| To contact us, e-mail: editor at chsw4.org |
| © 2004 - 2010 The Chiswick Horticultural Society |
| Plot Sizes
Plot sizes are measured in rods, an old Anglo-Saxon unit so-called because it was the length of the rod used to control a team of oxen. A rod is 5.5 yards (5.03 metres).
There are 4 rods in a chain, that is 22 yards (20.12 metres).
There are 10 chains in a furlong and 8 furlongs in a mile. So a mile is 80 x 22 = 1760 yards (1609.3 metres).
An acre is the area of land that could be ploughed in a day, being a furrow long (furlong) and a chain wide, or 160 square rods, which is 4840 sq yards (4048 sq metres). A hectare is 10,000 sq metres so an acre is 0.4 of a hectare.
Plots sizes are usually 5 rods or 10 rods. A 10 rod allotment is actually 10 square rods in area, that is 10 x 5.5 x 5.5 = 302.5 sq yards (253 sq metres).
In metric units, a 10 rod allotment is one fortieth of a hectare: in imperial units it is one sixteenth of an acre. |
| Allotments |
Interested in an allotment in Chiswick?Sadly the waiting list is currently CLOSED for Chiswick allotments but some are available on nearby sites at Boston Manor. If you would like to find out more about having an allotment in the nearby area, contact the Council Allotment Officer on 0845 456 2796. The rent for a 5-rod allotment is about £25.00 pa. Before taking on an allotment, prospective tenants should first read the government leaflet “Allotments: a plot holder's guide” to understand what is involved in being an allotment holder. It is important to realise that having an allotment requires on-going commitment to cultivate and maintain it to a reasonable standard. This inevitably will require a degree of physical activity and may present a challenge, particularly if the allotment has been neglected for some time. The right approach is to work a little (but often) and remember that it can take several seasons to get an allotment under control. You don’t have to be super fit to be able to garden successfully. There are many ways of making gardening easier, even if you have a physical disability. A good place to find out more is the “Carry on gardening” web site (see our Related Links page). If you feel that a small 5 rod allotment may be too much, consider taking on part of a shared allotment – this can be a good way to learn from an experienced gardener who perhaps wishes to reduce the workload. We also wish to encourage disabled people and their carers to come and grow plants and enjoy an allotment. Number One Allotment on the Duke's Meadows site has raised growing beds and is accessible for wheelchairs and scooters. **PLEASE NOTE that allotments in Hounslow are let and managed on behalf of the Council by John Laing plc - NOT by the CHS - so please don't complain to us about the closed list. |
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Allotment Notice Board:
Gardening Tips:
With thanks to the
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Allotments in Chiswick
There are around 600 allotments on six sites in Chiswick; each site with its own character. Every site has a Site Representative from the Chiswick Horticultural Society who will be happy to provide information and help to resolve any problems. The allotment sites and Site Representatives are:
They may be contacted via the Trading Hut on Sunday mornings or by clicking the links above. **PLEASE NOTE however that the Site Representatives cannot help you to get an allotment and that applications must go via the Council / their contractor John Laing (see above for details). The CHS Allotment Secretary and the Site Representatives liaise with the Council to address any concerns raised by allotment holders. The Society urges all allotment holders to make sure there are no hazards on their allotments or the surrounding pathways which could cause injuries or damage the environment. |
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Winners of the Best Allotment Competition:
Number One Allotment
Terry’s Composting Tips
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| Staveley Road |
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| Burial Ground |
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| Duke's Meadows |
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| Chertsey Road |
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| The Promenade (3—66) |
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| The Promenade (69—124) |
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| Thames Road |