Residents of the borough of Hounslow are now able to enjoy the many benefits that come with the cultivation of an allotment plot with the highest rate of occupancy recorded for many years.
Published: Wednesday, 17th May 2023
Nearly 2,000 plots are now filled – one of the largest portfolios of allotments in London.
Residents of the borough are now able to enjoy the many benefits that come with the cultivation of an allotment plot with the highest rate of occupancy recorded for many years.
The Council has worked hard on a range of measures over the last year to allow residents who want to grow their own fresh fruit and vegetables, the opportunity to cultivate land that they can call their own.
Hounslow benefits from one of the largest portfolios of allotments in London with a total of around 1,950 plots. With an explosion of interest in gardening and living a sustainable lifestyle, the Council outlined its green ambitions in its Allotment Strategy in 2020 with the aim to offer an improved and modernised service by 2025.
Lampton Services Greenspace, which delivers allotment services on behalf of the Council, has been working over the winter to clear a backlog of allotment plot clearance works required, post Covid-19. Over 182 plots were renovated or improved for letting. This very successful project now means the Council has reached 100 per cent occupancy across the 29 active allotment sites.
Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Parking, Parks and Leisure said: “Allotments are vital to the health and wellbeing of Hounslow’s residents. We have worked hard and continue to meet the demand for allotments. They are essential for the biodiversity of our borough and for our ambitions to see a greener Hounslow.
“We want to ensure all residents who value and treasure land have a space they can call their own. That is why we are bringing in measures to optimise the spaces on our sites that are not being cared for as they deserve and given to residents on our waiting lists.
“I’d like to underline our commitment as a Council to maximising plots available to residents as we know that demand remains high. We are working on a new project to further increase allotment capacity across the borough.”
An important role that tenants can play is to keep the Council informed of any changes in address or contact details; this will also help the Council to understand if the need for a plot remains with a tenant or if the plot is no longer needed and can be re-let.
An allotment plot often requires restoration after a period of non-cultivation. This can be a resource-intensive process but the Council is committed improving availability and cutting the waiting list.
There are also alternatives to letting an allotment if residents want to work on a gardening project. Residents can adopt trees through Hounslow Greentalk, join a ‘local friends’ of parks group and/or the Environment Champions programme. There are also opportunities to volunteer at local community gardens or identify spaces where new community gardens could be created and maintained by volunteers.
To apply for an allotment place, please visit: www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20168/parks_and_open_spaces/1558/allotments or call: 020 8583 6618
If you have already filled in an application form, there is no need to contact us.
