Allotments and food growing

Allotments and community growing areas encourage healthy lifestyles through growing your own food and taking regular exercise, as well as improving mental wellbeing. Allotments are also very sociable places to be and can be small communities in themselves.

The exact number of plots can change regularly based on whether we need to merge or sub-divide plots to accommodate new allocations. We currently manage 6 allotment sites and 1 raised bed site.

• Allers in East Kilbride (111 plots)
• Richmond in Rutherglen (37 plots)
• Fernbrae Meadows in Cathkin (69 plots)
• Murray Recreation raised beds in East Kilbride (70 plots)
• Lammermoor, East Kilbride (63 plots)
• Lesmahagow Road, Strathaven (23 plots)
• Chatelherault in Hamilton (64 plots)

Plot holders are required to sign a lease, accept responsibility for their plot and agree to adhere to the rules and regulations. Regular inspections are undertaken and failing to keep your allotment up to an acceptable standard may result in your lease being terminated.

Due to the high level of interest in food growing, there is a lengthy waiting list and the council is currently working towards the requirements of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

Annual allotment and raised bed charges 2024/25

Charges from 1 April 2024.

A fully serviced site has multiple services such as a toilet, and mains water.  A part-serviced site has one chargeable service and charges at unserviced sites are for the lease of land only.

Example allotment charges 2024/25 (per annum):

50m2 plot unserviced site £17.50
50m2 plot part serviced site £26
50m2 plot fully serviced site £35.50
100m2 plot unserviced site £35           
100m2 plot part serviced site £52   
100m2 plot fully serviced site £71

Community Growing Toolkit

Even if you have your own garden or just a window box you may be interested in our Community Growing Toolkit.

We have created a storyboard packed full of information about food growing and allotments.

View the map in full screen