Crewe Town Council owns a number of allotment sites which are managed by the Crewe Town Allotment Federation and the West End Allotment Cooperative.
While many parks and green spaces are closed, we are delighted that allotment sites are allowed to remain open.
Working on your allotment is a great way to exercise and gather some healthy food during the Covid-19 lockdown. However, each site is different and there will be local circumstances arising from risk assessments of each one. The Allotment Associations managing each site are following guidance from the National Allotment Society and the Government, and have put measures in place that must be followed in order to reduce contagion.
View the latest guidance from the National Allotment Society – an outline is below.
Can I visit the allotment with my family?
Yes, government guidelines state that you can exercise with members of your household. However, the risk of sites closing increases with the number of people visiting, and to prevent the same closures that have happened in Ireland and France it is advised to visit alone or with one other person.
How long can I stay at the plot?
Government Ministers have suggested that an hour’s walk is reasonable and asked us all to limit time spent outside the home. The National Allotment Society believes that if you are using your plot for daily exercise it would be reasonable to spend an hour or two doing the jobs that need doing for that day and then to return home.
How can I ensure my family’s and everyone else’s safety at the plot?
Do not attend the plot if you have coronavirus symptoms or if you or a family member is self-isolating
I am self-isolating or shielding, cannot go to the allotment and worried about losing my plot, what should I do?
Please make sure that you inform your allotment manager that you are unable to visit the site, preferably in writing, so that they can make allowances for your situation.
Changes to site management
Allotment sites have been advised to close all communal facilities to reduce risk of transmission of the virus. This includes turning off the water taps, closing the toilet facilities and any other communal areas. Plot holders are being advised to harvest rain to water their plots, and bring their own soap and water for hand washing. Whilst this may cause some inconvenience, these measures have been put in place to follow advice from the Government and the National Allotment Society and mean the sites can remain open.
If you are visiting your plot it is really important to follow the protocols put in place by the site management or there is a risk the site will have to be closed. These temporary measures will be lifted as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.
Please remember to look out for one another during these difficult times and take all the steps you can to reduce the risk of contagion from Covid- 19 when you visit your plot.
Further information on COVID-19
Click on the link to read about self isolating
Click on the link to read about social distancing
Government advice about the Coronavirus is updated on a regular basis.
