Our Allotments
Although working an allotment requires a few hours commitment each week from Spring through to Autumn, growing your own vegetables and fruit on an allotment garden is a great way to get outdoors, be active and eat well.
Cultivation of the site’s fertile land has enhanced its productivity, so with a little effort and good management a large variety of crops can be produced, including soft fruit and a broad range of vegetables.
The usual range of potatoes, beans, brassicas and roots is complimented by more exotic crops, like asparagus and celeriac. Rhubard abounds, and Apple, pear and cherry trees have appeared alongside the blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and currants.
Access to the Allotments
An unmade lane provides access to the allotment site which, because it doesn’t lead to anywhere else, is strictly for the use of allotment holders only.
Parking and Deliveries
As well as offering limited parking for allotment holders, it also provides access for authorised tractors to the site for the delivery of compost and manure.
Our Allotments
Applying for a plot on Knapton Allotments
How to apply…
You can apply to rent an allotment plot in a number of ways. You can…
Once your application has been vetted and accepted, we will contact you with details of any plots available.
If none are available immediately, your name will be added to the Allotment Waiting List.
Plot Choice
If you are interested in renting a plot and you reside within the Knapton Parish, we’d be happy to show you around and give you the opportunity to view the available plot before deciding whether to take it on.
Plot Deposit
All new plot owners are required to pay a deposit of £20 before a plot is allocated. This is due to the Allotment Association retaining the right to reclaim from a departing tenant the cost of restoring their plot to a tenantable condition, should it be necessary.
However the Association will not cause hardship and will be considerate towards any applicant with a limited ability to pay that it believes could enjoy the benefits of allotment gardening.
This deposit is returnable upon termination of the tenancy, if the plot is relinquished in a clean and tidy tenantable state.
Plot Acceptance
Plots are issued on an annually renewable basis and all plot holders are asked to sign a new 12-month Tenancy Agreement each year with effect from 11th October.
Once both parties have agreed, the paperwork is done and all necessary monies paid over, the plot is passed to the tenant for them to use within the Allotment Conditions of Use to grow fruit and vegetables for their table.
Many of our allotment holders give some of their crop to local charities and Care Homes and most are often seen swapping fruit or veg between themselves on the site.
That’s nice…
Allotment Plot Waiting List
Because our allotments are popular and plots are not always available, there is an official Waiting List which is managed by the Allotment Association.
The policy for maintaining this list, which ensures complete transparency and fairness for all applicants, operates as follows;
- residents of Knapton Parish will always be given preference over non-residents
- plots are allocated in order of the date that we received the application
- applicants that choose to refuse an available plot on two separate occasions will be put to the bottom of the Waiting List, as it is at that time
- parishioners who do not already have an allotment will take priority over parishioners who already hold a plot
- new, inexperienced plot holders may be allocated smaller sized plots initially
- existing smaller plot holders may be given first refusal on an adjacent additional smaller plot (only if there is no waiting list)
- existing plot holders may be offered a full size plot on relinquishment of a smaller plot, subject to availability (official request required)
- no more than one full size plot per plot holder (unless there is no waiting list)
The Association will advise the next person on the Waiting List as soon as it receives notification from the holding tenant that the plot will become available and when their tenancy could start (which could be several months later)
Should that applicant not want the available plot, it will be passed to the next applicant on the list, and so on.