we have had the list of allotment vacancies from the allotment office, they have said there are some at the brushes, hatfield house lane, and some at rivelin and hagg hill.

I would like to know what these sites are like, will go and have a look soon but just wandered what experience people have, i.e vandalism, soil condition, availability of water etc........

Also can anyone recommend book/websites for allotment/veg growing as we are enthusiastic but 'green' when it comes to growing veg.....

Hi there, I can recommend some books: Sarah Raven - the great vegetable plot (current on really good offer through the Book People), Caroline Foley - Practical Allotment Gardening and Susan Berger - allotment gardening. Ive also got Joy Larcom's vegetable growing book. All very good / informative / inspiring. Happy reading !

I'm afraid I can't help you with information about the allotments at the Brushes, but I can recommend some books! The Susan Berger book mc55 suggests is very good (especially if you are interested in organic gardening), and I also like Andy Clevely's 'The Allotment Book'. Let us know how you get on!

thanks for replies, off to hunt up those books, be ready for loads of questions when we get started.................

I can go along with the book suggestions, I have the Caroline Foley and Sarah Raven books. We have an allotment on Hagg Hill (for about 2 months now), they are very daunting to look around as you can't tell where one finishes and another begins in a lot of cases and the numbering system is a little bizarre, and once you take one on they are hard work to clear.

However, it's a peaceful site I can't imagine there being a huge vandalism problem as it's too far out the way but it does happen occasionally I hear. Quite a few plots have been taken in the last few months which is encouraging to see how each plot is getting along and to chat to people in similar circumstances. The soil looks OK (what small bits we've found so far!) and well draining. We do pay for water but the standpipe has no tap and is constantly leaking... I'm sure they'll be plenty of complaints to the allotment office. That said there seems to be a few natural springs around that site as well so may be we'll stop paying for water ;>)

I've looked over the hedge at some of the plots down Rivelin and they do look to be in an idyllic location but I'm sure they are more prone to vandalism as the footpaths seem much busier down there. Could be wrong though.

Rob