I accidentally got involved in allotments management in 1996 when I put my hand up at an allotment AGM after the committee asked for volunteers.
A bit more about me, my work and who I’ve worked with:
Allotments Employment
Green Allotments CIO (2024- present) – CEO
The National Allotment Society (2022-2024) – Research and Development Officer
Consultant: Scottish Allotments & Gardens Society (2017-18)
Allotments Regeneration Initiative (2003-2011) – UK Project Manager, promoted to this role from North East Development Worker in 2005
Specialist work and representation
I have been invited to contribute to specialist areas of allotment work, representation, or to be involved in VIP and funders’ visits to allotments or involving allotments, for example:
2023: Isleworth Allotments Public Planning Inquiry, joint expert witness written statement at the invitation of Hounslow Council.
2023: House of Lords Horticultural Committee ‘Select Inquiry into Horticultural Sector’: oral evidence on behalf of The National Allotment Society.
2023: Advice/guidance on behalf of The National Allotment Society to Williton Allotment Society Ltd, regarding their application to central government’s “Community Ownership Fund” – the first successful central government funding award to a private allotment site threatened with being sold.
2010 Provided data and case studies for Parliamentary Answer on allotments
2010 & 2009 DCLG Round Table Meeting on allotments.
2010 Meet and greet with Duke of Kent – Prudhoe Community Allotment, Northumberland.
2009 Meet and greet with the then HRH Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall – Hackney City Farm.
2008 Meet and greet with The Baroness Andrews, Under Secretary of State, DCLG – Bill Quay City Farm.
Publications Work
I am a member of the Garden Media Guild. I have been involved with the following publications, either as a co-author, researcher, or contributor. It has been my absolute privilege to work as part of several teams of passionate and inspirational people who either work or volunteer in the allotments movement to produce resources such as these.
These publications are available on my Resources page.
“Growing in the Community: A Good Practice Guide for the Management of Allotments” (2nd Edition) – Local Government Association (2008)
“A Place to Grow: A Supplementary Document to Growing in the Community” Local Government Association (2010)
“Allotments: A Plotholder’s Guide” (2nd Edition). Department of Communities and Local Government (2007)
“Allotments – A Scottish Plotholder’s Guide” Scottish Allotments & Gardens Society (2010)
“Good Governance: The Key to Successful Allotments” Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society (2018)
“Wildlife on Allotments” Natural England (2007)
“London interactive map of allotments” London Assembly (2006)
“21st Century Allotments in New Developments: Practical, design-led and policy-based guidance for planners and developers who are looking to include allotments in new developments” The National Allotment Society (2022)
“A guide to fundraising for allotment societies” The National Allotment Society (2024)
“Allotment Emergencies” The National Allotment Society (2023)
“Installing a water borehole on an allotment site” The National Allotment Society (2023)
Factsheet series of The Allotments Regeneration Initiative 2003-2011: a diverse series of 8-page pamphlets covering aspects of allotments management. Many of these factsheets were the first on the topic to be researched and written about, e.g. managing health and safety on allotments. They remain relevant today because of their level of detail. These are all available on the Resources page.
Qualifications
PhD Sociology: Passed without Correction. Doctoral Thesis: “The social world of allotment gardens: an ethnographic account of formations of social cooperation.” (Newcastle University, 2017)
MA Sociology and Social Research Methods: Distinction (Newcastle University, 2012)
BSc (Hons) Environmental Studies: 1st Class (University of Sunderland, 2002).