The great allotment hunt
Part Three: How to find yourself some land

It seems like a 21st-century phenomenon, but allotment growing started with mediaeval peasants. Then, it was considered a right to have access to common land to feed yourself: try telling that to allotment managers juggling 200-strong waiting lists.

The great British allotment is enjoying a wave of popularity not seen since the Second World War, as people seize the chance to claim their own ten rods of land to grow fresh, organic food cheaply for themselves and their families. With a few tricks up your sleeve, you too can have a veg patch to call your own.

Council matters

Start with your local council: they're the ones who run allotment sites. Get a list of all the sites in your area, and then visit them. This will focus your search, as not all sites will suit you. You might not be happy growing near a major road; a site might not have a piped water supply (a big no-no) or the rules might not allow sheds when you've set your heart on one. Once you have your shortlist, call the site managers and put yourself on their waiting lists.

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

It can be dispiriting to hear it'll be at least two years before you're handed the keys - but persistence pays.

Even the most daunting waiting lists can melt away as people's circumstances change. Call the allotment manager regularly to let them know you're still interested. Keep an open mind to less-than-perfect compromises, like sharing, or taking on a plot that others have refused because it's too neglected. Don't, however, accept plots with permanent problems: really pernicious weeds like Japanese knotweed or big trees which suck away moisture and light make veg-growing well nigh impossible.