Allotment Sites
The Town Council provides and manages six allotment sites located across the town at Catchacre, Hillcroft, Maidenbower Avenue, Meadway, Pascomb Road, and Westfield Road.
The allotment sites vary in size from a fairly small site at Pascomb Road to the much larger Meadway site. The majority of plots on all sites are ‘small’ (approximately 5 pole/125 m2 ), although there are also a limited number of ‘large’ and ‘quarter’ plots available across all the sites. The Allotment Team make regular visits to inspect plots to ensure that tenants are cultivating their allotment and using it in accordance with the tenancy agreement.
Catchacre is a medium-sized allotment site, which is situated off Cemetery Lane, just off Meadway. The site benefits from secure fencing and lockable gates. Water is provided from a dipping trough near the car park. There is a small parking area on site but it can also be reached by bus which stops in nearby Meadway.
Hillcroft is a small site situated in Orchid Close, off Hillcroft. The site is a very secure site as it is enclosed by surrounding gardens. Water is provided from dipping troughs. There is no parking on-site, however a pedestrian access gate is located off Orchid Close. The nearest bus route is on Brewers Hill Road, from which, it is a short walk to the site.
Maidenbower Avenue allotment site is a medium sized site surrounded by housing and private land on all sides. Water is provided from a dipping trough located near the entrance. The site is only accessible on foot via a grassed pathway from Maidenbower Avenue. The nearest bus stops are on Maidenbower Avenue or High Street North which are both only a short walk from the site.
Meadway is one of two large allotment sites in Dunstable. It is a secure site, surrounded by houses on all sides. The site is accessed by a secure gate off Meadway and tenants can take their vehicles onto the site and gain close access to their plot. Water is provided from dipping troughs placed at various locations around the site. The nearest bus stop is in Meadway.
Pascomb Road, off Drovers Way is a small site accessed from a short pathway off Pascomb Road and is surrounded by housing on all sides. Water is provided from a dipping trough. There is no parking on-site, however, the nearest bus stop is on Drovers Way which is only a short walking distance.
Westfield Road is one of two large allotment sites in Dunstable. It is a secure site, surrounded by houses on all sides. Water is provided from dipping troughs placed at various locations across the site. The site is accessed by a vehicle gate off Westfield Road and there is a stone parking area just inside the entrance. The nearest bus stop is at Westfield Road or Drovers Way.
Taking on an allotment tenancy and managing your plot
Everyone knows the value of fresh vegetables and many think that nothing compares to fresh home grown produce. Working an allotment and growing your own vegetables can also provide you with plenty of healthy exercise which can be important for improving both physical and mental well-being. Many new allotment holders find that they quickly develop new skills and knowledge and see the development of their allotment as part of a positive lifestyle choice. Young children are also very enthusiastic about growing things and allotments can be a great place for children to learn.
As food is not farmed on a large scale or transported over a distance, there is also evidence to suggest that it’s also better for the environment too!
However, taking on an allotment is a considerable commitment both in time and effort which is also challenging and rewarding.
When you are offered the tenancy of an allotment the Council will arrange to meet you on site to show you the plot and deal with any questions that you may have. When new tenants take on a plot it may be following a lengthy process of the outgoing tenant vacating the plot before it is offered to someone on the waiting list. This can mean that the plot has been left un-worked over several months and particularly in the summer months this can mean that the site seems overgrown.
You should therefore be prepared for lots of hard work clearing the plot before you even consider planting anything.
Having an allotment can therefore require some patience. However, maintaining motivation and commitment, especially during the first year, will definitely reap rewards in the long term. Before you rush into cultivating your new plot there are some things which you might want to think about first.
Whilst you are on the waiting list, think about what you plan to do once you have been offered and have taken up the tenancy on an allotment as the preparation required to get started on an allotment can sometimes appear to be overwhelming and is often underestimated. The key is organisation and planning, so think about how you are going to tackle the work required and what it is you are planning to grow.
Preparing yourself
You need to think about when and how much time you can commit each week to your plot. If you work full time or have other commitments, be realistic about the amount of time you have available and the distance you need to travel to your allotment site.
It is recommended that allotment plots are visited at least twice a week to stay on top of weeding and other jobs, however, the number of visits you make during the growing season, for example to water and harvest crops, may be considerably more.
Preparing the plot
Plots may have been left un-worked for a while before being re-let and it may be that the plot will need considerable preparation before you can even start to plant.
It is important to clear all unwanted weeds and debris from the plot. All plants, given the right conditions, will want to grow and weeds are no exception! There are ways of making clearing a plot easier, for example using weed matting to cover areas which are not being worked on immediately.
It takes time to prepare the ground and it is unrealistic to expect to get a whole season’s worth of perfect vegetables during the first year on your plot. As time goes on, you will learn more about what grows where and when and in what conditions and the ground will be improved, all of which will increase your chances of success.
If you have not grown vegetables before, then you will probably need to learn as you go along. There is a lot of advice available from books and websites and other tenants may also be willing to guide you.
In order to maintain your enthusiasm, it is recommended that you prepare a small area and plant some crops as soon as you can after taking on the allotment – after all, there’s nothing like seeing the results of all your hard work and being able to brag about your achievement.
Can I put a shed on an allotment?
Yes, sheds are permitted but you apply for permission to put a shed on an allotment plot and it must be within the following specifications
1) it must be of sound construction and good design not exceeding 6ft x 6ft x 6ft.
2) the exterior be either painted a shade of dark green or stained dark brown.
3) all windows must be fitted with perspex.
4) the shed must be sited on that part of the allotment adjacent to the path.
Can I get my plot strimmed and rotavated by the Council?
Dunstable Town Council provide a strim and rotavation service. We will issue an invoice to you and once it has been paid we will arrange for one of our Grounds Team to strim and rotavate your allotment. For further information, or to request a strim and rotavate please contact us.
Is there a Waiting List?
Due to the heavy demand for plots, Dunstable Town Council operates a waiting list.
Any offer of a tenancy will remain open for 14 days. If you do not respond within this period, the plot will be offered to someone else on the waiting list.
You should be aware that Dunstable Town Council will only make TWO plot offers, in writing, to those persons on the waiting list, that have expressed no particular site preference. The Council will make just ONE plot offer, in writing, to those persons on the waiting list that have expressed interest for a particular site. Those persons who refuse one or both offers in line with the above, will have the option to either be removed from the list or be moved to the bottom of the list.
What is the length of Tenancy?
Allotment invoices are sent out in January for the tenancy for the year.
