Restoration work commences on UK's largest allotment
Restoration has started, with an extensive range of works and repairs to improve the St Anns Allotments in Nottingham – the UK's largest and oldest.
After almost 2 years of close consultation with Groundwork Greater Nottingham, work has now commenced on site with re-surfacing and drainage works, designed by HSP’s Civil Engineering Division, currently underway.
The allotment gardens in St Anns date back to the 1830's and are recognised as being the largest and oldest allotment site in the UK. After decades of neglect the site is being revitalised with the aid of Lottery Funding by rescuing and preserving historic features, including one of the few Grade II listed garden sheds in the country and several Victorian summerhouses and greenhouses.
The gardens are well used by locals, with 500 plots actively used out of the 677 plots on site, covering an area of over 70 acres with almost 3 miles of roads and paths!
The allotments were originally created as detached town gardens and were used as retreats by wealthy families before much of Nottingham was built. Times have changed and the allotments no lie within one of the most deprived areas of Nottingham and represent a rare green space in an area of high density inner city housing.
HSP are currently supervising the works having prepared detailed specifications for the surfacing and sustainable drainage system (SUDS) to be used across the site. Other works include improved boundary fences, the repair and renovation of roads and historical structures and clearance of overgrown pathways and unused sites. HSP have also been involved in the design of additional car parks, recycling areas and a water abstraction borehole to provide the site with a naturally occurring water supply.
David Trimble, Councillor for Nottingham City Council said “We are delighted that this unique piece of living social history is being recognised and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. We are very excited pleased to have been able to support this exciting project in partnership with the St Ann’s Allotment consortium and we look forward to seeing the plans come to fruition.”