Lions House Allotments

Allotments at a Glance

In April 2019 the Allotments Association, a charity, bought the Lions House Allotments site.

Our site now has over 50 plots with some historically larger plots split to provide smaller ones that are more manageable. This also allows us to accommodate more residents who want to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

In 2019, we were judged to be the best allotment in the Northumberland in Bloom Competition and have regularly received a gold award which reflects the effort and commitment of all our members,

We encourage a wildlife friendly approach and most of our members use no synthetic herbicides or pesticides on their plots with severally fully embracing an organic approach.

Our Aim ( Charitable Objects): to provide or assist in the provision of facilities for allotments in Berwick Upon Tweed and the surrounding area, in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation for the public at large with the object of improving their conditions of life

The Future

Here at Lions House Allotments, we’re committed to investing our expertise and resources in order to further achieve our cause. Our members and trustees share a common joy of growing and spending time in this special spot within the historic walls of our historic town.

We’ve been supporting our community members in a variety of ways and measuring our success not by monetary size, but by more qualitative measurements, such as mindfullness and well being. Now that we are the owners of this beautiful site we will endeavour to ensure that it is fit to hand on to future generations of our town. Just imagine what we can achieve together!

Get in Touch

Activities

We would hope that all our members feel that they can enjoy all the benefits of growing produce at the Lions House Allotments. You are never expected to have symmetrical lines of vegetables. but you are required to cultivate the ground in a way that keeps it fertile and fit for the next person who continues your efforts in the future. If you are prepared to grow vegetables, keep our allotments at Gold Standard and find time to chat to the many admirers who gaze at our site as they walk the walls, you will be very welcome.
We strive to help improve the lives of others, and are very proud of the fact that we have secured this site for in-perpetuity. Learn more about what we do, who we help, and how we work every day to promote positive change.

Grow

All we ask of you is that you grow produce for your family and friends (no selling allowed), you keep the weeds under control (they always do well) and help everyone else enjoy their time spent in the allotment

Fruit

Many people have fruit trees on the allotments and we recently mapped them all, nearly 70 in total.

We found apples were the most popular tree, over two thirds of the total, followed by plums, with fewer pears and cherries and single quince.

Many of the variety names are lost in the mists of time but we do know there are around 18 different apple varieties, three plum varieties and two different pears.

Costs?

Rent is set by the plot size, and is very affordable with the majority paying under £30 per year. We have all agreed to pay a supplement to accumulate a maintenance pot for the future and hope this will allow us to keep the site in the condition that it is in today

Get in Touch

Rules

Keeping an allotment is governed by "The Allotments Act 1922". This sets out the rules that apply to allotment keeping across the country and form the basis of our own rules, a full copy of which can be downloaded from this site.

The most important points to note are that you may not sell your produce and may not sublet your plot to anyone else. Otherwise, we expect you to use your plot to grow produce, so keeping it fit for the next tenant and to be neighbourly and not be a nuisance to others. We do not allow poly tunnels, but you can have a small greenhouse and a fruit cage to keep the birds at bay. Small sheds are also allowed, small to avoid planning issues and leave plenty of growing space in the smaller plots. We ask you not to use pesticides and herbicides but to harvest as much rainwater as possible.

Get in Touch