There have been allotments at Weaste since 1917. The land is owned by Salford Council and leased to Weaste Allotments & Gardening Association. This is a not-for-profit organisation. There are no employees. The site is self-managed by the plot holders.
It is 96 hectares or 237 acres of land. A hectare is a unit of area equal to 1/100th of a square kilometer. It is the same size as a square with 100 meter sides, and is approximately 2.47 acres. An acre is 1/640th of a square mile for those who prefer their weights and measures imperial. A full plot is 10 poles, a pole being 5.5 yards x 5.5 yards or about 280 sqm.
This includes grass and mud roads to move around the site which is fenced and gated. The Community Hut has a sink and basic toilet facilities. There is also a shop on site, open on Sunday mornings from early Spring to Autumn when the light is good, for purchasing growing goodies such as compost and planting items. The shop is open for our neighbours to use too.
The allotment site has local housing on two sides. Another side backs on to the playing fields accessed by Stott Lane (opposite Salford Royal Hospital). The southern side backs on to a Salford City Council development for affordable housing and apartments which will be ‘Move-on’ homes for people experiencing homelessness.
During 2020 to 2021 the allotments provided a sanctuary to plot holders who were able to attend, with social distancing provisions in place, to continue to produce food for themselves and their families. It was a Government approved activity.
Some plot holders produce more than they need and surplus produce can be donated to Salford Food Parcels which has had a plot since November 2019. Run by a committee member, people using Salford Food Parcels are able to experience the potential of having a plot, can learn new skills and be part of a community.
As restrictions lifted the plot holders were able to get together again. The annual BBQ returned and a sunflower competition (for the children) and a pumpkin competition with vegetarian cooking (for all ages) bringing people together again. Plot holders also work together to clear and maintain the common areas of the allotment site and on our projects both virtually and on the ground.
A committee of ten, elected by the association members, collects annual rents; arranges maintenance and repairs of common areas; and when there is enough volunteer hours or indeed volunteers can organise educational, social and fund-raising events; co-ordinates volunteers to look after the community shop and orchard. They are accountable to the plot holder Trustees of the Association. As well as the everyday needs of the site, they are working with the wider local community (see Our Vision).