buxted Parish council

There are some 40 allotments located in the heart of Buxted village. Anyone living in the civil parish of Buxted is eligible to rent one, but exceptions may be made if there are sufficient plots available.

The allotment site is set in a landscape of mixed trees and farmland. It is enclosed within a rabbit and deer-proof boundary fence. Plot sizes vary and may be adjusted to suit the ambitions of most allotment-holders. The soil is fertile and well drained, comprising mainly alluvial silt overlying sandstone.

The land belongs to the Parish of Buxted, but the day-to-day management of the site is the responsibility of the Buxted Allotment Association operating in agreement with the Parish Council. The association was set up in May 2013 and enables allotment-holders to have more of a say in how the allotment site is run.

There is currently a good mix of young families and old hands cultivating the allotments and they have a range of knowledge and experience. So, it is easy to exchange ideas and pick up growing tips.

The rental rate for the 2024 agreement year (which started on 1^st March) is 40p per square metre (that translates into £14 annual rent for the smallest allotment up to nearly £81 for the largest). On top of that there is an annual membership fee of £3 for the Buxted Allotment Association and £3 per named allotment-holder for membership of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (the benefits of this include personal insurance against claims for injury or damage, sight of a quarterly magazine and discounted seed prices). On taking up an allotment, the Parish Council requires a deposit of £40 per allotment which is refundable on expiry of the agreement providing the allotment is left in good order.

Since 2015 the association has created a community area with a rustic shelter where allotment-holders can exchange plants, crops, seed and gossip. In collaboration with Sussex Wildlife Trust, we have also established an orchard of heritage variety apple trees grown for us by the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale. We have planted a small copse of hazel which will be traditionally coppiced on a 7-year cycle to provide pea sticks and bean poles for allotment-holders. We have also created a wildlife area under the guidance of Sussex Wildlife Trust. This includes ponds and native trees and shrubs together with a mixed-species boundary hedge. This area encourages pollinating insects and also natural predators to help allotment-holders manage their plots in a more environmentally sympathetic way. We have also created a composting facility for general use and this is already providing excellent compost for use by the allotment-holders on their plots.

Anyone interested in taking up an allotment should e-mail: baa24chair@gmail.com.