Allotments in Hastings by Hilary Totah - Hastings Handbook November 2007


Allotments are very trendy at the moment. The profile of your average allotment holder has changed from the traditional man with cloth cap escaping to the allotment shed, to a wider mix including more women, trendy young couples and families bringing their children to experience nature. With the news full of food scares and obesity stories it‘s not surprising that growing your own food is starting to have a revival, offering an ideal opportunity to eat organic, home grown food. The origins of the allotment go back to the eighteenth century when the landless poor were allotted a small strip of land to grow the food needed for their families. Later, in Victorian times when many poor people left the country to work in towns, allotments provided what the Victorians saw as an antidote to degeneracy amongst the working classes - an alternative to drink and other ‘unworthy’ pursuits. During the Second World War, there was a huge growth in the number of allotments. Dig for Victory’ posters were everywhere and increasingly allotments provided a major part of the fruit and vegetables people ate, many farm-workers having gone to war. Our town has 14 thriving allotment sites. The Hastings and St. Leonard’s Allotment Federation acts as an independent lobbying force for all allotment gardeners in the Borough. In the last two years this group has persuaded Hastings council to spend £150.000 on improvements to allotments. Security and water access has been improved, specially adapted plots for disabled users have been provided on one site and even a composting toilet has been constructed. Contact Hastings council if you want an allotment. For new enquiries and availability of allotments phone HBC on (01424) 451853, website: www.hastings.gov.uk/allotments/default.aspx There are some plots available, but the most popular sites now have waiting lists, reflecting the growing popularity of allotments.	Some sites have open days and you can go and look round. Consider sharing an allotment with someone else to spread the workload. To prepare your new allotment, you don’t necessarily have to double dig the site – the traditional method of cultivation. Lots of green manures like clover and vetch smother weeds and break up the soil eliminating the need to dig. Or use plastic sheeting, carpet or other mulch over winter to suppress weeds and prepare the plot. Making raised beds, once they have been prepared, can make gardening easier as digging becomes unnecessary. Ask advice and help from other allotment owners – they will know the soil conditions, what thrives and may even offer you cuttings and seeds to get you started. Having an allotment means that you will have fresh food that will taste exactly that - fresh, a wonderful sense of achievement, an opportunity to participate in community activities and a place to enjoy the outdoors, see birds, badgers and foxes. Children will love it.

Allotments are very trendy at the moment.
The profile of your average allotment holder has changed from the traditional man with cloth cap escaping to the allotment shed, to a wider mix including more women, trendy young couples and families bringing their children to experience nature. With the news full of food scares and obesity stories it‘s not surprising that growing your own food is starting to have a revival, offering an ideal opportunity to eat organic, home grown food.

The origins of the allotment go back to the eighteenth century when the landless poor were allotted a small strip of land to grow the food needed for their families. Later, in Victorian times when many poor people left the country to work in towns, allotments provided what the Victorians saw as an antidote to degeneracy amongst the working classes - an
alternative to drink and other ‘unworthy’ pursuits.

During the Second World War, there was a huge growth in the number of allotments. Dig for Victory’ posters were everywhere and increasingly allotments provided a major part of the fruit and vegetables people ate, many farm-workers having gone to war.

Our town has 14 thriving allotment sites. The Hastings and St. Leonard’s Allotment Federation acts as an independent lobbying force for all allotment gardeners in the Borough. In the last two years this group has persuaded Hastings council to spend £150.000 on improvements to allotments. Security and water access has been improved, specially adapted plots for disabled users have been provided on one site and even a composting toilet has been constructed.

Contact Hastings council if you want an allotment. For new enquiries and availability of allotments phone HBC on (01424) 451853, website: www.hastings.gov.uk/allotments/default.aspx There are some plots available, but the most popular sites now have waiting lists, reflecting the growing popularity of allotments.

Some sites have open days and you can go and look round. Consider sharing an allotment with someone else to spread the workload.

To prepare your new allotment, you don’t necessarily have to double dig the site – the traditional method of cultivation. Lots of green manures like clover and vetch smother weeds and break up the soil eliminating the need to dig. Or use plastic sheeting, carpet or other mulch over winter to suppress weeds and prepare the plot.

Making raised beds, once they have been prepared, can make gardening easier as digging becomes unnecessary. Ask advice and help from other allotment owners – they will know the soil conditions, what thrives and may even offer you cuttings and seeds to get you started.

Having an allotment means that you will have fresh food that will taste exactly that - fresh, a wonderful sense of achievement, an opportunity to participate in community activities and a place to enjoy the outdoors, see birds, badgers and foxes. Children will love it.

Spades