Oakland Gardens - Biggest Ever Competition

 

 WIN £3,000 IN GARDENING VOUCHERS! 

We’re running our BIGGEST EVER competition at Oakland Gardens!

One lucky winner will receive:

£250 gardening vouchers every month for 12 months

That’s £3,000 to spend on your garden or allotment!

Perfect for anyone who loves growing vegetables, flowers, or improving their garden.

Competition closes 30th May

Open to UK residents

Enter here

https://tally.so/r/lbAqVB

Tell us in the comments:

If you won, what would you grow first?

If you know anyone who loves gardening, please share this with friends, family, allotment groups, or gardening communities so they don’t miss out.

Good luck everyone!

London Borough of Sutton Allotments Facebook Group

A new Facebook group has been set up for plot holders from the London Borough of Suttons Allotments to share photos, Tips & Tricks, Updates, Swap Items, Swap Seeds, offer ideas and help one another grow.  

Here is the link to join Sutton, Surrey Allotment Group | Facebook

Allotment Costs for 2025-2026

Costs per m2 are:

• standard charge 46p/m2
• concessions 36p/m2
• water charge 15p/m2

The cost of a standard rate 125m2 plot is £76.25.

A concessionary rate 125m2 plot is £63.25.

As of today there are 147 vacant plots and 1,216 on the waiting list.

The costs on the London Borough of Sutton web site are still the 2023-2024 cost and were never updated for 2024-2025 because the council are basically inept.  Idverde have been requesting it be updated for a year, as new tenants thought they were being overcharged during 2024-2025

Invoices run from 1st October to the 30th September the following year. 

Waiting Lists & Vacant Plots 27th September 2024

 

Updated figures from Jane our idverde allotment officer, as of 27th September 2024. The vacant allotments include those that are being given up by existing plot holders at the end of the month, and have had the good manners to let Jane know in advance that they will not be paying the rents that become due on the 1st October. 

There will be many that will never inform idverde that they don't want to continue to renting an allotment which will mean a possible delay of 3 months before the plot can be shown to someone on the top of the waiting list.  

The 2024/25 invoices are being sent out next week. The waiting list was updated today and the figures as always are a current snap shot in time. Plots are being shown and tenanted and being given up all year round, some plot holders will be  terminated over the next three months for non payment of rent. 

Currently there are 1302 people on the waiting list and 137 plots waiting to be seen by those on top of the waiting lists, and re-tenanted. 

There will be many that will not pay their invoices on receipt and will need chasing, they get one chasing reminder invoice sent via the post and if they have not paid within 28 days of the reminder being sent. They then sent a letter informing them  that they have been terminated as the plot holder. 

With some 1165  people on the waiting list plot holders cannot drag out paying for their plots as they have done in the past.

Waiting List & Vacant Plots as of the 19th July 2024

Updated figures from Jane our idverde allotment officer, following a number of no-cult notices and termination notices for unworked plots. With the amount of people we have on the waiting list unworked plots are not being tolerated as they once were, and if tenants don't take action within the 28 day from the date of the notice, they are being given termination notices.

March 2024 Waiting List & Vacant Plot Update

This is a snapshot in time based on information provided by idverde as of the second week in March 2024, and was out of date moments after the information was provided. This year a record amount of people gave up their allotments.  

Site reps & committees on Belmont, Cheam Court, Green Wrythe Lane, Roundshaw, Stanley Road, Westmead Road, & Wrights Row Allotments have plans to show all the vacant plots to people on the waiting lists that have been contacted and have shown an interest in the next couple of weeks. So hopefully by the next gardening Group meeting these allotments will be fully tenanted.

Jane is also contacting people on the waiting list for all the other allotment sites and is still finding that many people that jumped on the waiting list during the pandemic are no longer interested in having a plot, because the pandemic is over and they don't have the time or need somewhere they were allowed to visit during the pandemic anymore. 

On some sites where the site rep is ill or there isn't a site rep Jane is meeting prospective tenants and showing them the plots. 

Jane is chasing the Council for a date for the next Gardening Group meeting and for the promised information that has not been forthcoming from the London Borough of Sutton.

Allotment Site Rep Meeting 26 May 2023

Venue - Salvation Army Sutton 

Council officers and Idverde attendees: 

Mark Dalzell, Head of Parks & Open Spaces, LBS 
Adam Brind , Contract Officer Park, LBS 
Sarah Fowler, Contract Officer Park, LBS 
Ian Wolstencroft, Contract Officer Park, LBS 
Jane Hardy, Service Administrator ‑ Allotments Idverde 
Phil Quirke Contract Supervisor Idverde 
Richard Kelly, Commercial Manager, Idverde 

Agenda 

1. Idverde Feedback 
2. Maintenance Issues 
3. Waiting List & Vacant Plots 
4. Site Inspections 
5. Idverde Feedback 
6. Any Other business (AOB) 

1. Idverde Feedback 

All invoices done. Postal Strike caused problems with some people receiving them Inspections now being done, Most Sites Fully occupied, remainder vacant plots to be filled shortly. Please let Jane know if you want inspections doing 

Westmead still has some vacant plots JH looking at each site and will advise shortly 

Roundshaw hasn't had anyone viewing the two vacant plots 

2. Maintenance Issues 

Mill Green

Neighbouring property at 1 Parchment Close has a retaining wall that is “failing”. This needs to be reported to the developers “Redrow” by the homeowner. The new estate is approx 600mm higher than allotment. Oxyacetylene gas tank needs clearing - Idverde to remove A skip was discussed for this, Idverde will try and arrange but not guaranteed LBS cannot fund clearance unless money made available to bring new plots into use Branches need clearing near drop off/ pick up area Requested any wood chip from shredding for use on the site 

Beddington Allotment 

Wall Damaged - The removed bricks are piled up on a nearby plot. Parks can arrange further removal of any loose bricks. Funding would be needed to repair the wall The site has had a recent clearance 

Demesne Road 

Grass mowing has been excellent. 2 Plots being left for some reason, can they be added to the mowing to prevent them becoming overgrown. Adamto speak to Thames Water about Plot 10 and find out what the issue is. Plot 10 also to be cut by Idverde. 

Plot 104A has a lot of rubbish on it 

LBS can do very little if people refuse to remove it. Court order expensive 
LBS can write to the allotment association for advice. 

Deposit system suggested, so that Council holds money if the plot was left in poor condition. However this is difficult to administer and it is often years later that tenants move on. They may not be able to find their receipt etc. 

Water pressure poor on site 
Action - Contact SES Water 

Westmead 

Some plot holders bringing inappropriate items on the site inc wash hand basins and WC’s Site rep to speak to plot holder, if they ignore site rep, let Idverde know who will the write to the potholder informing them to remove the items.

Perrets Field 

Near plot 7 Footpath overgrownPlot holders have cut back large branches which need clearing Action - LBS to speak to Tree Team to arrange for contractor to remove Roundshaw Tap Issue - No water Plot 13 

Action - arrange a repair 

Belmont Allotment 

Repairs took a long time to be completed at this site problem with suitable contractors 

3. Waiting List & Vacant Plots 

Some sites for eg GGL Benhill have over 70 on waiting list 
Some sites none 
Stanley Road - holding open weekend 
Currently people can choose up to 3 sites to be on waiting list 
Most sites are full. 

AW could add current list of number waiting at each site to the Hub

Suggested to be able to choose 2 sites rather than 3. This was agreed at the meeting 

MD advised LBS trying to create more plots, looking at possible funding to enable LBS to do this

4. Site Inspections 

JH doing some at some sites , Site Reps doing inspections at some sites 

Site reps can Take a photo and send it to JH and then another picture 28 days after non cult 

JH - Idverde trying to work with problematic tenants rather than them leaving behind an unworkable plot which is difficult to then let. Remember site reps can use the buddy system to help get a more independent view. 

5. Invoices 

Works really well all sent by post. No major issues. 

6. Any Other business (AOB) 

Benhill - large shed being built, ie larger than 6 x 8 foot shed size, so in breach of regulation guidelines. JH can write to tenant to dismantle 

MD - The council has environmental enforcement who can get involved if same plot holders are constantly having bonfires and outside of the months allowed. Barbecues where more than 10 people are attending would be calseed an event.

Mill Green - Polytunnels not covered in guidelines 

Roundshaw - Getting large amounts of polytunnels on the site 

Perrets Field - Path between two sections of the allotment bottom of fence, there is a large sycamore which needs tree officers to check 
Plot 34 add gate. 
Bid for Local Funding/ Neighbourhood Fund 

Bute Road - Problem with trees growing on alleyway 
Idverde edging up boundary at end of season 
Action - Please let LBS know of any tree issues and problems so they can be checked 

Westmead - More cars coming on site, parking on grass area 
Possible options notices saying no parking, fencing off an area to prevent parking 
Central Road Plot holders have been digging trenches to get soil. 
Composters are on site so no need to do this. Add info to notice board 

Roundshaw - Notice board perspex gone cloudy 
Replacement perspex could be funded by local funding (public realm), link added to end of minutes. SF advised that recent quotes for this type of work show cost to replace is about £600. 

Mill Green - Problem with combination lock in certain weathers

Belmont - Damaged double gates. These are not main gates and not really used 
Gates swing out into Cotswold Road 
Inspect and repair or permanently close off 

Rent Increase 

The rent increase is as follows: Charge for plot the cost goes up from 36p to 40p per sq metre Concessions - cost goes up from 28 p to 32p per sq metre 

Water increases from 11p to 13p per m 

That means a 5 Rod Plot (125 sq m) would cost £66.25 full price, £56.25 concession 

Allotment Revenue Monies 

Plot holders asked where the income from allotments goes and general feeling they should get more for what they pay. The income is not ring-fenced to allotments. However the service provides grass and hedge cutting, repairs including replacing padlocks, fence/ gate repairs, plumbing repairs for water leaks taps, ball valve replacement, turning the supply on and off in spring and autumn and ensuring supply damaged by frost are checked and fixed. 

The money also covers officer time for both Idverde & LBS. 

We cannot provide a full breakdown on every specific costing, but can provide some further info once this has been accumulated. 

Some useful links for grant funding 

Local funding Google Form here 
LBS web Page here 
Neighbourhood Fund Form here 
Neighbourhood Fund web page here