Covid certainly has a lot to answer for that’s for sure but I can honestly say that it was a blessing in disguise for me, after finding myself on Furlough with my job. It gave me an opportunity to join a wonderful community, work outdoors and put me on the road to growing my own produce and making wonderful friends too. It was my first time growing or tending an allotment and certainly was a baptism of fire, one that I’ve become to love and relish.

As an offshoot of Kingsley Transition Initiative, Kingsley Allotment Society was formed in 2009 to help people in the community grow their own fruit & vegetables locally. This is a small privately owned plot which we rent from a local farmer, with guidelines set by local planning permission.
We currently have 21 plots which include 14 full size (22m x 11m) and 7 half plots 11m x 5.5m).

I first took on a half plot but found myself looking after the plots either side too and was offered a further half plot and turned it into a fruit and flower bed, growing my own flowers for my family and friends, nothing better than not having to pay £40-50 for a bouquet but lovingly growing your own and watching them bloom.

Since becoming a member in 2020, I can honestly say that it’s been a great experience, living the “Good Life”, (those of you that know will know), tending the land, sowing the seeds, growing and nurturing whatever you’ve planted and then reaping the rewards. Nothing tastes better than home grown that’s for sure. Sharing tips and produce and helping each other to make the place we love become our sanctuary, away from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives.

With the cost of living crisis it’s even more important that we grow our own food and throughout the growing season we would like to give something back to the community. Throughout harvest, we will be donating baskets of produce to those in need. If you’d like to nominate someone then forward their name and contact details to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will add them to our list for donations and deliver in person.

Something in the pipeline for the future, we’d like to do a produce table at the local community centre to raise funds to keep the allotments secure and any ongoing maintenance and also to make donations to the local youth clubs/schools, giving back and sharing the good times, reaping what we sow.

All we need now is some good weather, a little rain and some hard work to kick start our growing season ahead, may it be long, fruitful and plentiful.

If you are interested and would like to be added to the list or you’d like to have a look around, I’d be more than happy to show you.

Wishing you all a wonderful 2023
Best wishes
Sarah Haselden
Chair/Secretary