exchange of expertise and develop networks of people involved in allotment

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A need for support and advice at a local level was identified in the early stages of the project, resulting in the formation and development of a national mentor network of volunteer allotment regeneration experts in England, Scotland and Wales.

The mentors were recruited from allotment associations and organisations working directly with allotments to bring hands-on experience and expertise at grass-roots level. Mentors help with real live issues affecting allotments, such as how to set up an association, go self-managed, tackle the regeneration of a site, address aspects of site

management such as vandalism, promotion, disability access, fencing, and involving community groups. Mentors can also help groups or service providers interested in setting up an allotment project, and councils wishing to build the capacity of their allotment associations and site portfolio. Help and support

from mentors can be in the form of phone advice, on-site advice, training sessions, presentations, referral or mailing out of relevant information. All mentors are volunteers who willingly give a minimum of eight hours per month to ARI (but usually a lot more). Mentors receive training and support from ARI staff, along with two national training events per year.

ARI has produced a

comprehensive series of A4 size, eight page, technical factsheets and two technical packs on specific aspects of allotment regeneration, which users identified as being particularly challenging. These included titles such as Safe Sites, Promote the Plot, Gardeners in Charge and

Allotments for All. Each fact sheet includes a resources section to signpost readers to resources and organisations that can give help and support.

“We have been

encouraged along the

way by your Initiative

and by your Mentoring

service (Alan Hull) – so

many thanks for helping

us along with our

project.”

Kevin Chubb, Inroads Go! Allotment Project for people with drug and substance mis-use issues

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Allotments Regeneration Initiative

As part of the ARI site visits travel bursary scheme, ARI published the Good Sites Guide, a directory listing allotment sites exhibiting good practice or innovative regeneration, region by region. These allotment sites are willing to host educational visits from other allotment holders who are keen to learn. A site profile, contact name, phone number and suitable times for visits are provided for each entry.

ARI has collated a library of sample documents for allotment management in order to spread good practice, for example, council allotment strategies, leases, tenancy agreements, beekeeping guidance and plotholder starter packs. This has enabled users to benefit from the experience and knowledge of others when setting up their own projects.

ARI – the project 13

Sometimes a technical query can be so specific that it helps to have an expert at hand. ARI’s bespoke technical service offers free technical advice for anyone with a tricky issue. ARI staff can provide precise details on all aspects of allotment regeneration and help link people with organisations that can help and support them further.

The ARI website includes latest news, information and publications. The ARI website has links to hundreds of other organisations.

Case study:

Devenish Partnership Forum, Eniskillen, Northern Ireland

Funding of £20,540 from the Flagship Grants scheme

created a brand new allotment on an area of previously overgrown grassland owned by a local community group, the Devenish Partnership Forum. A newly established Devenish Gardening Club now manage their new site, which is situated adjacent to a large social housing development. The site will not only provide a valuable green space and growing opportunities but will also help bring communities together in Enniskillen.

Allotments in Northern Ireland are few and far between and this award highlights alternative approaches ARI’s development work has taken in different regions and countries in the UK.

£20,540

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management and landscaping.”

Kevin Chubb, Inroads Go! Allotment Project for people with drug and substance mis-use issues.

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Allotments Regeneration Initiative Allotments – the future 15

Allotments now have a higher profile among the public and government. Many local authorities have, or are in the process of, producing a formal allotment strategy, enabling allotments to be included appropriately in council policies and processes. A trend of

starting up brand new allotment sites has been identified, with several local authorities actively looking for land in order to cope with increased demand.

The capacity and confidence of the allotments movement has developed, strengthened and diversified. A supportive network has been developed via the Mentor Network, publications, and events. Networking and sharing of good practice now occurs both within and outside the movement. Allotment

associations are now keeping in touch with each other, helping and supporting their fellow growers through the challenges of revitalising their sites.

More and more allotment associations and councils now understand the need to take an active role in fundraising and income generation, with many success stories: Dalmuir Plots Association in Glasgow has secured £4 million to regenerate their site as part of the wider Clydebank regeneration, rather than losing the site to

redevelopment. Many smaller scale grant funding awards from a range of national and local funding bodies have launched associations into an exciting period of regeneration. Associations have found that raising money can be fun and brings in new plotholders.

Hundreds of sites now open their gates for open days and activities during National Allotment Week in August.

Allotments – the future

Allotments Regeneration Initiative has made a real

difference to the position and future of allotments in

the UK. There is anecdotal evidence of a higher uptake

of allotments since ARI’s inception. Newer users are

now coming on board, especially women, families,

community groups and agencies.

Case study:

The Scottish Tree Trust

The trust was set up in 1980 to help prevent tree vandalism, now they are renovating Queen Park allotment site in Glasgow. They have used their £1000 ARI grant to purchase pathing and fencing materials. Coordinator Greer Hart explains, ‘This allotment site has had nothing done to it since 1915. We’re putting down slab paths because there were no safe pathways, just muddy tracks, and putting up fencing to stop the rabbits eating everything. Bus shelters get vandalized badly in Glasgow – we get the big panels from them and are using them to build six big greenhouses.’

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Partnerships have been initiated and developed on sites. Agencies have become aware of the

benefits allotments can bring to their clients: NHS GP’s are offering allotments on prescription via Healthy Living Centres, disabled people are able to take part in allotment gardening on adapted plots, children are having outdoor lessons on school and youth-group plots, and the Probation Service is working with

associations to build free infrastructure on sites while giving young offenders valuable work and life skills.

Complementary uses have prevented under-used and derelict plots being lost, with the installation of play areas, community gardens and wildlife areas. Social Enterprises have developed, such as Christmas tree nurseries and plant sales putting money back into associations.

The ARI is now moving on from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation funding. The partners will explore opportunities for

continuing work as a partnership. Different models may be adapted in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, according to needs and the benefits that new country-specific

partnerships may bring.

“As an allotments

officer it was interesting

to hear the views of the

active plot holders.

Was surprised by the

enthusiasm and

support for allotments.

Good to meet so many

people trying to do the

same as me.”

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With thanks to:

Steering Group Jeremy Iles FCFCG Geoff Stokes Neil Dixon Dr Richard Wiltshire Mike Gosnell Mick Branaghan Mentors Peter Garioch Ian Welsh John Doherty Phil Gomersall Phil Ward Mike Parsons

“Brilliant. It has opened

my eyes and alleviated

some of my worst fears.

Really good trainers,

lots to take forward.”

Comments made by participant at ARI event: Bristol health and safety training course, 23/4/05

Advisors Helen Raper Steve Clampin Angela Poole Steve Cole Judy Wilkinson Mike Brannigan Staff Bethan Stagg Deborah Burn Carmel Ferguson Hannah Durrant Diane Godwin Jeff Barber Ian White Sarah Rideout Celia Kabia Linda Nicholson Brian Eason

ARI is a partnership project involving the following organisations: Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, National Allotment Gardens Trust, and National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners.

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For further information on the

Allotments Regeneration Initiative,

please contact:

Allotments Regeneration Initiative

The GreenHouse Hereford Street Bristol BS3 4NA Tel: 0117 9631551 Fax: 0117 9231900 Email: [email protected] www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari