Ash Road Allotments
Ash Road Allotments is a nine acre (3.6 hectare) site with more than 200 plots, of which many are half or even quarter plots, which are easier to manage for people who have busy lives. The site is owned by the City Council, but is self-administered, which means that the day-to-day running and management of the site is in the hands of the plot-holders themselves, operating through a Committee that is elected annually, so you can have a real say in how the allotment site is run. We do have vacant plots from time to time and welcome new members, so if you are interested in taking up allotmenting please contact us.
We have a coffee morning every Sunday morning at 11am, which is an ideal opportunity to meet fellow plot-holders, and we hold a number of fun events during the course of the year, including seed swaps, plant sales, a barbecue, an annual show. We have an allotment ‘shop’ on site that sells various materials for use on your allotment at reasonable prices and there are toilet, water and parking facilities available. We aim to keep our site safe and secure and there is a padlock entry system on our access gates.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy is simple – sharing the joy of being in the fresh air, growing your own food and meeting like-minded people. We always try to remember that growing is FUN.
Working a plot year-round means that allotment holders experience the change of the seasons, witness the behaviour of birds, insects and other animals and gain an understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Hopefully all that fresh air and exercise also makes us healthier and happier. As many new plot-holders discover there is nothing more satisfying than the sense of achievement that can be gained from eating those first home-grown vegetables and fruits – and it makes them taste even more delicious! Sharing knowledge and sharing spare produce also makes having an allotment a really positive experience… and let’s not forget that the exercise you get from working on an allotment comes at a much cheaper price than gym membership!
Working an allotment does take commitment, but if managed properly, an allotment can produce enough food to supplement a family's weekly shop, with fresh fruit and vegetables over the year. Allotment gardeners can choose to garden organically and avoid ingesting chemicals that may be present on shop bought fruit and vegetables and we certainly encourage wildlife-friendly practices on the site.
History of the site.
The site of ash road allotments was originally used as farm land. In the 1920's the land was purchased by Leeds Borough Council and converted to the allotments. The photo shows The LBC allotment sub committee coming to inspect the plots. In the forefront you can see one of the plot holders. Read More
The allotment was also used in the TV series ' The ‘Beiderbecke affair’ in the 1980's. Where a wheeler dealer called Big Al had a shed (His office) full of dodgy merchandise.
