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Welcome to the Witney Allotment Association
Formed in 2012, the Witney Allotment Association manages allotment provision for residents across the town of Witney. We are a member-led organization, managing over 230 plots across four distinct locations.
When you sign your tenancy lease, you automatically become a member of the Association. Depending on your time and experience, we offer a mix of both full and half-size plots for hire.
How the Association is Run
The day-to-day management of our plots is kept local and run entirely by volunteers.
Site Committees
The day-to-day running is delegated to two site committees (Lakeside site Committee and Newland, Hayley Road and Windrush Place Committee). These are made up of volunteer members elected each year at our Annual General Meeting (AGM). This is where key decisions are voted on and committee elections take place.
Management Committee
Overall association issues are overseen by a central Management Committee, which is comprised of officers chosen from the two site committees.
We encourage all of our tenants to play as full a part as they can in the management of the association and to help build a vibrant plot-holder community.
[Meet the teams]
Website Directory
Use the links below to find your way around our site and access key updates:
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Rules & Governance: Visit the [Formal Documents] page to read our Constitution, Tenancy Terms & Agreements, and formal policies. These outline the rights and responsibilities of both members and committees.
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Explore the Plots: Read our [Site Descriptions] pages for specific details on the facilities and profile of each location.
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Contact & Minutes: Head to the [Committee Pages] to find current committee members, direct email contact addresses, and minutes from past meetings and AGMs.
Apply for an Allotment
Details on how to join the waiting list and allotment costs are on the [Waiting list page].
Residency Restriction: Membership and plot tenancies are strictly restricted to residents living within the boundary of Witney. In line with Witney Town Council (WTC) policy, if a member subsequently moves out of the town boundary, they will no longer be eligible to continue their tenancy.
Demand for plots in Witney remains exceptionally high. Waiting times vary depending on which location you choose. If you select “All Sites” on your application, your overall waiting time is likely to be shorter.
The Top Five Allotment Tips
Managing an allotment is incredibly rewarding, but it can quickly feel overwhelming if you don’t have a strategy. Whether you are a complete beginner holding your first set of keys or a seasoned grower looking to get more efficient, focusing on these five essentials will keep your plot productive and enjoyable.
1. Little and Often Beats One Big Weekend
The biggest trap for new plot-holders is the “weekend warrior” approach. Spending eight hours clearing weeds on a sunny Saturday only to leave the plot alone for two weeks gives weeds the perfect window to take over again.
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The Golden Rule: Try to visit your plot for 30–60 minutes, two or three times a week.
2. Focus on Soil Health First
Your crops will only ever be as good as the soil they grow in. Your allotment will need plenty of organic matter to develop the soil structure and retain nutrients.
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The Action Plan: Start a compost pile on day one. Collect kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and cardboard.
3. Plan a Crop Rotation System
Planting the same vegetable family in the same spot year after year is a shortcut to depleted soil and a buildup of pests or diseases (like onion fly or clubroot in brassicas).
The Strategy: Divide your main growing areas into four distinct zones and rotate them every year:
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- Legumes & Roots: Beans, peas, carrots, parsnips.
- Brassicas: Cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts.
- Potato Family: Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers.
- Alliums & Others: Onions, garlic, leeks, sweetcorn, squash.
4. Harvest Rainwater
Summer droughts are becoming more common in the UK, and relying on shared site taps or carrying heavy watering cans across the site is exhausting.
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The Setup: If you have a shed or a greenhouse, fit it with guttering and channel the runoff into interconnected water butts.
5. Don’t Try to Grow Everything at Once
It is incredibly tempting to buy one of every seed packet in the garden center, but overcrowding your space leads to poor harvests and high stress.
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The Focus: Choose 3 to 5 crops that your family actually loves to eat and that are expensive to buy in the supermarket (like soft fruits, fresh herbs, gourmet potatoes, or heirloom tomatoes).
Newsletters
Keep up-to-date with what’s going on on our sites
Newlands
Newland is the smallest of the sites managed by the Witney Allotment Association. The site lies just north of Newland Road between Kingsfield Crescent
Hayley Road
This site has a slightly irregular boundary giving rise to some variation in plot sizes. The site lies between Farmers Close and Eastfield Road.
Windrush Place
Windrush Place is Witney’s newest Allotment Site, situated at the Eastern entrance to the new Windrush Place housing development.
Lakeside
Lakeside is the largest of the four sites. All standard sized allotments have their own parking space – though spaces are shared between the half plots.