Members Back Ambitious Project Green Shoots Plans

Ashford Allotment Society Members Back Ambitious “Project Green Shoots” Plans

Ashford Allotment Society members have overwhelmingly voted in favour of pursuing self-management of the town’s allotment sites in a landmark move that could transform the future of allotmenteering in Ashford.

The vote took place at a well-attended public meeting on Tuesday 19th May, where plot holders from across Ashford gathered to hear proposals from the Society’s committee under the banner of “Project Green Shoots.”

The proposal would see Ashford Allotment Society formally submit an Expression of Interest to Ashford Borough Council to take over the day-to-day management of the borough’s allotment sites under powers available through the Localism Act 2011.  

The Society says the move would allow allotment rents to be reinvested directly back into local sites, improve responsiveness to maintenance issues, increase community involvement and create a more sustainable long-term future for allotments in the town.  

Prior to Tuesday’s public vote, the Ashford Allotment Society committee had already voted unanimously to pursue the proposals.

Society representatives said they were delighted that members had now also given such strong backing to the initiative.

The meeting was attended by six Ashford Borough councillors, many of whom expressed support for the proposals. Several councillors are also allotment plot holders themselves and have been involved in discussions with the Society during the development of the plans.

Attendees also heard from Andy Bird of the National Allotment Society, who spoke about the growing national interest in community-led allotment management and the opportunities it can create for local growers. Mr Bird welcomed the ambitions behind Project Green Shoots and praised the level of engagement shown by Ashford’s allotment community.

Annette Woodhouse, Chair of Ashford Allotment Society, said:

“We are incredibly encouraged by the overwhelming support shown by our members. Project Green Shoots is about creating a sustainable, community-led future for Ashford’s allotments, putting decision-making closer to the people who use and care for these sites every day.

“This vote marks an important first step, and we look forward to continuing constructive discussions with Ashford Borough Council as we move forward with our formal expression of interest.”

Under the proposals, Ashford Allotment Society would explore taking responsibility for managing allotment sites across the borough, including maintenance, day-to-day operations and reinvestment of rental income into improvements for plot holders.  

The Society stressed that the process remains collaborative and that any future transfer of management responsibilities would require further planning, consultation and agreement with Ashford Borough Council.  

The organisation says early financial modelling suggests the proposals are viable and believes self-management would deliver greater accountability, faster decision-making and a stronger sense of community ownership.  

Ashford Allotment Society is also actively seeking volunteers who can help support the next stages of Project Green Shoots, particularly individuals with professional experience or skills in areas such as legal services, governance, finance, project management and communications.

The next step will now be for Ashford Allotment Society to formally submit its Expression of Interest to Ashford Borough Council for consideration.