Guidance for landowners i Contents Introduction 1 Different models of allotments and community growing 2 Allotments and the Law 3 Animals on allotments 7 Planning Guidance 9 Advice for working with community growing groups 16 The environment and biodiversity on allotments 20 Additional information and resources 26 Mae’r ddogfen yma hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg / This document is also available in Welsh. © Crown copyright 2021 WG40942 Digital ISBN 978-1-80195-102-9 ii Guidance for Landowners Introduction This is the second edition of this guidance, The benefits of gardening on individuals and the following its successful introduction in 2015. environment are clear. Increased physical activity Since that time, the contribution that allotments and mental wellbeing, access to fresh fruit and and community gardens can make to tackling vegetables and well used and cared for public some of today’s most urgent priorities, from spaces, are natural by-products of growing your health and wellbeing to the climate and nature own. When gardening on an allotment plot or emergencies, has become even more apparent. community garden, the added bonuses of closer community relationships, reduced social isolation Wales has always been a nation of growers. Our and the chance to work together and celebrate love of good food and our desire to provide with your neighbours are recognised as making high quality produce for our families has shaped a dramatic improvement to quality of life. For the way we use our land from the countryside many, allotments and community gardens are to our back gardens. From our urban centres to seen as essential elements of living happier, rural villages across Wales, this desire to grow healthier and more sustainable lives and as we our own fruit and vegetables is stronger than work towards creating a healthier, happier and ever and more and more people are enjoying more sustainable Wales they have never been the benefits of growing on allotments or more important. at community gardens. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 sets out a clear obligation for public bodies to enable positive change that leads to a more resilient, secure and healthy Wales. By protecting and managing the current provision of allotments and growing spaces and supporting the demand-led development of new allotments and community growing projects, all public bodies in Wales can enable us to create a healthier and happier population and a more sustainable and secure food supply. The purpose of this guidance is to share and increase good practice and enable more people to get their hands dirty and grow their own. 1 Guidance for Landowners Different models of allotments and community growing There are lots of ways that people can get • Community allotments – Where there is a involved in growing. For people who want lack of statutory allotments available, some to work with their neighbours to improve the communities start groups that find land and local environment and make their community a create their own allotment site. Community better place to be for people and wildlife, then allotment sites are not subject to the same maybe a community garden or orchard is the laws as statutory (council) sites, nor the best option. For people with plenty of time and same protections. a desire to grow lots of fresh produce, traditional allotments may be more suitable. For more information about community allotments see There is a wide range of opportunities for www.farmgarden.org.uk growing and lots of different types of projects. This chapter explains the most popular types of • Temporary allotments – If land has been growing spaces. acquired or held by a local authority for another purpose, but in the meantime is used as allotments. Allotments See chapter ‘Allotments and the law’. Allotments are probably the most well-known and understood model of growing in the community. Allotments are usually large areas Community farms of land divided up into smaller plots. The site is Community farms involve both growing plants usually owned by the local authority, managed and keeping animals. They are often larger and by an allotment association and the individual more extensive than community gardens or plots are cultivated by one person or family. The other community growing spaces. Community plots are usually of a standard size and have farms are often working farms, producing a yearly charge for rent and services such as meat, eggs etc. but also offer a wide range of water provision. volunteering and educational opportunities. For more information about allotments see For more information about community www.nsalg.org.uk farms see www.farmgarden.org.uk • Statutory allotments – are covered by Allotment Law and have been acquired or Community gardens appropriated by a local authority (of any type, Community gardens are usually started by local from parish, community to county council) people who would like to grow food for their for the specific purpose of being used as own use but also to benefit the wider community. allotments. They cannot be sold or used Normally, all growing on community gardens is done collaboratively by the volunteers. The idea for other purposes without the consent of is to share the work and then the reward. Most Welsh Ministers. Where management has community gardens are open to everyone to join been devolved or leased to an allotments and do not have waiting lists. association it is often known as a ‘self-managed’ site. For more information about community gardens see www.farmgarden.org.uk 2 Guidance for Landowners Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) of the tree, the volunteer pickers and local A social enterprise scheme, based on a direct, charities and good causes. active partnership between farmers (or a For more information on abundance growing project) and the local community. CSA’s projects see normally produce fruit and vegetables that are www.growsheffield.com/abundance/ shared out between its members who pay a monthly fee. CSAs are designed to share the risks and rewards of growing equally between Forest gardening the grower and the consumer. Forest Gardens produce food and other useful For more information about community products such as wood and herbs from a supported agriculture see layered planting of mostly perennials which emulates a forest ecosystem. They are very www.communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/ good for biodiversity and soil life because of the variety of habitats and relative lack of Community orchards disturbance. Once established they require As well as providing fruit and a green haven for relatively little maintenance to continue to the local community, many community orchards provide a harvest. are excellent wildlife habitats and carbon sinks. For more information on forest gardening see Community orchards are growing in popularity www.permaculture.org.uk/practical-solutions/ as they are easy to establish, low maintenance forest-gardens and can be used for community celebrations such as Apple Day. Garden-share schemes For more information about community These schemes match and introduce orchards see www.commonground.org.uk/ committed, enthusiastic growers with local projects/orchards/community-orchards garden owners who want to see their gardens being used more productively. The agreement Incredible Edible Schemes between the garden owner and grower usually Many towns in Wales are getting involved in the stipulates when the grower can access the Incredible Edible movement. Incredible Edible growing plot and the percentage of produce schemes plant fruit and vegetables in public that will be given to the garden owner. places for everyone to share. The produce is To see an example of garden-share see often grown in places with high footfall such as www.gardenshareconwy.org.uk bus stops, town planters and alongside foot paths. Meanwhile gardening For more information on Incredible Edible schemes see This is the temporary use of land for gardening and food growing. These schemes are www.incredibleediblenetwork.org.uk/ particularly popular in areas with lots of unused land awaiting development. Abundance/fruit harvesting schemes They can bring waste land into productive use This is a growing movement that aims to make for a defined period. better use of neglected local fruit and nut trees by organising volunteers to harvest the fruit. The For an example of meanwhile gardening see fruit is normally divided between the owner www.meanwhile-gardens.org.uk/ 3 Guidance for Landowners Allotments and the Law Statutory Allotments Which Acts of Law are most relevant? Only Statutory Allotments are covered by The main Acts of Parliament that govern Allotment Law. If a site has been acquired or allotments are: appropriated by a local authority (of any type, • Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 from parish, community to town council) for the specific purpose of being used as allotments, • Allotments Act 1922 then this site has special protection and is • Allotments Act 1925 known as a ‘statutory allotments’ site. • Allotments Act 1950 Statutory allotments have some legal protection. Legislation under the 1950 Act makes provision They cannot be sold or used for other purposes in relation to: without the consent of Welsh Ministers. Consent for such changes should not be given unless 1. the use of individual plots, and the Welsh Ministers are satisfied that adequate 2. the provision and disposal of sites by provision will be made for allotment holders local authorities. displaced by the action of the local authority. In this chapter, the term ‘plot’ means an The ’statutory’ status does not change – even if individual allotment. ‘Site’ means a larger area the management of the site has been devolved, on which a number of individual allotment or a lease of the site granted from the local plots are located. None of the Acts have been authority to an allotment’s association or similar repealed in their entirety but sections of each managing body.