Allotments
The Society manages the allotment site adjacent to the Trading Hut. Click for map.
News
Enquiries and requests for allotments continue to flood in with more and more names being added to the waiting lists as most people now appreciate the benefits that even a small plot can give. Just being able to be outside in the sunshine and fresh air is enjoyable enough but it is also relaxing, stress relieving and socially rewarding.
The partnership between WADAGS and Walton Charity is now firmly established with a strong commitment for the continued recovery of more allotments. A large area of Terrace Road Allotments, which was completely overgrown with trees and brambles, was cleared last autumn resulting in the arrival of 23 new tenants. In just a few short weeks the site is now being transformed by all the activity that is going on as these ‘newcomers’ lick their plots into shape.Work will start on the Burhill site in March with the clearing a number of overgrown plots. This should be completed in time for the new tenants to enjoy a full growing season.
The Home Farm Allotment tenants and WADAGS are currently in discussion with Walton Charity seeking to secure self management of the site. These discussions are ongoing but it is hoped that an agreement will be in place in the next three of four months. Rydens Road Allotments are now an absolute gem, an example of a model allotment site. Full occupancy, a healthy waiting list and some exciting projects planned. As these are progressed details will be put on our website.
Elm Grove Allotments, although it is the smallest of the five sites, it has the most number of tenants. Some only require nothing larger than a quarter plot. Many of our newer tenants are young families who find it an excellent way to introduce their children into learning how to grow some food for themselves rather than to buy it all from a supermarket. We tend to forget just how much of a dependant society we have become with all our daily needs provided for us by someone else. Hopefully realizing this should make us all try to be even more self-sufficient.
Last year we felt really privileged to be asked by Ashley Primary School to host a visit for a group of 60-70 children to our allotment site. Although it took place in mid September, when most crops were in decline and plots were definitely not looking their best, the visit was a resounding success. I am not sure who enjoyed it the most, the children, the escort of teachers and parents or us. The school has followed up with a request for an ongoing link with the Society to which we have been delighted to agree.
Vegetable Plants
A local commercial nursery is growing a range of vegetable plants exclusively for the Allotment Society and these will be on sale in the Hut during April and May. All will be supplied in trays of twelve ready for transplanting. They will include: - Cabbage (Greyhound), Calabrese (Marathon), Cauliflower (All the Year Round), Peppers, Chillies, Sweet Corn and a few extras that we are currently adding to the list. Because this is an entirely new venture we have absolutely no idea of how many to order. We will err on the side of caution and so it must be first come first served. Once they are gone they are gone. They will be priced at £2 per tray but Peppers and Chillies may be a few pence more.John Brine
Allotments
Walton and Hersham have always been regarded as highly successful fruit and vegetable growing areas. In the 1920's and 30's much of the surrounding area was still occupied by farms and market gardens as well as numerous allotment sites. Even as recently as 1938 there were 16 separate allotments sites and no doubt many more "Dig for Victory" sites sprang up for the duration of WWII. Walton and Hersham still has the largest number of allotments than in any other part of Elmbridge. Walton Charities provide four sites, Terrace Road, Rydens Road, Home Farm and Burhill with about 280 - 300 plots occupied. The fifth site is Elm Grove which is leased from Elmbridge Council by the Society to provide allotments for its members. The site is situated a few minutes walk from the town centre and has 48 full size plots (90' x 30') which are mostly divided into half or quarter plots for over 70 plotholders. The site is now fully occupied with a waiting list but vacancies do regularly occur and so waiting time is never too long.
Materials and skips
The society generally provide skips at the beginning of the year to allow for a cleaning of the allotment site. Please note that compostable materials should not be placed in the skip, but should either be composted on the allotment-holder's plot or in the communal compost bins behind the communal shed near the trading hut.
Please also note that loose glass, carpets and sharp metal objects are no longer allowed on site. Although it may once have been common practise to use old carpets as ground cover, we can now easily obtain the proper material that is used by the commercial grower. Glass is really far too dangerous to continue to have spread around an allotment site like ours which is accessed by so many people and especially children. Greenhouses are allowed, with written permission. Metal such as angle iron also becomes dangerous when it is sharp and rusty.
Recommended Reading
The only gardening books that I can confidently recommend to all allotment holders are “The Vegetable Expert” by Dr. Hessayon and its companion book on fruit. Although the original books were written about 20 years ago the basic information on growing and caring for crops cannot be bettered but the recommended timings of sowing and cropping no longer matches up with what is happening today on our allotments.
Some crops are now being sown up to four weeks earlier and additional crops are now being grown at the end of the season on into our milder autumns. When the books were written many crops such as aubergines, peppers and even tomatoes were considered too tender to be grown successfully in the open and had to be either under cloches or in a “warm spot in front of a south-facing wall”. These are all now grown successfully without any special protection.
Availability
To inquire about availability, please email society@wadags.co.uk
| Full Plot | Half Plot | Quarter Plot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plot Rental Rates | £15 | £10 | £7 |
| Water Rates* | £15 | £8 | £5 |
| Fence Surcharge‡ | £5 | £5 | £5 |
*The water charge is calculated from the previous year's water consumption
‡The Fence Surcharge is to repay the loan granted to replace the fence in 2007