| To contact us, e-mail: editor at chsw4.org |
| © 2004 - 2008 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 |
Allotments in ChiswickThere 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: |
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Allotment Notice Board:
Gardening Tips:
With thanks to the
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| They may be contacted at the Trading Hut on Sunday mornings or by e-mail. Allotments in Hounslow are let and managed on behalf of the Council by Community Initiative Partnerships (CIP), a trust set up to provide leisure and environmental services. When you rent an allotment you must comply with the Tenancy Agreement - see the tenancy guidelines. The CHS Allotment Secretary, and the Site Representatives liaise with CIP to address any concerns raised by allotment holders. The Society urges all allotment holders to make sure there are no hazards on their allotments and the surrounding pathways that could cause injuries or could damage the environment. |
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Interested in an allotment in Chiswick?
Before taking on an allotment, prospective tenants should first read the government leaflet “Allotments: a plot holders’ 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 five 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 Dukes Meadows site has raised growing beds and is accessible for wheelchairs and scooters. If you would like to find out more about having an allotment in the Chiswick area, contact the CIP Lettings Officer on 0845 4562 972. There is a waiting list at present for Chiswick allotments but some are immediately available on nearby sites at Boston Manor. The rent for a 5 rod allotment is £23.10 pa. If you wish to apply for an allotment in the London Borough of Hounslow, print off this Application Form, fill it in and post to the Lettings Officer. |
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Winners of the Best Allotment Competition:
Number One Allotment
Terry’s Composting Tips
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| Staveley Road |
Tony Kenward |
| Burial Ground |
Lillian Baker |
| Dukes Meadows |
Colin Ingram |
| Dukes Meadows |
To be appointed |
| Chertsey Road |
Dane Wright |
| The Promenade (3—66) |
To be appointed |
| The Promenade (69—124) |
Geoff Boswell |
| Thames Road |
Sara Parfitt |