Allotment 13/7/10

When we were at the garden centre on Sunday picking out some plants for Significant Other’s bit of the allotment (yes I know it sounds like giving a child a small amount of the garden to look after but I do have a lot of space and the flowers do look lovely), which you can read about here, we noticed that they had converted the field next to the car park into allotment plots. Now that is a genius idea I thought, allotments next to a garden centre, think of the income. And of course they had. It’s a great idea, have plots there next to the shop, were else are they going to buy stuff?

 So we went round looking at all the lovely, over priced plants (I got a grape vine out of the deal) until we came to the till and there was a leaflet advertising the plots. I’ll have one of those I thought, it’s such a great idea that I’ll blog amount it. Well that was the plan until I saw the prices that they are charging for renting the plots.

 My allotment plot costs about £12 per year. This is a very basic plot, we have no on site water or anything, but never the less, only £12 per year. I don’t know how much other councils charge, I would imagine more then mine, but not too much. Yes, these plots come ready prepared but I would think that only means that they have rotivated the soil, nothing more. And what would you imagine that they charge for this? Actually that is a silly game so I will tell you, £5 per week or £20 per month or £240 per year. Now that is a lot of money.

 If you want one with a shed, a green house and water butt? Well that will set you back £10 per week or £40 per week or a staggering £480 per year. OMG! Not really cost effective I think you will agree.

 I know that they have to make a profit and that councils don’t have enough proper allotment plot available but never the less this smacks of a rip off, profiteering if you will.