North Cockerington Allotment Plan
The eight allotment plots, situated adjacent to Church Walk between Chapel Lane and Meadow Lane, are for cultivation by residents of North Cockerington Parish. The current annual rental for a full plot is £6 and £3 for half a plot, reviewed at each Parish Meeting AGM. There are no vacant plots available at present (2021), but if you are interested in renting one when available please let us know.
Although the allotments are places for enjoyment, realised from growing produce that is undoubtedly the best for freshness and taste, they are subject to regulations - mostly concerned with the avoidance of nuisance, and the assurance of a safe environment. There are three broad groups of regulations: First, those set by Statute - the law of the land; Second, important rules governed by safety regulations - HSE and Insurance; and lastly local conditions set by the Parish.
A full description of all the rules governing our allotments are set out in full on the application documents for an allotment tenancy. Prospective tenants are asked to read the Tenancy Agreement and Risk Assessment in full before signing the Agreement. A brief outline is set out below.
The first group governed by Statute concern the obligations of the Parish and Tenants. The second group, relating to safety, is based upon commonsense and the restrictions imposed by the Parish Insurance. Although at first sight they might seem draconian, they are in place to keep anyone in the allotment area safe, and able to enjoy the time spent cultivating plants. They include advice regarding bee-keeping, the safety concerns of unaccompanied children on the allotments, the avoidance of behaviour that might cause damage to other allotment plots, or nuisance to other plotholders or adjacent residents - for example drifting weedkiller and pesticide spraying, loud radio playing and bonfires. In order to emphasise the issue of safety the Parish insurance does not permit any children's play areas or structures like slides, swings, trampolines, see-saws and roundabouts. Other important rules govern the keeping and control of animals and the upkeep of common pathways through the allotments: for obvious reasons they must be kept clear of obstructions.
The Parish Meeting decides the annual rental - currently £6 for a full allotment and £3 for half an allotment, agreed at the annual meeting of Parish residents. Allotment holders may request to reduce their tenancy of a full plot to a half plot at any time and voluntarily end their tenancy at any time; the Parish can also terminate a tenancy in certain circumstances, based upon the legal obligations governing allotments - an event that has not occurred in the lifetime of our parish allotments.
Hopefully, after reading the paragraphs above, you will not be put off cultivating an allotment. They provide a wonderful opportunity to provide fresh produce, exchange ideas advice and plants with other holders, encourage children to get involved, or simply lose yourself in a relative haven of peace for a few hours!