Beginners Guide to Allotments

Right! so now you're in with the allotment veterans and everything is nailed, screwed, alarmed and generally villain proof.
What I'd like you to do next is take a long hard look at your new allotment. What kind of state is it in has it been carefully planned and preserved? Is it well worked and organised? Is everything on it in tip-top condition? I think your answer is most probably NO! So take in some information. Is it south facing? Is it giving you the maximum growing space possible or are the sheds, compost heap and all the rest of the collective rubbish taking up most of the room. Are the hedges overgrown? Is the fence falling down? all these things will need to be addressed in due time but for now go home or to your car and draw yourself a plan. Include in your plan anything worth keeping - does it need moved elsewhere for easier access or to make the best use of the space. Are there fruit trees you want to keep? Which areas get the most sunlight? Which areas are not suitable for growing.....this may sound weird but the area of allotments I work - in their wisdom decided to carve the area up with more pathways then changed their minds and if you are one of the unlucky ones your allotment has a tarmac path straight through it!!! For now enjoy designing your own layout and in my next blog we will move on to how others lay out their allotment.
Happy planning.
Sandkat xx