Do you dream of growing your own vegetables, fresh fruit, herbs and flowers?
If so, we may be able to offer you an allotment.
There are 22 allotment sites in Cambridge, eight of them managed by the council and 14 run by allotment societies.
Cambridge Allotments Network
While the information in these pages is relevant to all of the sites, you can only apply for an allotment on one of the council-managed sites.
More information about the 14 sites run by allotment societies, including details on applying for a plot, can be found on the Cambridge Allotments Network website.
Plot sizes and prices
Allotment plots are measured in poles; a standard five-pole plot is the equivalent of approximately 125 square metres. Smaller starter plots are given to new allotment tenants.
Prices for 2011-12 (billed in October 2011) are £11 per year for a starter plot, £18 for a 5-pole plot, and £36 for a 10-pole plot.
Prices for 2012-13 (billed in October 2012) will be £11.20 per year for a starter plot, £18.40 for a 5-pole plot and £36.70 for a 10-pole plot.
Although a number of existing tenants have 10-pole plots, plots of this size will no longer be allocated to new allotment tenants.
Starter plots Initiative
The starter plots initiative builds upon the philosophy of allowing you to create your allotment in a series of small squares.
We are presently only issuing small plot sizes of 25 and 50 square metres to new tenants, in order to conserve space and meet demand.
Tenants will have the opportunity to move up to a standard plot of 125 square metres, or 5 poles, at a later date, depending upon availability.
Square-foot gardening
Starter plots are ideal for 'square-foot gardening', where each square foot of ground is for a different vegetable, fruit, or herb, planted in quantities that you'll actually use.
The long, labour-intensive rows of a traditional allotment, which require thinning, weeding and maintaining over the growing season, are no longer needed.
Small-square gardening promotes planting only what you use, which means watering less and less wasted space in the bed.
Weeding time is improved because you can reach weeds from all sides of the square bed, and by replanting squares as soon as you harvest, a steady crop of vegetables throughout the growing season can be achieved.
The starter plots initiative is not prescriptive and can be used for traditional strip crop rotation if preferred.
The Square Foot Gardening website has more information.
Contact details
If you have any questions about allotments, whether you currently have a plot or not, please email allotments@cambridge.gov.uk.
Alternatively you can telephone the Allotments team on 01223 457000, or write to Streets and Open Spaces — Assets, Mill Road Depot, Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2AZ.
