Project Greenshoots
Ashford Allotment Society members have backed the proposal to pursue self-management of Ashford’s allotment sites. This page will track the key milestones as the project develops.
View the timelineExpression of Interest submitted to Ashford Borough Council. Awaiting next formal stage.
Timeline
We will update this timeline as discussions progress, decisions are made, and further information becomes available to members.
The newest updates are shown first. Earlier milestones remain below for reference.
As part of continued preperations for Ashford Allotment Society to potentially take on the management of Ashford's allotment sites, we have successfully registered with the Financial Conduct Authority under Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 as a Co-operative Society. The society is now formally recognised as Ashford Allotment Society Limited.
We will update this page as the Council responds, further meetings take place, and new milestones are reached.
Following the members’ vote, the Society submitted its formal Expression of Interest to Ashford Borough Council. The letter was delivered by hand.
This marks the start of the next stage of the process, where the Society will continue to engage with the Council and keep members informed.
A special meeting was held for Society members and allotment tenants to discuss the proposal and decide whether the Society should submit an Expression of Interest to Ashford Borough Council.
The vote in favour was supported almost unanimously, giving the Society a clear mandate to move forward. Read our press release about the meeting here.
At a committee meeting, members voted unanimously in favour of pursuing self-management and continuing work towards a formal proposal.
The Society began researching tenant-led management models, speaking with members, reviewing the potential benefits and challenges, and consulting with Ashford Borough Council. This early work helped the committee understand what self-management could mean in practice.