FACT SHEET February 2012

Allotment provision and demand for land in Sedgemoor District

Demand for allotment plots is growing nationally. Sedgemoor has both waiting lists and latent or hidden demand reflecting changing lifestyle priorities. People cite health considerations, improving diet, rising food prices, the superior taste, quality and freshness of home grown food, community building, environmental concerns and the therapeutic benefits of being active outside as reasons for needing access to land to grow food on. In recent years these factors have given allotment-gardening an increasingly wide appeal. With the addition of young growers, being trained now at many childrens centres, primary and secondary schools across the district, demand for land to grow food on is showing no signs of diminishing. Latent demand exists. Many do not appear on any waiting list because: they dont know how plots are allocated, are not yet skilled growers, are disabled or feel its pointless to join long lists. Demand may also be masked as a result of sub-dividing plots into halves, quarters or less. Allotments could be a vehicle for delivering on the health, social and economic agendas for communities promoting community cohesion, education, health and the environment. However, the results of a recent survey in which 47 out of 51 parish councils in Sedgemoor took part, suggest that access to land is a barrier to peoples ability to get on and grow their own food.

Survey results: 21.7 hectares (53.6 acres) of allotments in Sedgemoor

127 people are looking for land. Latent demand suggests this number should be doubled. 19 parishes have allotment provision, 12 of which have waiting lists totalling 127. 32 parishes have no provision & no demand as they are too small, too rural or have adequate gardens 170 new plots have been created in the last 2-3 years on 3.6 hectares of privately owned land The law says if 6 people petition, parish councils are obliged to consider the provision of land. Location Hectarage Pop Waiting list length Axbridge 0.78 2025 5 Bridgwater 5.91 33,700 26 Burnham on Sea & Highbridge 1.56 18,922 38 Cannington 0.57 2381 9 Cheddar 3.17 5093 20 Chedzoy 0.54 429 3 Greinton No data 71 Private site Middlezoy 1.03 723 1 available Nether Stowey 0.46 1313 8 North Petherton 1.48 5065 0 Puriton 1.0 2033 3 Shipham 0.15 1136 New members welcome Spaxton 0.54 1014 5 Stawell No data 365 Private site Wedmore 1.31 3145 0 Wembdon 0.77 1812 6 West Huntspill 0.90 1412 1 Westonzoyland 0.78 1832 1 available Woolavington 0.76 2163 3 Total 21.7 127 waiting

Who is providing allotments in Sedgemoor? Most allotments in Sedgemoor are owned by parish and town councils, but they are not the only provider. 2 small allotments are owned by Oxford University and Sedgemoor District Council. The newest growing spaces - 170 in the last 2-3 years at Middlezoy, Westonzoyland, Puriton and West Huntspill - are all leased from small private landowners. Modern allotment sites are self-managed by devolved allotment associations. Often the lease for the land will be held by the parish council and then each plot holder has an annual rolling lease with the allotment association. Financial returns and fees A traditional full size plot commonly measures 250sq metres. A council owned full sized plot typically costs on average 25 per annum, while prices can range between 75 - 100 for a full size plot on a privately leased site, where demand is high. The trend in recent years - to manage waiting lists and to accommodate new growers who might be daunted by a full size plot has been to cut plots into smaller parcels. These days 25 30 110sq metre plots can be created on just under half a hectare of ground, equivalent to 1 acre. Parish councils told us that they: Need to see robust demand being on the list is not the same as having the time, energy, skills and commitment to get up and grow. Would-be allotmenteers need to show councillors they mean business. Are conducting parish plans. Consultations will enquire about interest in allotments. Register yours! Are willing to work with developers to request land for growing in new developments if there is demand. Landseekers told us that they want to: Be able to walk to a plot with adequate access and facilities for the range of users Know who owns convenient, suitable land in the right place and is willing to lease it at a fair rent? Know how to make attractive propositions to landowners. Self organise and pay a fair rent Know how to broker agreements to benefit and protect both parties. The National Society has model leases. Landowners told us they need: Growing groups to organise themselves before making an approach so that the motivation comes from within, rather than looking to the landowner to manage, which can be time consuming and frustrating To establish clear guidelines about procedures ie locks on gates, parking, use of chemicals, etc. and to build in reviews for guidelines to be updated as new issues arise. Guidelines should include a planned annual meeting to review activities before actual growing starts. Rents need to cover the costs of infrastructure improvements such as fencing, water and public liability insurance and include an income component. Enabling Policy context There is a great deal of national and local policy that supports the role of allotments including the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment; Core, Green Infrastructure, Open Space and Recreations Strategies. These mostly aspire to improve the local diet especially in deprived wards, increase the amount of food locally produced, reduce obesity and to increase physical activity levels. Opportunities with public and private landowners The emerging Local Development Framework is an opportunity to actively allocate new land for allotments. For villages where smaller scale housing needs to be allocated, parish councils could negotiate with developers who may have land which could be leased or sold for allotment use associated with housing schemes (either on or off site) utilising Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levies Three Incredible Edible Sedgemoor Recommendations Strengthen local links to enable a district-wide access to land network to emerge Consider garden share schemes, rooftop growing, planting up amenity spaces and movable containers on small sites within walking distance Find opportunities to learn growing skills with existing community food projects. Visit www.somersetcommunityfood.org.uk for more information or call 01749 678770.