It's hard now to remember how bleak things looked in October 2003, with only half the 76 plots let. Grass was growing waist high on the neglected plots and pockets of plot holders were fighting off encroaching weeds and despair. But we were sure if people knew that they could grow their own fresh food we could attract them to the site. So we put flyers through letterboxes, postcards in shop windows, articles in local papers and held an Open Day attracting 60 people. Within 9 months we had let most of the vacant plots.

Maureen lives in a tower block in Hackney and was delighted to get an allotment: "Everyone has been friendly, they gave me plants to help me get started." Her husband Joe added: "I knew about farming in Ghana, but I'm learning how to grow potatoes here." And their son Nathaniel proudly tends his own bit of the plot.

We now have a waiting list, regular newsletters, more open days and children's workshops for the next generation to learn to love allotment gardening too. We have transformed a site that could have spiralled into complete dereliction into a thriving community with just a few people with some ideas, energy and commitment and a little money.

Update - July 2007

Now in our 50th anniversary year we are building on our regeneration success and celebrating the past and the future for our allotments. We have set up a website, we are building a community shed with lottery funding and are applying for money to create raised beds for gardeners less able to manage the traditional plot.We have established a remembrance garden -- a quiet communal space to honour founder members and other gardeners who have passed on. We celebrated our anniversary with an Open Day and party on Sunday 2 September 2007.

Update Autumn 2008

We had another fantastic season and open day this year. See here for more details.

Imogen Radford

www.hoxtonmanorallotments.org.uk 

First published: ARI Newsletter, Winter 2005