The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is responsible for government policy on allotments. It is their aim that allotments should be properly preserved, promoted and cared for.

ARI was commissioned by DCLG to revise and update "Allotments: a plotholders' guide" - a guide published by DCLG for anyone who rents or is thinking of renting an allotment plot.

The guide covers all the subjects which will be of interest if you rent (or want to rent) an allotment or if you want to know about your responsibilities or those of your allotment provider:

• An introduction to allotments
• Provision
• Tenancy agreements and rules
• Rents and funding
• Health and safety on allotments
• What you can and can’t do on an allotment
• Livestock and beekeeping
• Protection and legislation
• How do I get started
• Resources and glossary

To download your free copy as a pdf file click here.

Published 5th June 2007

The Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms in association with The Royal Parks ran a Dig for Victory allotment project in St James’s Park, London from May-September 2007.

As many of you will be aware, Dig for Victory was a WWII campaign to help combat food shortages by promoting the planting of allotments in gardens and on public land. The campaign reflected issues still relevant today, such as access to fresh healthy food, being active and living sustainably.

Schools can have a free 'Dig for Victory: Create an allotment' pack sent to them, produced by The Royal Parks and funded by the Department for Education and Skills Growing Schools programme. The pack has been designed to give all the information needed to create your own Dig for Victory themed allotment.

To receive a pack send your name, job title, school name and address to: royalparks@tmbmailing.com

Alternatively you can download the pack here:
Dig for Victory Teacher's Pack Contents
Dig for Victory Teacher's Pack

Published 21st May 2007, Updated 5th December 2007

ARI has been funded solely by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, since it's launch in 2003. This funding is due to finish soon. We are working towards securing funds for 2007/08 and are optimistic that we will be able to continue to offer a full, if evolving, service. We are also currently in negotiation with several major funding providers to secure further funds beyond 2008. 

ARI will continue to be an initiative delivered by it's partners, the National Allotment Gardens Trust and the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, supported by the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, and the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society. 

The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens will kindly continue to manage ARI on a day-to-day basis, as a stand-alone project separate from the Federation?s core work. 

At the forefront of ARI's future plans will be our highly successful Mentor Network. We will further strengthen the network and, funding permitting, recruit more Mentors. ARI's Mentors very generously work for us on a voluntary basis - we will continue to manage and train Mentors so that they can get out and about giving anyone involved in allotment regeneration support from ARI at a local level. ARI Events and Allotment Officers Forums will continue to be on your doorstep, with opportunities for events to be focused on topics that are relevant to your area.

Published 30th March 2007

ARI's popular newsletter will remain a very firm fixture, with news, features and resources to help you with your allotment regeneration plans. You will also still be able to tap into our other services, including this website, and our publications too.

Very special thanks to Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Without the generous help and support of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, ARI and it's benefits to allotments would never have happened. We hope you will join us in thanking EFF Trustees and staff for their commitment to allotments and the ARI project, which has helped to focus allotments into the public arena. www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk
 

A summary has been published presenting the key findings of the Survey of Allotments, Community Gardens and City Farms carried out by the University of Derby on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). A copy of the summary is available to download here.

Published 15th January 2007

"The Allotments Regeneration Initiative has made a genuine difference to the position and future of allotments in the UK since its launch in 2002."

This is the message contained in a recently published report from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. The report says a broad cross-section of people are taking up allotment plots - resulting in a number of local authorities now producing their own formal allotments strategy. And some councils are even looking for land to create new sites in order to cope with the extra demand. You can download a copy of the full report.
 

Published 30th March 2007

The London Assembly has recently published a report called 'A Lot to Lose: London's disappearing allotments' following their inquiry into London's allotments held during the summer. ARI staff and London Mentors worked with GLA to provided in-depth information for the inquiry. The report, which makes major recommendations about the management and promotion of allotments London-wide, can be downloaded from here. 'A lot to Lose: London's disappearing allotments'

Published 29th November 2006

The guide, which provides essential information for anyone managing an allotment site, was published in 2001. A major outcome of the guide was the formation of the Allotments Regeneration Initiative. The good news is that the guide is to be revised and a 2nd edition published. ARI will be involved, in conjunction with Dr Richard Wiltshire of Kings College London who is overseeing the revision. The revision will include examples of good practice from all around the UK, which have been gathered by ARI. Details of how to order the new edition will be published on this website as soon as it becomes available.

Published 4th December 2006