Allotments and growing food

There’s been a tremendous upsurge of interest in food growing in recent years, in response to concerns about food prices, food miles and the environment. People want better access to good, healthy and affordable food, and to enjoy cultivating beautiful green spaces and meeting local people.

Allotments

The Council are the freeholders for nine allotment sites with a total of 125 full plots (some split into half plots). We’re responsible for maintaining fences and gates around the plots. The Hackney Allotment Society has a 12 year lease on all nine sites and are responsible for the day to day management of the sites.

The Hackney Allotment Society is a registered charity (number 294128) managed by a voluntary committee and aims to promote horticulture in Hackney. If you are looking for an allotment plot in Hackney, contact Hackney Allotment Society.

Growing in housing spaces

Growing Communities

Growing Communities grow fruit and vegetables on half an acre of Soil Association certified land within Hackney’s parks as part of their aim of increasing the amount of organic produce grown in Hackney. They have food growing spaces in Clissold Park, Allens Gardens and Hackney City Farm. The Robin Hood Community Garden user group run a community food growing space at the bottom of Springfield Park.

Bees and orchards

Our green spaces don’t just accommodate fruit and vegetables; there are beehives in Hackney Marshes and Hackney City Farm producing quality local honey, trees growing in the tree nursery at Hackney Marshes and orchards in Millfields Park, Hackney Downs, Springfield Park, Spring Hill Rec, London Fields and Butterfield Green.

For more information contact parks@hackney.gov.uk.