Maidstone Allotments
Sites

The Sandling Road allotment site was originally a brickworks, then in Victorian times became a rubbish dump – quite a contrast to all the trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables you will see now!

There are over 130 different plots with people from varied backgrounds enjoying the challenge of growing a wide variety of vegetables and then enjoying eating them! There are also regular get-togethers where plot-holders swap seeds, plants and growing ideas. There is also awareness of the wildlife that calls the allotments their home and we’ve recently been joined by beehives.

Bower Mount Road is a surprisingly quiet site tucked away between Bower Mount Road, Bower Street and Cornwallis Road.  Slightly raised and sloping on one end of the site which gives beautiful views over Maidstone in the summer, and helpfully flat on all the other plots.

There is no on-site parking, however, you can park on Cornwallis Road for 2 hours, which always has daytime spaces. Parking is also available at The Rocky Hill site, just over on the other side of Bower Street.

Soil is good and vegetables and plants grow well.

Loose road allotment site is a large open area, well served with vehicular access and easy car parking.

The site is in two sections. The older part, probably dating back to the end of WW2, has 2 gates. One in Mayfair Avenue and the other approached from North View. Currently there are 77 plots of varying sizes, a small community garden, and a Wildlife area with a pond. It is surrounded by public footpaths, bordering to the north, South Park playing fields.

Across the road on Carlton Gardens is the ‘younger’ area created in about 1976. New houses had been built on previously allotment land (now the top end of Mayfair Avenue).

The site has one main gate located in Carlton Gardens, and a pedestrian gate on the footpath linking Hazlitt Drive and Mayfair Avenue. It is enclosed on three sides by gardens, and to the South Water Board land.

There are currently 72 plots. In addition, there is a shop selling basic supplies of compost and fertilisers. Notices are posted giving information, listing prices etc.

Plots on the whole site are much sought-after, and there are usually an excess of 40 names on the waiting list.

Many nationalities are represented on the site, and a diversity of fruit and vegetables grown. In spite of high winds, lack of rain, and hungry pigeons, it is a much-loved place.

James Street is one of our smallest sites, with just five 10 rod plots. It is just outside the town centre, protected by old ragstone walls.

Rocky Hill is the oldest of our allotment sites situated behind Bower Street. There are 116 plots.

 The site is quite flat with some parking on site.

Beaumont Road is nestled between houses on Beaumont Road and Fant Lane, there are two separate areas.  9 plots on one area and 3 small plots on the other.  It is sheltered and flat, producing good crops. Parking is on the nearby road.

Buckland Hill is a small site bordered on two sides by Buckland Road and Buckland Hill.  The views over the town and the North Downs are stunning.

The site is on a slope, and the soil is good and everything seems to grow nicely.

There are two entrances, one on each road. There is limited parking on site. Parking on Buckland Road is limited to two hours on weekdays, but moving your car to a nearby spot allows another two.

Sandling Lane is approached by an unadopted track.  The whole site slopes gradually and overlooks the North Downs.

The soil on Sandling Lane is Sandy with a Ph balance of around 7.  It does dry out quickly during the summer months, so bulky organic matter is required.

 Square Hill land used to be a millpond, but the mill has now gone and has been replaced by flats. It is bounded on one side by Blythe Road and the River Len on the other.

There is no mains water and the soil is alluvial loam.

There is no vehicular access, and car parking is limited to 2 hours on Blythe Road. Access is via a wheelbarrow-friendly one-metre-wide concrete path.

There is a communal plot and WhatsApp group for anyone who wants to get involved.

Upper Fant Road is one of the larger allotment sites in Maidstone.  It slopes from Upper Fant Road down to the river. Most plots lay on a northwest southwest line. The soil is mixed, although in general it has a dark alluvial content. The plots at the southwest end, which have only recently come back into use, contain a lot of china and glass along with a good portion of ash, left over from when the area was used as a Victorian dump.

Parking is available on the site.