In this week’s FoodFutures column, Deborah Simmonds explains her new role as allotment development worker for North Lancashire…
Hi everyone, I’d like to introduce myself!
My name is Deborah Simmonds and I’m just starting in the official role as allotment development worker for Lancaster District, employed by LESS Lancaster.
The role is all about supporting our amazing allotment sites to develop and thrive across the district and is one of the recommendations that came out of the Lancaster District Allotment Review Report, published in June 2024.
This was an independent review and report, supported by Lancaster City Council and FoodFutures and is publicly available HERE.
My role will involve implementing and developing the recommendations in the report through regular communication with allotment sites including information sharing, providing training, workshops and skill sharing events, plus creating networking opportunities for plot holders and committee members to link up and share skills, experience and support.
I will be raising the profile of our allotments and encouraging the development of new allotment sites in the district by private landowners as well as councils.
Our last new allotment sites were over 10 years ago.
I will also be monitoring and sharing what is going on a wider allotment level, including allotment innovations and regional and national developments.
I am a passionate advocate for allotments and have an allotment myself in Lancaster, which I absolutely love.
I am also the researcher and author of the Lancaster District Allotment Review Report and have been supporting allotments on an more ad hoc basis since it was published.
Further back I changed from health to horticulture in 2007 and worked in a wonderful two acre organic walled garden for the National Trust for five years as the “engagement gardener”, so fruit and vegetable growing as well as running events and providing information/displays for visitors.
I am known by quite a few ‘allotment folk’, but would very much like to reach out or re-connect to any allotment sites that don’t know me or would like to know more about this role and help to promote, support, and build on the amazing allotment network that we have.
You can get in touch by emailing deborah-allotment@lessuk.org.
