Newcastle Allotments Working Group

Newcastle one of the few places in Britain where the general management of its allotment sites is in the hands of the allotment gardeners themselves.

In 1999 Newcastle City Council disbanded the Allotments Sub-Committee and handed the day-to-day running of its 65 sites to a newly elected Allotments Working Group with the professional support and advice of the authority’s allotments officer. All eight members of the working group are active plot-holders who serve in a voluntary unpaid capacity.

Half the members must resign each year and their seats are put up for election at a forum to which all allotment sites in the city are invited to send representatives. A list of Area Reps. and their contact deatails is available via the link opposite.

The group allocates the annual allotments budget – the greater part of which is always devoted to fence repairs, replacement and maintenance – visiting many sites throughout the year to look at problems ‘on the spot’ and discuss possible solutions. They are always looking for ideas to promote allotment gardening, improve site management and attract more people to take up the hobby.

The current chairman is Michael Armstrong, whose plot is at Walkergate Hospital.