Allotment community responds to council’s proposals

New rules in the Food Growing & Allotments chapter of Bristol City Council’s new Parks & Green Spaces strategy have caused alarm across the city’s community of growers.

A ‘Bristol Allotmenteers Resist’ group, now with over 320 members, is working on a set of counter-proposals to be discussed at a meeting on January 4.

Grievances include proposed hikes in plot fees, the possibility of widespread tree felling, a split between nature and food gardening, and a disregard for plot holders’ views and experience.

Here are a selection of allotment holders’ concerns, as shared with Bristol24/7.

The council’s proposals have caused anxiety for plot holders citywide, including those at the Farm allotments near Troopers Hill – photo: Sam Ford

On price hikes:

“I don’t understand how a city that has promised to work towards food justice – equal access to healthy, local food and growing opportunities – can set out to double allotment fees overnight.

“They are making food growing inaccessible, and the impact will be huge. People will be forced to leave their allotments.” Edible Bristol founder Sara Venn, Speedwell and Lawrence Weston allotments

“These proposals are both half-baked and draconian at the same time.  It’s a one size fits all solution when there is a massive variation in plots.

“It will force me off the allotment I’ve had for more than fifteen years.  My plot is north-facing on a steep hill.  Over the years, I have worked out that fruit trees and soft fruit are the two things that work best.

“I keep the trees small but nevertheless they will have to go and if I don’t remove them myself before I leave I will be sent a £900 bill.” Anon.

“They are removing the half price concession on sites with no water, meaning a three or four-times increase in charges – ours would rise from £42.50 to £158 on a site with no water and no council input. We’re fuming.

“These new charges place Bristol allotments way at the top end of ‘core cities’. And from what I’ve researched, all the others give a 25% or 50% reduction for pensioners. Only Bristol doesn’t.” Harry Mac, Lynmouth Road allotments

“I’m having quite an emotional response to this situation. Fear of losing such an important part of my life is very scary. My allotment has saved my mental health and possibly my life many times over the last 20-odd years.

“I understand the need to increase rent, but the idea I might get lots of different random charges or be expected to replace things I can’t afford like my greenhouse makes me feel that people like me are being pushed out.” Lou, Arlington Road allotments in St. Anne’s

Allotmenteers claim the new charges for Bristol allotments would place them at the top end of plots across the UK’s ‘core cities’ – photo: Harry Mac

On new growing restrictions:

“In early 2023 we saw the council coming down hard on any plot holders with a slightly wilder and unkempt ‘kinder to nature’ plot. The trees and overgrown wild spaces the council seek to remove form a vital urban mosaic of habitats that would cause immense environmental destruction to remove.” Jo

“I’d like to hear their reasoning around limiting solely to food growing. This is not the only or even primary reason many have allotments. I have a 75% shaded plot. You’d not get a lot of food out of it but you can get a lot of herbs and other shade loving plants.

“My allotment is a site of special scientific interest, host to an array of wildlife including owls, badgers, slow worms and ground nesting bees.

“I grow medicinal plants and herbs, and plants for dyeing clothing, which look more unruly than most food items and can be mistaken for weeds. There’s a hawthorn tree on my plot with berries high in vitamin C that I make chutney from. The new rules require me to remove it.

“I treat my plot like an ‘allotment garden’, as described in current guidance, with space for meditation and for my family to play. There are diminishing places children can explore the natural world freely, getting their hands in the mud. To lose this in favour of the more intensive food growing the new rules seem to encourage would be very sad.” Rebecca Burton, Beaufort Road allotments

“A year or so ago the council wrote to us all suggesting we liaise with our local wildlife groups to make sites more wildlife friendly and put in more ponds.

“Now they want to remove trees and charge for ponds. It’s so muddled.” Lou

Lou says that, as well as being a productive place for food growing, plot holders at Arlington Road allotments in St. Anne’s ‘all love the wildlife’ there – photo: Lou W

On the council’s process:

“Volunteers, plot holders and site reps, do the bulk of site maintenance and logistics, so should be fully included in decision making.” Anon.

“It’s a grave mistake to ignore the voices of those who have been cultivating the land for many years. The sites depend on mutual support and community. Deprioritising this is a mistake and risks undermining the aims of the green strategy the council talks about.

“They’ve disregarded immense knowledge and value ‘on the ground.’ As though our experiences and relationships with the land we have been working don’t matter. As if trees don’t matter. It’s awful.” Rebecca Burton

“Our allotments have been in chaos for the last ten years. Plots are unused and volunteer site reps are overworked.

“We do need a revamp – but we need to make sure the voices of the current plot holders are listened to, so that a new system can be co-created.” Sara Venn

The ‘beautiful’ Beaufort Road site is home to a host of different trees, plants and wildlife. Plot holders are worried the new rules would diminish its nature-friendly elements – photo: Rebecca Burton

Campaigners are calling for participatory decision-making, an increase in citywide community-owned allotments,  wildlife surveys of plots and a blanket ban on pesticide use.

To solve current issues group members suggest a deposit scheme to cover any necessary plot clearance, a list of community growing projects provided to those on waiting lists, shared resource sheds, and probation volunteer days to help maintain sites.

The consultation is open until January 22, respond here: www.ask.bristol.gov.uk/bristol-allotment

Sign the petition objecting to the new rules: www.change.org/p/objections-to-bristol-city-council-s-changes-to-allotment-rules-and-rent

Join the meeting at 7pm on January 4 2024 at St. Werburgh’s Community Centre to learn more.

Main photo: Harry Mac

This piece of independent journalism is supported by The Extra Mile and the Bristol24/7 public and business membership.

Read next:

• Allotmenteers resist council’s ‘draconian’ new rules
• Alarm as allotment costs could more than double
• The biggest political moments in Bristol in 2023

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