For our July meeting we decided to do something different. We visited one of our allotments in Walthamstow to learn more about running an allotment, what it entails, what is the commitment and what you can grow. We had a very good turnout and the weather was lovely and sunny. We had an interesting and informative talk from Barbara Humm who has an allotment at the site and then a tour where we got to meet some of the people on their allotments. It was very interesting to see the different styles and how people arrange their crops and flowers. We finished the evening with refreshments, plant sales and networking.
Barbara’s talk:
Chestnuts Farm Allotments started in 1914 when there was a drive for people to grow their own food. It was originally much bigger, and covered the ground from Chingford Road to Forest Road. Some of the area was taken over by the council to build the Leisure Centre, and the site was extended beyond the original hedge. There are 65 plots, some divided into smaller plots. The minimum size is 4 rods, and the largest are 12 rods. Most are 10 rods. (A rod was used to control a team of oxen when working on the land and measures 5.5 yards (5.03 metres).
We form part of Walthamstow Town’s Allotment Association. There are 3 other sites in the Association, and we work together. We pay rent to the council and manage the site ourselves with a committee.
The building site behind the Town Hall is going ahead and the developers gave us a portacabin and a notice board to keep us sweet. They reduced the height of the flats because we complained that they would overshadow the plots at the top of the site.
We have a long waiting list, but because so many people want allotments now, we have introduced a helper scheme. This means people can sign up for a year to help someone who is struggling to keep their plot in order. It gives people an idea of how much work is involved in keeping a plot productive. People often take a plot on then give up because they don’t have time to come regularly.
There are a lot more families with young children on site now. When I took my plot on 23 years ago, it was mainly grumpy old men who didn’t really want women on the site. There were a lot of unused plots, so I could take my pick.
I was quickly asked to be on the committee. When I went to my first meeting, I asked where the minutes were, and was told, Oh we don’t bother with that. The accounts were written on a scrappy bit of paper. I started changing that, and have been trying to get off the committee ever since!
We try to grow organically, and don’t encourage weedkillers or pesticides. We have mains water, but try to encourage the use of saved rainwater where possible. No hoses are allowed. We have a school plot, and a toddlers group which meet once a month.
The cost of a plot is about £80 a year which goes towards all the costs, water bills, rent to the council, insurance, equipment maintenance and other expenses.
Contact Barbara if you would like to be considered for the waiting list.
Pictures of the visit to the Chestnuts Farm allotments in Chingford Road.