Fig 1 The above photographs were taken before the allotment was developed into a working allotment site.

Around 2003, when my daughter was little, I often went for local walks with her in the pram since I couldn’t drive. During these walks, I frequently passed a piece of land that was an eyesore—littered with fly-tipping and evidence of drug use. The state of it was disheartening, especially since it had the potential to be a valuable community space.

Determined to make a difference, I decided to investigate who owned the land. I needed to know if it was private or council-owned, as my efforts would be in vain if it was private property. After some research, I discovered that it was indeed council land and designated as an allotment.

I was astonished and frustrated to learn that the council owned this neglected space and was doing nothing with it. At the time, I was actively searching for an allotment myself and found it infuriating that such a potentially useful piece of land was going to waste.

This realization motivated me to take action and advocate for transforming this neglected plot into a thriving community space. It was a small step towards making a positive change in our neighborhood, and I hope it inspires others to look for opportunities to improve their local areas too.

🌿✨ #CommunityAction #UrbanRenewal #AllotmentLife #MakingADifference