Run by Peter Parr Committee Member of Armley Ridge Road Allotments Association Leeds Yorkshire England

Helping to keep you up to date with what it's like to have a plot on our site.

Our allotments are self managed and have 40+ members. It covers 4 acres on a gently sloping ridge overlooking the centre of Leeds from the west. It's ruralness in the inner city is enhanced by the extensive parkland adjacent, which is across the road from us and runs down the Leeds Liverpool Canal and River Aire below. The park is a gift from industrialist Benjamin Gott to the City of Leeds. His old house and mill, not far down the canal.

With a pair of very powerful binoculars you could sit on your plot and look into the office windows of workers in Leeds centre!

Bird song is big, and foxes make homes on our site. We have to make sure areas can still be used by them or the park's rabbits will cross the road and wire netting will be at a premium.

Our members are from all walks of life: a manager from a local iron foundry was on a plot adjacent to his foreman .....but when the gate swings shut, we're all medieval strip farmers.

People here have plots that could be photographed in black and white for a 1940's allotments hard back. Others are all deep beds. Opposites attract, and appreciation of the end result of good vegetables is shared.

A water pipe runs up our main grass pathway with taps and old baths to catch the drips. Use of hosepipes is not allowed directly onto the land to keep the metered costs down; water butt filling and watering cans are.

Members have recently made a new toilet block with chemical facilities. All maintenance is done by individuals, from grass mowing to new fencing.

We have an active social life, BBQs, group party nights, site judging and show veg. For a full 300 square yard plot it's a bit more than £25 a year, with water rates and membership of a community shop for cheap gardening seeds and compost etc.

Schools regularly visit our site and have done so for five years or more. Our involvement with the community is recognised by those awarding grants for good causes. In effect, to be there on our open land on a sunny day is Utopia. As if two ley lines are crossing right underneath your feet. Better than paracetamol for life's stresses. And perhaps as good a use as any, of a Sunday, for nearness to God.