Somercotes Parish Council has three allotment garden sites Birchwood Lane Allotments, Leabrooks Allotments (Bridle Lane, Leabrooks) and Sleetmoor Lane (known originally as Flash Allotments). The Allotment gardens are run by the individual Allotment Associations, details are on the back page of the newsletter. The rise in local people taking allotment plots to ‘grow their own’ produce is now a big part of the community and a good way to save money, as well as having your own tasty vegetables to eat. An allotment plot tenancy is easy to obtain and low cost compared too many areas so if you are interested contact the appropriate allotment association.

Birchwood Lane: During the winter / spring month’s 15 new plots became available for tenancy and there are 7 or 8 still available. The Allotment Association is continually seeking to improve the site and would welcome new tenants. The site has porta-loos and an allotment shop to help tenants with purchasing seeds and equipment.  

Leabrooks Allotments: The Allotment Association has in the past 12 months worked on improving the facilities installing new gates and new water stand-pipes. New ‘Compus’ toilets will be installed in the next couple of months, subject to Planning Permission, thanks to a £9k funding from the National Lottery ‘Awards For All’ award. The allotment site has a few full and half size plots vacant for tenancy.

Sleetmoor Lane Allotments: Many people will know the site as ‘Flash Allotments’ that has now been renamed as Sleetmoor Lane. For the last 2-3 years the site has gradually been reclaimed and brought back into use and last year a new water pipe line was re-installed to the troughs to provide water for members to irrigate their plots. The allotment association would welcome new members who would enjoy working the land. There are several plots available and a large area that could be reclaimed, should this be necessary.