The National Allotment Society - National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Ltd

Allotments Management

This page contains a brief description of how allotments sites are managed; please scroll down for downloads to support allotment managers.

The county associations of local councils offer allotments management training to their town and parish council members, in some case in partnership with ourselves. Visit the NALC website to find your local organisation. The NAS have developed 3 on-line sessions covering the topics below. If a County Association is interested in delivering these to their members contact natsoc@nsalg.org.uk

  • Tenancy Agreements and Policies
  • Site Facilities and Health and Safety
  • Self Management by Associations

Learning outcomes:

  • An understanding of the management aspects for allotments
  • Practical tips from a Regional Representative / Mentor using examples from day to day problems
  • Guidance of the Legal requirements of the local authority relating to allotments
  • What further tools and information are available
  • What new developments are on the horizon

The Association for Public Sector Excellence (APSE) offer allotments management training for local authority employees to view  CLICK HERE

Allotment sites are managed in a variety of ways; on some sites the plot-holders rent direct from the council or landowner such as a farmer, on others there will be an association that manages the site - this is known as self or devolved management.

This is the practice of devolving a share of the responsibility for managing allotment sites to the allotment gardeners themselves. The gardeners are usually organised as a constituted association with an elected committee; NAS  have template Constitutions that are available for members.

However, when taking on long leases and self management agreements many associations become incorporated, and become a Limited Company to gain limited liability status via a number of options.   The National Allotment Society acts as a sponsor and offers its members model rules that greatly reduce the cost of incorporation as an Industrial and Providential Society. For further advice and to discuss your own Allotment Association’s situation please speak to the NAS Legal Advisor by calling 01536 266576.

Why form an association?

An association on your site can bring many benefits; working together can help you to raise funds for site improvements, support development and help to sustain the future of the site. Membership of the National Allotment Society gives the association access to affordable Public Liability insurance for your site and other benefits such as free allotmenteers' liability insurance for your affiliates and cheaper seeds - click on this link for details join us.

An association is also necessary if your site is to take on self- management and as NAS members you would have access to our Legal Advisor; who can assist in the preparation of a range of tenancy agreements and give advice on agreements that associations enter into with Councils or Private Landlords.  Also, members can obtain initial advice on a wide range of topics including, allotment legislation health and safety, environmental issues, contractual problems, data protection, governance and disputes, along with assistance if your site becomes under threat of disposal.

How to form an allotment association

The essential requirements are a Constitution and set of rules, the formation of a Committee with a Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and lots of committed members willing to get involved. You will need to hold regular meetings and your responsibilities will vary depending on whether you are direct let or self- managed and the level of self- management. Our Legal Advisor, Regional Representatives and Allotment Mentors can all give advice on how to form and run an association.

Some tips to help sustain your allotment association

  • Do some forward planning, try and anticipate problems
  • Practice robust budget management
  • Keep plot-holders informed and ensure committee members are accessible
  • Be open to new members and new ideas
  • Work constructively with your council
  • Encourage the support of the wider community with Open Days and activities
  • Celebrate your achievements!

An allotment site has the potential to be a vibrant, well run, democratic community that contributes to the health and well-being of the whole neighbourhood.

Resources to help allotment managers

Managing allotments can be challenging, they are the only leisure activity with their own legislation and inspire strong feelings in the people lucky enough to rent one; click on the titles below to download guidance documents. These documents have not been updated for some time but most of the advice is still relevant.

Growing in the Community This guide is designed to assist those responsible for managing allotments, either within local authorities or under schemes for devolved management, to work efficiently and effectively by emulating examples of good practice.

A Place to Grow - This document should be read in conjunction with the document above; it provides good practice guidance on how to make the most of existing allotment sites through good management of allotment portfolios.