Our basic principles

At Hatherop Road we ask plotholders to adopt a few basic principles that benefit the whole site:

Be as organic as possible

Chemicals such as pesticides are discouraged — they’re not good for your health, others’ health, the soil, the veg you’ll eat, or the site’s wildlife. If you do use pesticide, please comply with the storage and use rules in the Richmond Allotments Terms & Conditions (7.7).

Encourage diversity of planting

The Council doesn’t permit growing a single crop, and in our experience a wide variety brings real advantages: a range of produce, steady supplies over a longer period, and a better chance of overall success. Diverse crops also support the pollinating insects that many crops depend on.

Reduce waste and recycle

Compost all your green waste, don’t remove topsoil, and take away any dry material that won’t compost or that’s full of weed seed.