Clipstone Allotment Association was founded in 1945 and our allotments were facing neglect and decline. The site is privately owned, with 18 ¾ acres. We realised that in order to maintain the site for future generations, we needed to get more young people involved.

The first initiative to join us was SureStart, who have had a plot run on a voluntary basis over the last four years. During the growing season the under-fives from two local nurseries come to the site once a fortnight to plant and harvest vegetables.

We also became involved with the junior and secondary schools in the area. The allotments are now an integral part of their pupils’ education process and children of all ages spend time planting, growing and eating food on our site. This has been so successful that we are now registered as a City & Guilds site up to NVQ level 111and students come from a 10 mile radius to undertake training.

The allotment association has benefited greatly from successful grant applications:
•    £5,000 from Bridging the Gap allowed us to work up our business plan and develop two plots for use by secondary school students.
•    £6,950 from the Local Network Fund paid for training to deliver some elements of NVQ as a pilot.
•    Two large wildlife areas were created with a grant of £5,000 from Co-operative Dividend.
•    Awards for All provided £8,350 for us to develop three plots into small areas with communal facilities.
•    Improvements to infrastructure, including fencing and tarmacking of roads, were carried out and a Project Manager employed for one year plus, thanks to a grant of £100,000 from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust.

Jenny Weaver
www.clipstoneallotments.org.uk
 

First published: ARI News Spring 2009