Allotments have been an important and valuable part of the urban community for over 150 years. They were created to empower those on low incomes to improve their quality of life, health and diet, by growing their own food.  The common land these people worked was the remains of land that had once been communal agricultural land.

The General Enclosure Act of 1845 made the provision of allotments for the ‘labouring poor’ mandatory and introduced the concept of landlord and tenant for allotment land.  The 1908 Allotments Act made allotments the responsibility of local authorities and the 1922 Allotments Act made allotments available to all, not simply those on low incomes. Allotment law was last updated under The Allotments Act 1950, and some argue there remains a need for alteration to the law to reflect changes in allotment gardening. In modern allotment gardening people of all ages and backgrounds are creating vibrant communities that produce fresh, healthy food and offer a healthy lifestyle too.

Liverpool City Council delegate the management of their 24 Council owned allotment sites to individual Societies/Associations, and these sites are managed by plot holders themselves on behalf of the local authority. Liverpool City Council is the ultimate landlord and receive rents.

The A.L.A. is an overarching representative body that promotes and protects the interests of allotment sites and their members in Liverpool, and is recognised by the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners as the local representative body for the National organisation.

We hold business meetings every 3 months in order to deal with allotment related issues, and work on a day to day basis offering advice and support to allotment gardening organisations as and when needed. Membership fees are £15/year/organisation.
If you are not a member and you wish to attend a meeting on behalf of your organisation, or you are thinking of establishing an allotment gardening/food growing organisation and seek advice, please contact us via the contact page.