Allotment Rules

Conditions of Use

  1. Trees
  • The Tenant shall not without the written consent of the RAA cut or prune any trees, apart from carrying out the recognised pruning practices of fruit trees.
  • The Tenant shall not plant any trees other than dwarf fruiting trees and or fruiting bushes without the prior consent of the RAA.
  1. Hedges and Paths
  • The Tenant of any plot which has the perimeter allotment fence forming part of the plot boundary, must at no time interfere with this fence without prior authority of the RAA. It is also important that access to the site perimeter fence is maintained at all times, therefore any sheds or greenhouses or other structures should be sited away from the perimeter fence to allow maintenance/repair.
  • The Tenant shall keep every hedge that forms part of the boundary of his Allotment Garden properly cut and trimmed, all pathways between plots trimmed and well maintained up to the nearest half width by each adjoining tenant, keep all ditches properly cleansed and maintained and keep in repair any other fences and any other gates or sheds on his Allotment Garden.
  • The Tenant shall not use any barbed or razor wire (or similar) for a fence adjoining any path on the Allotment Site.
  • Public paths and haulage ways (roads) must be kept clear at all times.
  1. Security
  • The Tenant shall be issued with a key to access the Allotment Site either by car or on foot. No replicas are to be made. No key shall be passed to anyone other than the person authorised by the Tenant to work on his Allotment Garden under paragraph 5 of the Agreement.
  • The key is to be used by the Tenant only or by an authorised person under paragraph 5 of the Agreement.
  • The main access gate shall be closed and locked at all times. For the protection of lone tenants and prevention of unauthorised visitors. Please ensure that the gate is locked at all times after you enter and after you leave the Allotment Site.
  1. Inspection
  • An officer of the RAA if so directed may enter allotment gardens for inspection of the state of cultivation and general condition of the plot, sheds, greenhouses, polytunnels and any livestock and full access must be given by the Tenant to the officer at a mutually agreed, mutually convenient time.
  • If the tenant is not available, inspection can be carried out from the boundary of the plot using available means to view.
  1. Water/Hoses/Fires
  • The Tenant shall pay such reasonable sum as may be demanded for the cost of water use, which will be incorporated with the annual allotment rental.
  • The Tenant shall practice sensible water conservation, utilise covered water butts on sheds and other buildings and consider mulching as a water conservation practice.
  • The Tenant shall have consideration at all times for other tenants when extracting water from water points. No hoses are to be used at any time for irrigation purposes, hoses can be used to fill water butts.
  • Fires are allowed for the burning of materials from the Allotment Garden only. diseased plants and dried-out organic material that will burn without smoke or hazardous residue. All fires must be attended at all times and not cause a nuisance to neighbouring residential residents or other plot holders. All fires must be fully extinguished before leaving the site. The Tenant shall not bring or allow to be brought on to the Allotment Site any materials for the purpose of burning such waste. Every effort should be made to compost garden waste and remove other material from site. Burning should be last resort.
  1. Children
  • Children are welcome on site (they are the gardeners of the future) but Parents and Carers are reminded that allotments are not playgrounds but a working environment containing potential dangers. Parents and Carers are responsible for the behavior and wellbeing for any children brought on site and should remain on the tenants’ plot at all times and not cause any nuisance to neighbouring plot holders.
  1. Dogs
  • The Tenant shall not bring or cause to be brought onto the Allotment Site a dog unless it is held at all times on a leash, and remains on the Tenant’s Allotment Garden only. Any faeces to be removed and disposed of offsite by the Tenant.
  1. Livestock
  • Tenants must work their plot to a reasonable standard for a minimum of 12 months before livestock can be kept. Following the 12-month period, except with the prior written consent of the RAA the Tenant shall not keep any animals or livestock on the Allotment Garden save rabbits and hens (no Cockerels) to the extent permitted by section 12 Allotments Act 1950. (Such animals not to be kept for trade or business purposes). Bees can also be kept but the tenant must be a member of the national / local bee keeping association and have adequate qualifications / training to ensure that they are following the correct practice to ensure the health and safety of other tenants on the site.
  • Livestock must be kept so that they are not prejudicial to health or a nuisance.

 Buildings and Structures

  • Any building for non-cultivation purposes Tool/storage sheds, Livestock Houses (Hen or Rabbit) must be no larger than 2m x 3m (6ft x 8ft approx.). Approximately two thirds of the plot must be under cultivation. Any plot holder wishing to construct a shed of larger size must apply to the RAA giving details of the proposed building, size, materials and the proposed use of the building.
  • The Tenant shall keep all sheds, greenhouses, polytunnels and other structures in good repair to the satisfaction of the RAA.
  • Oil, fuel, lubricants or other inflammable liquids shall not be stored in any shed except in an approved container with a maximum capacity of 5 litres for use with garden equipment only.
  • The RAA will not be held responsible for loss by accident, fire, theft or damage from Allotment Garden.
  1. General
  • Sites should only be occupied during reasonable daylight hours unless tending to / feeding livestock or in an emergency situation.
  • The Tenant shall not deposit or allow other persons to deposit on the Allotment Garden any rubbish, refuse or any decaying matter (except manure and compost in such quantities as may reasonably be required for use in cultivation) or place any matter in the hedges, ditches or dykes in or surrounding the Allotment Site.
  • All non-compostable waste shall be removed from the Allotment Site by the Tenant.
  • The Tenant shall not utilise carpets or underlay on the Allotment Garden.
  1. Chemicals, Pests, Diseases and Vermin
  • Only commercially available products from garden or horticultural suppliers shall be used for the control of pests, diseases or vegetation.
  • When using any sprays or fertilisers the Tenant must
  • take all reasonable care to ensure that adjoining hedges, trees and crops are not adversely affected and must make good or replant as necessary should any damage occur, and
  • so far as possible select and use chemicals, whether for spraying, seed dressing or for any other purpose whatsoever, that will cause the least harm to members of the public, game birds and other wildlife, other than vermin or pests, and
  • comply at all times with current regulations on the use of such sprays and fertiliser.
  • The use and storage of chemicals must be in compliance with the all relevant legislation.
  • Tenants must maintain a vermin free environment at all times.
  1. Notices
  • The Tenant will endeavour to maintain the plot number provided by the RAA in good order and ensure it is visible at all times.
  • The Tenant shall not erect any notice or advertisement on the Allotment Site without prior consent of the RAA.
  1. Car Parking
  • Only the Tenant or persons acting for them shall be permitted to bring cars onto the site and they must be parked in the designated areas for parking shown on the allotment plan and not obstruct the haulage ways at any time. A maximum speed of 5mph will be observed at all times.
  1. Tenant / Co-worker / Visitor Conduct
  • The Tenant and any co-workers/visitors must not cause, permit or suffer any nuisance or annoyance to any other plot holder or neighbouring resident of the Allotment Site and must conduct themselves appropriately at all times. Abusive or intimidating behaviour will not be tolerated.
  • The Allotment Garden may not be used for any illegal or immoral purposes and the Tenant must observe all relevant legislation or codes of practice relating to activities they carry out on the Allotment Garden.
  • The Tenant or any person who accompanies the Tenant shall not enter onto any other plot at any time or remove produce without the express permission of the relevant plot holder. The Tenant is responsible for the actions of children and others entering the Allotment Site with his permission.

The Allotment Rules have been updated for 2023 and approved by the board of Rotherham Allotments Alliance Ltd at its meeting held on __________ – minute no. _________