Why Boroughbridge Needed Allotments

 

Enquiries were made regarding the availability of allotments locally:

  • Boroughbridge – 6 private allotments
  • Harrogate (12 miles)
  • Knaresborough (7 miles)
  • Ripon (9 miles).

All local sites had long waiting lists. People from Boroughbridge were known to occupy allotments in Ripon.

 

A public meeting held in Boroughbridge in December 2009 identified 27 people requesting allotments, and that number has increased steadily by people contacting us via this website or via the Town Council. The Society also had a stall at a local event that produced positive feedback regarding the creation of local allotments.  

The society consulted the Allotments Regeneration Initiative and they advised that in their experience those numbers would increase substantially once the allotments become available. This was indeed the case.  Once the first phase of allotments were released, the waiting list began to grow, and very quickly it became clear that further allotments were needed in order to satisfy demand.

 

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(aerial view - Boroughbridge)

  The town centre is compact, the housing tending to have small or no gardens. Recent expansion has resulted in new build houses and flats many with limited gardening space.This can be seen in the above picture.

 

The allotments aimed to provide a facility, open to all, helping to foster a community spirit and giving an opportunity to many that is currently unavailable.

Those requesting an allotment from the Society have included:

  • Employed and unemployed people
  • Retired and semi retired
  • Young families
  • Women
  • Experienced gardeners and complete novices
In other words there is no such thing as a "typical" allotment gardener - it is an opportunity open to all.
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(view of the Aldborough Gate Allotment site - April 2010)
Unsuprisingly the vast majority of people joining the society do not have sufficient garden space at home to grow their own vegetables.
On a conservative estimate we believe that 2 people will have direct involvement in each allotment. This equates to almost 4% of the Boroughbridge population being involved directly with the site on a regular basis. Realistically we believe that we could get 8% of the community actively involved with the allotments
Creating a community space at Aldborough Gate for the use of all residents will increase use of the site creating a useful community amenity.
Please feel free to join the allotment project
 
 




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Boroughbridge Allotment Society - Email: boroughbridge.allotments@hotmail.co.uk

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