Desperate for fresh growth

APPEAL . . . Steve Anderson at Wildbrook Crescent allotments

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ALLOTMENT plots are falling into disrepair after waiting lists dwindled leaving several plots in the borough vacant.

Oldham's allotment sites are keen to encourage more green-fingered folk to take up the healthy hobby and halt the decline.

The borough currently has 20 allotment sites, offering residents the chance to grow their own fruit and vegetables and improve their health through activity, however many are experiencing problems as plots become vacant with no-one waiting to take them on.

Diane Drinkwater, site secretary at the Cartmel Crescent allotments in Chadderton, said: "When we first set up the allotments site in 2011, we used a neighbouring site's waiting list to find people who would be interested in getting involved.

"We found that people had been on the list for so long that they had moved or were no longer able to take up an allotment.

"Since then we've had a waiting list of around three or four people but recently it has declined to no waiting list and we have an empty half plot waiting for someone to take it on."

She added that while there has been rising interest levels in growing food and an increase in community growing hubs in the area, this has not translated to enquiries about allotments.

"In the past, people expected to be waiting years for a plot, but we now have space and plots becoming available with no waiting list," she said.

"We are keen to promote allotments again and let people know how they can get involved.

"It's great to be able to grow your own fruit and veg and be able to take them home and cook them for yourself.

"The effort of growing your own food really does make it taste better.

"Having an allotment is also very social and our allotment site regularly has barbecues and events together."

Stott's Lane allotment also has around a tenth of its plots empty.

Treasurer Catherine Charnock said: "I think one of the reasons why waiting lists have declined is that people think they'll have wait 20 years before they'll get a plot but that's not the case at the moment.

"I also don't think people are aware of the facilities in Oldham and we need to raise awareness that there are allotment sites here."

She added that since she began on site over 13 years ago (with the past seven spent on the committee) the site had always had a waiting list.

"We used to have around 50 people on our waiting list, but we found that many had started an allotment at another site and not taken themselves off our list or had now decided they didn't want to take it up due to health or another reason."

"It can be a project to get an allotment plot set up, especially if it has been neglected by someone previously, but once it is organised it should not be a huge time commitment, only a couple of hours a week.

"Of course people can spend as much time as they want to at the allotment."

Steve Anderson, chairman of the Allotment Association, also believes that working on an allotment can be a rewarding hobby for people to take up and is keen to seen new people at the allotments on Wildbrook Crescent and Eve Street.

"At the moment we have four half plots vacant and they have been empty for around a year," he said.

"We are keen for some people to get involved as soon as possible as we have two concerns.

"At the moment we are missing the income from the allotment plots, which we rely on for the upkeep of the entire site, and as they are not being tended too, they can become overgrown with weeds quickly spreading onto others.

"It is a time commitment but it can also be a very rewarding hobby.

"We have members who live in flats so enjoy having a space where they can relax in the evenings, others enjoy coming after work and relieving the stress of the day by tending to their allotment.

"We also have families who are planting together and teaching their children about growing food and where vegetables come from so it is also very educational."

To find out more about allotments in Oldham contact Diane Drinkwater on 07882-483 085 or visit www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200277/allotments_and_gardening/671/allotments.

For enquiries about the Stott's Lane allotments contact slascommunity@hotmail.com.