Allotments and growing spaces - Useful resources

There are many groups and organisations which can offer advice and support and may be of interest to those involved in allotments and community gardens.

Whether you are looking to start a community food growing project, already have an allotment plot or are looking for general food growing advice we have some useful resources to help you along the way.

As well as the resources listed below, a Community Food Growing Officer is available to answer any queries that you may have, please email allotments@pkc.gov.uk.

If you'd like to register for a food growing space or for assistance with starting up a community food growing project either as an individual or as part of a group, please fill out this form (opens new window) to get the process started.

If you're looking to start an allotment site but don't know where you should start, take a look at our Allotment Flowchart (PDF, 9 KB) which highlights the main steps that you need to follow to get going
More in depth material on good management and governance (opens new window) practices has been written by the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society (SAGS) (opens new window) as well as some recent case studies (opens new window). Whilst SAGS are currently not accepting any new memberships, the website still has many very helpful publications available, whether you want to start an allotment site or need some guidance with cultivating your plot. The information given can be applicable not just to allotment plot holders but also for community gardens or individual gardeners.
If you've recently acquired your allotment plot, this handbook from tenants of Bristol Allotments (opens new window) provides practical guidance on starting out.
The National Allotment Society is another source of information for cultivating your plot. Here is a useful monthly job guide (opens new window) produced by NAS to help keep you on track throughout the seasons.
If you're interested in setting up a community garden, the Royal Horticultural Society (opens new window), has a helpful guide to opening up a community garden.
The PKC Climate Action team have published their Enhancing allotments for biodiversity guide. It provides practical tips to help biodiversity on your allotment plot but applies to many types of growing spaces.
The Tayside Biodiversity Partnership has written guidance on Improving biodiversity on community gardens, orchards and allotments.
If you'd like to be part of a garden sharing scheme, whether you have a garden of your own or not you can join 'Lend and Tend (opens new window)'. The online platform links you with someone, who has a garden to cultivate or someone who can cultivate your garden, depending on your needs.
Check out our Food Growing Storymap where you will find information on opportunities near you as well as advice for those who are interested in setting up a new food growing project.

In addition to these, there are many useful resources for those thinking about starting an allotment, orchard, or community garden group in our Useful resources list Allotments (PDF, 116 KB).