A Swindon24 investigation ahead of National Allotment Week next month has uncovered huge differences in demand for allotments across Swindon, with some councils reporting waiting lists stretching into years while others have vacant plots ready to rent.
Figures supplied by responding parish and town councils show they manage more than 1,700 allotment plots, with at least 480 people currently waiting for one.
The findings suggest the gardening boom sparked during the Covid-19 pandemic has become more than a passing trend. While several councils said demand has eased since its peak, almost all reported that interest remains higher than it was before lockdown.
The biggest waiting list was reported by South Swindon Parish Council, which manages 570 plots across 19 sites but still has more than 360 people waiting. Elsewhere, waits of between 12 and 18 months are common in areas including Stratton St Margaret and Haydon Wick.
By contrast, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council currently has vacant plots available, while Blunsdon Parish Council also has no waiting list, highlighting what Swindon24’s investigation found to be a postcode lottery for aspiring growers.
The research also revealed changing trends. Haydon Wick Parish Council said it is seeing a younger generation taking on allotments, while several councils said the pandemic encouraged more residents to grow their own fruit and vegetables, a habit that has continued long after restrictions ended.
For many, allotments have become about much more than growing food. Wroughton & Wichelstowe Parish Council highlighted its community “Swap Shop”, where plot holders exchange surplus fruit and vegetables, alongside an annual harvest celebration bringing gardeners together to share advice and produce.
In Stratton St Margaret, one tenant has cultivated the same allotment since 1988, while another Wroughton grower narrowly missed a place in the Guinness World Records after a giant cucumber snapped from the vine just inches short of the record.
The investigation has been published ahead of National Allotment Week, which runs from 10th to 16th August under the theme ‘Grow To Learn’, celebrating allotments as places where practical skills, healthy living and community spirit are passed from one generation to the next.
Councillor Jake Chandler, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategy, Resilience and Green Infrastructure, said he hopes as many people as possible will take part. He said:
“National Allotment Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the benefits allotments bring to our communities, whether that’s growing your own food, improving your physical and mental wellbeing or simply meeting new people.
“I’d encourage everyone to get involved, whether that’s helping someone on their plot, taking part in one of the National Allotment Society’s free activities or simply sharing their own allotment story. Swindon has a proud allotment history, from Rodbourne to South Marston, Wroughton to Highworth, and it’s something we should celebrate.”
Cllr Chandler, who took on his current allotment around ten months ago, admitted he is still learning and regularly turns to fellow councillor Leanne Stevenson for advice, while councillor Matty Courtliff is also enjoying the rewards of his second allotment.
Councillor Leanne Stevenson said:
“I’ve had my own allotment for a number of years and it’s one of the most rewarding hobbies I’ve ever taken up. It’s about far more than growing vegetables, it’s about getting outdoors, meeting people, learning new skills and switching off from the pressures of everyday life. I’d encourage anyone who’s ever thought about giving it a go to put their name down or visit an allotment during National Allotment Week.”
Charlotte Watts, PR and Marketing Officer for the National Allotment Society, said this year’s ‘Grow To Learn’ theme recognises the role allotments play as outdoor classrooms, where practical growing skills, resilience, patience and community connections are passed from one generation to the next.
The National Allotment Society is organising a range of free activities throughout the week, including quizzes, competitions and resources encouraging people of all ages to discover the benefits of growing their own food.
The findings from Swindon24’s investigation suggest that, six years after Covid changed the nation’s relationship with gardening, allotments remain as popular as ever, although your chances of securing a plot still depend very much on where you live.
With thanks to:
Blunsdon Parish Council
Broad Hinton & Winterbourne Bassett Parish Council
Chiseldon Parish Council
Haydon Wick Parish Council
Highworth Town Council
Liddington Parish Council
Nythe, Eldene & Liden Parish Council
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council
South Swindon Parish Council
Stratton St Margaret Parish Council
Wanborough Parish Council
Wroughton & Wichelstowe Parish Council
Councils confirming they do not manage allotments:
Castle Eaton Parish Council
Bishopstone and Hinton Parva Parish Council
Lydiard Millicent Parish Council
Lydiard Tregoze Parish Council
Purton Parish Council
St Andrews Parish Council (confirmed the sites within the parish are privately managed)
