NINE years ago, the waiting list for Petersfield Town Council allotments was so long that for many, the likelihood of getting one was virtually nil.
Steve said: “In response to a small advert posted by David Petche in the Post, six individuals of various ages and from completely different backgrounds, huddled together around a small table in the warmth and friendly atmosphere of the pub.
“At first we vented our frustration at having tried unsuccessfully for a few years to acquire an allotment before moving on to discuss how we might be able to rectify that, not only for ourselves, but also for the increasing number of individuals and families in the same predicament.”
By the time they left the Harrow that night, they had formulated a plan which would involve reaching out to various local landowners to see if they would be willing to rent out an area of land as allotments.
They also agreed to submit various grant applications to try to secure funds to set up a privately-run allotment association.
Driven by the enthusiasm and energy of David Petche, the five other members of the team rallied to the cause – and within a few months of their first meeting they had agreed terms with Guy and Alison Lubbock of Adhurst Estate for the leasing of estate fields in Waterworks Lane on the edge of Sheet.
The committed team has also secured funds to buy of rabbit fencing and fencing posts.
Adhurst Estate Allotments Association had been born.
Initially the aim was to create 40 allotments, varying in size from ten to eight ‘rods’ – a rod equals approximately 5.03 metres.
They also wanted to create a community orchard containing about 45 fruit trees of various varieties.
Eight years on from when the first allotments were rotavated in March 2012, and the first few fruit trees planted, such has been the rising demand for allotments and having somewhere to plant a fruit tree, that there are now 105 allotments in use and 144 fruit trees in the community orchard.
Steve said: “In total we currently have 143 individuals actively involved.
“And that figure does not include family members, or the rising number of individuals willing to support the Petersfield Community Garden that has an area of land within our allotment set-up.
“In my time as an allotmenteer, never has the demand for a small area of land to grow one’s own fruit and veg or the desire to plant a tree been greater.”
And this local demand is reflected across the country, seeing applications for council-run allotments soar this year as people look to grow their own their fruit and vegetables.
Figures released from the National Allotment Society reveal 40 per cent of councils have reported a “significant uplift” in applications to join waiting lists during April.
A society spokesman said: “With one in eight of the UK population having no access to a garden, and a rise in awareness of the fragility of our food systems, perhaps now is the time for central government to reassess the potential of allotments to support public health and make a significant contribution to food security.”
There are an estimated 330,000 allotment plots in England – the vast majority of which are the responsibility of local councils – while the National Trust has also provided many sites.
According to separate data from the Association of Public Sector Excellence, the average waiting time for an allotment is six to eight months.
But only 12 per cent of authorities can guarantee a plot within that time.
And half of councils said the average waiting time was 18 months, with waiting lists of up to 400 people in some areas.
Steve added: “Whether that be down to our being more aware of the many environmental and economic challenge we are facing, reducing food miles, desire to be healthier especially where eating is concerned, or the lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, who really knows?
“All I can say is the enthusiasm for being out in the fresh air, mingling with like-minded folk and grow-ing vegetables and fruit of all types shows no sign of diminishing any time soon – in fact, quite the op-posite.”
For more information about Adhurst Estate Allotments, email [email protected] or join the Face-book page
@AdhurstEstateAllotments