An allotment is a small piece of land you can pay to grow vegetables, fruit, and plants on. Due to the numerous benefits of having an allotment they are extremely popular and most come with a waiting list. Frustratingly, waiting time can range from months to years depending on availability. So, would it be worth the wait?

Cost – Perhaps the most appealing aspect of growing your own food in an allotment is that it is inexpensive. The National Society for Allotment & Leisure Gardeners found that the average cost of running a 250sq m allotment was £202 a year, but the minimum value of the crops that were grown on that area (about 745kg of fruit and veg) worked out at £1,564 per plot.

Health – Growing your own fruit and veg allows you to avoid chemicals and pesticides that can come with store bought goods. Similarly, tending to your allotment requires physical activity which can contribute to keeping fit and active. Furthermore, you can also reap the health benefits of spending time outdoors.

Socialising – Allotments can allow you to join a small community of like-minded people. They can give you the opportunity to make new friends and socialise in a relaxed environment.

Great for the environment/wildlife – Allotments can be great homes for wildlife which can help to control pests and pollinate crops. You can encourage the right kind of wildlife by including hedgerows, ponds, nest boxes, beetle banks, overgrown areas, herb patches and log and stone piles.

All year round – Allotments are not just a seasonal hobby, specific foods are grown at specific times of the year and you can make changes with the seasons to ensure your allotment is productive all year round.

Satisfaction guaranteed – Successfully nurturing and growing your own food is extremely satisfying. Many people enjoy the sense of achievement they get when they are finally able to take home their produce.

local allotments

Researching local allotments can be difficult and time consuming as there is no centralised body of information. Here at MaleMenu we have collected the available up-to-date information about functioning allotments throughout the country. As far as possible we have provided the name, address, and contact information for individual allotments. They are organised according to council area. If you are involved in an allotment or community garden which has not been listed please let us know and we can update/add to our information.

Antrim and Newtownabbey – 5

  • New Mossley Allotments, Ballyearl Rise, New Mossley, BT36 5JW
  • Ballyearl Allotments, Doagh Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 5RZ
  • Rathfern Allotments, Knockenagh Avenue, Newtownabbey
  • Greystone Allotments, Ballycraigy Road, Antrim BT41 1PW
  • The Grange Allotments, Grange Estate, Ballyclare

Contact glenda.James@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk to express your interest in joining the waiting list for an existing plot. Recently Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council pledged to invest over £200,000 in allotment provision over the next 18 months. Get in contact here https://www.www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/allotments to complete an expression of interest form and express your opinion on desired locations.

Ards and North Down – 1

Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon – 2

local allotments

Belfast City – 7

  • Albert Drive Allotments – Albert Drive, Castlereagh, BT6
  • Annadale Allotments- Annadale Embankment, BT9
  • Ballysillan Allotments – Deerpark Road, BT14
  • Belmont Allotments – Cairnburn Road BT4
  • Blythfield Allotments – Blythe Street, BT12
  • Musgrave Allotments – Stockman’s Lane Bt9
  • Whiterock Allotments – Whiterock Road, BT12

For more information on these allotments or  to add your name to a waiting list for a vacant plot contact: Telephone: 02890320202, Email: outdoorleisure@belfastcity.gov.uk

Belfast City Council also run free Community Gardens where you can grow your own fruit, veg, and flowers in a group environment. All levels of experience are welcome and staff will be on hand to help as well as running training workshops. The gardens are open daily. Tools and equipment are provided, although it would be useful if you could bring your own gardening gloves.

Belfast Community Gardens – 13

  • Glenbank Park – Gardeners from Conservation Volunteers NI are on hand every Wednesday from 10am-12:30pm to give advice
  • Suffolk – Situated beside Suffolk Community Centre
  • Lenadoon –  Situated beside Glen Road Community Centre
  • Ballysillan – Situated beside Ballysillan Allotments
  • Waterworks – Situated in Waterworks Park
  • Musgrave Park
  • Grove Playing Fields – Situated beside Grove Wellbeing Centre
  • Shankill – Situated beside Shankill Leisure Centre
  • Ormeau – Situated beside the Indoor Tennis Centre and Ozone Complex
  • Finlay Park
  • Knocknagoney – Situated in Knocknagoney Linear Park
  • Whiterock – Situated beside Whiterock Leisure Centre
  • Avoniel – Situated beside Avoniel Leisure Centre

For more information Email: parksinfo@belfastcity.gov.uk or Telephone:

  • 07585972924 (North Belfast)
  • 07721537436 (East Belfast)
  • 02890320202 extension 3440 (South and West Belfast).

Causeway Coast and Glens – 1

Grow Allotment Coleraine – https://www.vineyardcompassion.co.uk/projects/grow/ or Telephone 028 7022 0005

local allotments

Derry City and Strabane – 3

  • St Columbus Park
  • Church town, Castlederg
  • Tullacor, Strabane

Contact the Parks Manager Colin Kennedy, Telephone: (028) 71365151 extension 6816, Email: colin.Kennedy@derrystrabane.com

Fermanagh and Omagh – 10

  • Lisnaskea Lough Head Allotments
  • SEFF Allotments, Lisnaskea
  • Community Garden at Share Discovery Village
  • Donagh Community Garden
  • Devenish Partnership Forum Allotments, Enniskillen
  • MACCA Allotments, Mullaghmore
  • Campsie Residents Association Community Garden
  • Drumduff and Drumnakilly Community Garden
  • Creagán Education and Research Centre Community Garden
  • Owenkillew Community Development Association Community Garden, Gortin

Contact roisin.grimes@fermanaghomagh.com for more information.

Lisburn and Castlereagh – 2

Mid and East Antrim – 3

For more information: Telephone: 028 9335 8233, Email: allotments@midandeastantrim.gov.uk , Visit: www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Mid Ulster – 1

  • Nunnery Hill Allotments in Dungannon Park

Download information: https://www.midulstercouncil.org/Services/Allotments/Nunnery-Hill-Community-Allotments Telephone: 0288772 8690, Email: parks@midulstercouncil.org

Newry, Mourne and Down – 1

Are you involved in a local allotment? How did you get involved? What produce do you grow? Do you have any tips or advice to share? Join or start the conversation below.