Self Sufficient in Morden.. chickens and vegetables in a small space

I had always gone on the assumption that allotments had a huge waiting list, and looking at the landshare site where you find like-minded individuals in your local area to petition the local council revealed one particular group of locals with the slogan “let’s beat the 30 year waiting lists in Sutton!” – so naturally, I never imagined I’d be able to get an allotment.

The truth – at least in my local area of Sutton – is that there is actually a lot of plots going free all the time, as inevitably people give them up or move.

I decided that I may as well just call up the council anyway, and see exactly what the state of waiting lists was. I put name down for 3 sites close by, which the lovely lady recommended due to their high turnover. By my estimate – given my number in the queue and how many opened up each month – I reckoned the wait would be 6-9 months. Less than a month later I got a letter saying I could go and choose a plot, as about 8 had opened up. I went down that day, chose the scruffiest one there – a neglected corner plot that had a little extra land by the looks of it, and perhaps some hidden treasures in amongst the brambles –  and had my allotment key the following day. Here it is!

We’re making slow progress, but I’ve ordered a 4-stroke petrol trimmer to pull down the rest of the weeds. We also found 4 or 5 little fruit bushes, but won’t be able to tell exactly what they are until they get some foliage or start fruiting.

Anyway, if you’ve been put off by the thought of long waiting lists, I really would encourage you to get in touch with your local council – you might be surprised how soon you’re a proud new allotmenter (allotmenteer?). Stay tuned for more updates on progress!