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Allotments Regeneration Initiative 2002-2006
A summary of a programme to support and develop the use of allotments across communities in the UK
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“We would like to express our thanks to Allotment Regeneration Initiative staff for providing us first class local Mentor support and best of all a travel bursary to attend a project in Swindon working with vulnerable adults.� Kevin Chubb, Inroads Go! Allotment Project for people with drug and substance mis-use issues.
2 Introduction
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Introduction The Allotments Regeneration Initiative (ARI) was launched in 2002 by the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG) with the support of Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. A total of £1,070,968 was invested in this initiative by the Foundation. £850,000 was given to support the development of best-practice models for regenerating underused allotment sites, or for finding complimentary ways of maintaining allotments as publicly accessible open spaces.
Allotments provide an oasis of green in built-up areas, and provide access to publicly owned land.
In 2005, the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, the representative body for city farms, community gardens and similar community-led organisations in the UK, was awarded a further grant of £220,968 over two years to continue the advice, mentoring and training services.
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Introduction 3
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"Allotments are valuable assets to communities and play a vital role in improving the quality of life for people in urban areas. The Allotment Regeneration Initiative has come at an important time for urban green spaces of all types and I will follow its progress with interest." Tony McNulty, Parliamentary Under Secretary, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2002-2003
4 History and background
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History and background Allotments were created as a response to urbanisation following the industrial revolution, providing small pockets of land for displaced rural people and the new urban workers to supplement their income and diets. Allotments as we now know them have been an integral part of the urban landscape in the UK for over a century.
Allotment gardening initially peaked in World War I, and then again in the 1940s when people were urged to ‘dig for victory’ during World War II. From the 1950s, greater affluence and convenience shopping led many people to stop growing their own food, and this meant that allotments often became under used and neglected. In the twenty-first century, allotments are going through something of a renaissance, supported by the Allotments Regeneration Initiative. They provide a sustainable source of healthy local food, as well as exercise, and education for local communities, plus an important biodiversity habitat for native flora and fauna. Allotments provide an oasis of green in built-up areas, and provide access to publicly owned land.
apparent at country, regional and local level. The stereo-typical image of the allotmenteer is of the retired, white male plotholder tending his vegetables. But there are many other allotment cultures to be celebrated too, with sites playing host to a mixture of people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds who are growing foods from the UK and around the globe. Families are learning about where food comes from; organic growers and competitive vegetable growers practice their own particular style of growing. All are gardening on allotment sites throughout the UK.
demand. Consequently, provision has varied. Some allotment sites have been lost to development, while others have thrived and have become vibrant and pleasant places.
“Good ideas about how the Council can facilitate local allotment groups to benefit plot holders.” Comments made by participant at ARI event: London regional seminar, 14/09/04
Legislation to provide and protect allotments varies across the UK and has affected their distribution and uptake. Local authorities in England and Wales have a statutory provision to provide allotments, but in The UK’s wide cultural diversity is Scotland and Northern Ireland reflected on allotment sites, with there is no legal obligation on different allotment sub-cultures councils to provide allotments on
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“We would like to express our thanks to Allotment Regeneration Initiative staff for always being on the end of the phone or email when we needed advice.” Kevin Chubb, Inroads Go! Allotment Project for people with drug and substance mis-use issues
6 ARI – the project
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ARI – the project In 2001, the Local Government Association published, Growing in the community, a good practice guide for the management of allotments. This publication, along with some significant changes to planning policy, was the major outcome of the 1998 Select Committee Inquiry into the future for allotments. ARI’s starting point was to use Growing in the community’s recommendations as the core of its work. ARI’s partners had previously worked together on a steering group during the writing of Growing in the community. ARI adopted and formalised this partnership. A steering group of representatives from the partners has managed ARI’s strategic direction. FCFCG has been involved in day-to-day project and staff management. ARI’s vision is to get more people growing on allotments, both individually and as communities. ARI has done this by working with anyone interested in being involved in allotment regeneration. An eclectic mix of people and organisations are involved with allotments, encompassing plotholders, allotment associations, council officers, community groups, statutory organisations such as NHS, SureStart, Probation Service, Wildlife Trusts, Friends of the Earth, BTCV, Groundwork, voluntary and community agencies, and elected councillors.
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While not a membership organisation, since its inception ARI has collated a database of organisations interested in allotment regeneration. To date almost 3,000 entries have been registered, representing the diverse organisations and individuals working toward a positive future for allotments in the UK. The users themselves have helped shape the ARI programme. Research, feedback and suggestions from users have helped form the ARI programme to become a service that reflects its users needs. All contacts receive a regular copy of the ARI newsletter, access to a wide range of publications, invitations to events, and are encouraged to engage with ARI services on an ongoing basis to develop a supportive network.
“Really like the new all colour ARI newsletter – carry on the good work. It has always been very readable and I keep every copy.” Joan Russell, Prudhoe Community Allotment
Between 2002 and 2004, funding was provided by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation specifically for practical allotment regeneration via three grant schemes.
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“After many years of effort, we have managed to obtain over £30,000 of grants and now have a special plot for people with special needs and wheelchair users.” Jane Baxter, Sefton Park Allotments, Liverpool
The volume of applications submitted to the schemes pointed to a trend of underinvestment by local authorities and government in many allotment sites, while also demonstrating a need for allotment associations to take a more active role in seeking funding for site improvements. The funding needs were diverse and included: ■
nature gardens
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disabled access plots
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fencing
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promotion and publicity
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plot clearance
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toilets
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events
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training
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orchards.
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Sixty organisations submitted preliminary bids for larger grants, of which seven were successful. All were pilot schemes to regenerate sites that had fallen into partial disuse and provided examples of good practice in allotment regeneration, to be disseminated and built upon nationally. Kate Lampard, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Trustee, announced the recipients of grants at the ARI launch seminar in Birmingham in April 2003.
3,000 organisations registered on the ARI database
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‘Those of us at Esmée Fairbairn involved with the Allotments Regeneration Initiative have been delighted with the number, variety and quality of the projects submitted for funding. We believe that some of the projects that have been chosen will provide examples for allotments regeneration elsewhere. We hope that the initiative as a whole will raise awareness of the threat of dereliction and sale facing many allotment plots, and focus attention on the many environmental as well as social benefits of allotment gardening.’ Kate Lampard Trustee, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
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Following on from a high-profile media campaign to launch the project, ARI engaged with mainstream and specialist publications, radio, and TV, in order to promote a positive and vibrant image of allotments. Articles have appeared in a range of national publications that cover a vast spectrum, from The Sunday Times to The Organic Way, from Disability Now to Eve Magazine.
“The information received was both useful and appropriate. I cannot praise his (mentor P Gomersall) input enough. Thank you for establishing this mentor system!” Comments made by recipients of a mentor site visit: Wakefield Allotments Network
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Meanwhile, ARI Mentors have been profile raising in the regions, with regular press, TV and radio coverage. ARI’s pilot projects did their bit too. The ARI funded Environ Allotments for All Officer in Leicester persuaded a local radio station to take a plot and give it a regular programme slot. This lead to BBC Radio 2 and a host of other stations taking on plots too. ARI has helped support TV producers in search of allotment locations for news items and programmes, for example candidates for green lifestyle TV programmes, and finding a female plotholder willing to get up at 6am for a BBC Breakfast Time to feature alongside FCFCG Director Jeremy Iles in Bristol.
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Events have been a key feature of ARI’s aim to facilitate and share good practice. All these events have helped to inform the development and direction of ARI, as well as providing useful resources for those involved in allotment regeneration. ARI events kicked off in 2003 with a national launch seminar in Birmingham, followed by a series of five regional seminars open to anyone involved in allotment regeneration. Via interactive workshops, delegates learnt about different aspects of allotment regeneration: accessing funding, working in partnership, devolved management of allotment sites by associations, site infrastructure improvements, and promoting allotments.
“The networking is always beneficial, the content of the course excellent. Covered every aspect of fund raising, excellent, well presented.” Comments made by participant at ARI event: York funding course 30/4/05
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Delegates also had the opportunity to meet with representatives from national organisations who are able to support allotments. Following the success of the seminars, ARI developed a three tier training course programme in 2005, aimed specifically at allotment associations, whilesimultaneously working in partnership with the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management to deliver training courses for councils, and providing bespoke courses for individual clients. Topics followed on from the seminars but at greater length and depth. Topics included: ■
introduction to allotment regeneration
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managing health and safety on allotments
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improving access for people with disabilities and mental health needs
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finding funds for allotment regeneration.
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Central to all ARI events is the opportunity to meet with others involved in allotment regeneration, in order to build supportive networks. Although allotments have strong community history within individual sites, allotment residents have not always networked or shared good practice with their kin. By meeting others and forging links and partnerships, ARI events serve to stimulate an exchange of expertise and develop networks of people involved in allotment regeneration around the UK.
Case study: YOE! (Youth Organic Environmental), Birmingham Based at Uplands allotment site in Birmingham, YOE! was awarded £2,500 under the small grants scheme to purchase gardening tools and books. Since the project’s launch in March 2003, 900 children have taken part. Project Manager Neville Lilly outlines their work ‘YOE! aims to encourage children into gardening, helping them to relate to the soil, understand how to grow vegetables and eat healthily.’
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A need for support and advice at a local level was identified in the early stages of the project, resulting in the formation and development of a national mentor network of volunteer allotment regeneration experts in England, Scotland and Wales. The mentors were recruited from allotment associations and organisations working directly with allotments to bring handson experience and expertise at grass-roots level. Mentors help with real live issues affecting allotments, such as how to set up an association, go self-managed, tackle the regeneration of a site, address aspects of site management such as vandalism, promotion, disability access, fencing, and involving community groups. Mentors can also help groups or service providers interested in setting up an allotment project, and councils wishing to build the capacity of their allotment associations and site portfolio. Help and support
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from mentors can be in the form of phone advice, on-site advice, training sessions, presentations, referral or mailing out of relevant information. All mentors are volunteers who willingly give a minimum of eight hours per month to ARI (but usually a lot more). Mentors receive training and support from ARI staff, along with two national training events per year. ARI has produced a comprehensive series of A4 size, eight page, technical factsheets and two technical packs on specific aspects of allotment regeneration, which users identified as being particularly challenging. These included titles such as Safe Sites, Promote the Plot, Gardeners in Charge and Allotments for All. Each fact sheet includes a resources section to signpost readers to resources and organisations that can give help and support.
“We have been encouraged along the way by your Initiative and by your Mentoring service (Alan Hull) – so many thanks for helping us along with our project.” Kevin Chubb, Inroads Go! Allotment Project for people with drug and substance mis-use issues
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As part of the ARI site visits travel bursary scheme, ARI published the Good Sites Guide, a directory listing allotment sites exhibiting good practice or innovative regeneration, region by region. These allotment sites are willing to host educational visits from other allotment holders who are keen to learn. A site profile, contact name, phone number and suitable times for visits are provided for each entry. ARI has collated a library of sample documents for allotment management in order to spread good practice, for example, council allotment strategies, leases, tenancy agreements, beekeeping guidance and plotholder starter packs. This has enabled users to benefit from the experience and knowledge of others when setting up their own projects.
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Sometimes a technical query can be so specific that it helps to have an expert at hand. ARI’s bespoke technical service offers free technical advice for anyone with a tricky issue. ARI staff can provide precise details on all aspects of allotment regeneration and help link people with organisations that can help and support them further. The ARI website includes latest news, information and publications. The ARI website has links to hundreds of other organisations.
£20,540 raised from Flagship Grant Scheme Case study: Devenish Partnership Forum, Eniskillen, Northern Ireland Funding of £20,540 from the Flagship Grants scheme created a brand new allotment on an area of previously overgrown grassland owned by a local community group, the Devenish Partnership Forum. A newly established Devenish Gardening Club now manage their new site, which is situated adjacent to a large social housing development. The site will not only provide a valuable green space and growing opportunities but will also help bring communities together in Enniskillen. Allotments in Northern Ireland are few and far between and this award highlights alternative approaches ARI’s development work has taken in different regions and countries in the UK. ARI – the project 13
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“We gained some useful ideas on recruitment and referral for our own project and saw some good best practice examples of allotment management and landscaping.” Kevin Chubb, Inroads Go! Allotment Project for people with drug and substance mis-use issues.
14 Allotments – the future
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Allotments – the future Allotments Regeneration Initiative has made a real difference to the position and future of allotments in the UK. There is anecdotal evidence of a higher uptake of allotments since ARI’s inception. Newer users are now coming on board, especially women, families, community groups and agencies.
Allotments now have a higher profile among the public and government. Many local authorities have, or are in the process of, producing a formal allotment strategy, enabling allotments to be included appropriately in council policies and processes. A trend of starting up brand new allotment sites has been identified, with several local authorities actively looking for land in order to cope with increased demand. The capacity and confidence of the allotments movement has developed, strengthened and diversified. A supportive network has been developed via the Mentor Network, publications, and events. Networking and sharing of good practice now occurs both within and outside the movement. Allotment associations are now keeping in touch with each other, helping and supporting their fellow growers through the challenges of revitalising their sites.
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More and more allotment associations and councils now understand the need to take an active role in fundraising and income generation, with many success stories: Dalmuir Plots Association in Glasgow has secured £4 million to regenerate their site as part of the wider Clydebank regeneration, rather than losing the site to redevelopment. Many smaller scale grant funding awards from a range of national and local funding bodies have launched associations into an exciting period of regeneration. Associations have found that raising money can be fun and brings in new plotholders. Hundreds of sites now open their gates for open days and activities during National Allotment Week in August.
Case study: The Scottish Tree Trust The trust was set up in 1980 to help prevent tree vandalism, now they are renovating Queen Park allotment site in Glasgow. They have used their £1000 ARI grant to purchase pathing and fencing materials. Coordinator Greer Hart explains, ‘This allotment site has had nothing done to it since 1915. We’re putting down slab paths because there were no safe pathways, just muddy tracks, and putting up fencing to stop the rabbits eating everything. Bus shelters get vandalized badly in Glasgow – we get the big panels from them and are using them to build six big greenhouses.’
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Partnerships have been initiated and developed on sites. Agencies have become aware of the benefits allotments can bring to their clients: NHS GP’s are offering allotments on prescription via Healthy Living Centres, disabled people are able to take part in allotment gardening on adapted plots, children are having outdoor lessons on school and youthgroup plots, and the Probation Service is working with associations to build free infrastructure on sites while giving young offenders valuable work and life skills.
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Complementary uses have prevented under-used and derelict plots being lost, with the installation of play areas, community gardens and wildlife areas. Social Enterprises have developed, such as Christmas tree nurseries and plant sales putting money back into associations. The ARI is now moving on from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation funding. The partners will explore opportunities for continuing work as a partnership. Different models may be adapted in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, according to needs and the benefits that new country-specific partnerships may bring.
“As an allotments officer it was interesting to hear the views of the active plot holders. Was surprised by the enthusiasm and support for allotments. Good to meet so many people trying to do the same as me.” Comments made by participant at ARI event: Leicester regional seminar, 10/2/05
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“Brilliant. It has opened my eyes and alleviated some of my worst fears. Really good trainers, lots to take forward.� Comments made by participant at ARI event: Bristol health and safety training course, 23/4/05
With thanks to: Steering Group Jeremy Iles FCFCG Geoff Stokes Neil Dixon Dr Richard Wiltshire Mike Gosnell Mick Branaghan
Staff Bethan Stagg Deborah Burn Carmel Ferguson Hannah Durrant Diane Godwin
Advisors Helen Raper Steve Clampin Angela Poole Steve Cole Judy Wilkinson Mike Brannigan
Mentors Peter Garioch Ian Welsh John Doherty Phil Gomersall Phil Ward Mike Parsons
Jeff Barber Ian White Sarah Rideout Celia Kabia Linda Nicholson Brian Eason
ARI is a partnership project involving the following organisations: Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, National Allotment Gardens Trust, and National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners.
18 With thanks to
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For further information on the Allotments Regeneration Initiative, please contact: Allotments Regeneration Initiative The GreenHouse Hereford Street Bristol BS3 4NA Tel: 0117 9631551 Fax: 0117 9231900 Email: ari@farmgarden.org.uk www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari
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Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the largest independent grantmaking foundations in the UK. It makes grants of around £29 million each year to organisations to improve the quality of life for people and communities in the UK both now and in the future. It has four grantmaking programmes, Arts & Heritage, Education, Environment and Social Change: Enterprise and Independence. The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG) is the representative body for city farms, community gardens and similar community-led organisations in the UK.
October 2006 Published by: Esmée Fairbairn Foundation 11 Park Place London SW1A 1LP www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk Registered charity 200051