Appletree Allotment and Community Garden

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Wakefield

Region

Europe

Native title of the NBS intervention

Appletree Allotment and Community Garden

Short description of the intervention

Appletree is an outdoor community resource, where people of all ages and from all walks of life, get together to grow e.g. fruit, and contribute to developing and maintaining the area. The growing space and garden are divided into different areas, offering a range of gardening experience. The community also contributes to their permaculture, wildlife and wildflower areas. The community is constantly planting and regenerating areas of the garden. (Ref. 1)

Address

Off Agbrigg Road
Wakefield
WF1 5AE
United Kingdom

Location

Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Residential

Website of the intervention

http://appletreeagbrigg.wixsite.com/appletree

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

2015

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

2015

End date of the intervention

ongoing

Present stage of the intervention

Ongoing

Please specify "other" stage of the intervention

The site officially opened on 4 June 2015 and is part of the 'Health and wellbeing board' (through the Health Improvement team at Wakefield Council). (Ref. 2 , 3)

2. Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

As part of the City's 'Health and Wellbeing board', the overall mission for Appletree allotment and community garden is improving health and wellbeing for people in Wakefield. (Ref. 3)

The Appletree community offers e.g. gardening experience (which includes contributing to permaculture, wildlife and wildflower areas). (Ref. 1)

Quantitative targets

According to the Allotments Policy (Wakefield Council):
A minimum of 60% of the plot area must be cultivated for growing produce (vegetables, herbs, fruit, other edible crops and flowers).
A maximum of 40% of the plot area may be put to other uses (such as grassed lawn, or space for livestock or structures).
(Ref. 4)

Monitoring indicators defined

% of the plot area used for cultivating produce (vegetables, herbs, fruit, other edible crops and flowers); % of the plot put to other uses (such as grassed lawn, or space for livestock or structures).
(Ref. 4)

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Green space creation and/or management

Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)

Environmental education

Social justice and equity

Social cohesion

Social interaction

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Enabling opportunities for physical activity

Improving physical health

Creation of opportunities for recreation

Cultural heritage and cultural diversity

Promotion of cultural diversity

Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)

Sustainable production

Please specify "other Type of NBS project"

Food production (Ref 11)

Implementation activities

Mainly work on organic principals (the fruit and vegetables are pesticide free). Trying to foster an environmentally friendly ethos and take care of the wildlife on site (e.g. through creating and insect house and a hedgehog home made by one of the volunteers). (Ref. 5)

Offers community harvest, basic gardening courses, run special projects with school (to involve schoolchildren in creative activities with natural materials), and has major projects with local businesses throughout the year. (Ref. 1)

Also, “there are lots of allotment based activities available from weeding the raised beds (there's also hardstanding between the raised beds to allow wheelchair access), planting, potting up, harvesting etc to more physical challenges such as digging and clearing.” (Ref. 2)

Their homepage states " We’re an outdoor community garden in Agbrigg, Wakefield, offering a spacious and vibrant place for people of all ages and walks of life to come together, to be outdoors, and to grow and enjoy organic fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers. Appletree is open to everyone, whether you’d like to learn new skills or share existing ones, meet new people, or simply enjoy being out of doors in an emotionally uplifting and friendly green garden space." (Ref 11)

Type of NBS project

Creation of new green areas

Knowledge creation and awareness raising

Other

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Community gardens and allotments

Allotments

Community gardens

Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens

Unknown

Vegetation Type

Flower beds

Garden beds

Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS

basic gardening courses, run special projects with school (to involve schoolchildren in creative activities with natural materials), and has major projects with local businesses throughout the year. (Ref. 1)
The garden hosts insect houses and hedgehog home (Ref 5)

Amenities offered by the NBS

Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations)

Other

Services

Expected ecosystem services delivered

Provisioning services

Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)

Habitat and supporting services

Habitats for species

Cultural services

Recreation

Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)

Social and community interactions

Please specify "other cultural service"

Scale

Spatial scale

Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)

Beneficiaries

Primary Beneficiaries

Citizens or community groups

Marginalized groups

Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners)

Young people and children

Other

Please specify "other primary beneficiary"

insects, hedgehogs (Ref 5)

Marginalized groups

People with functional diversities

Please specify other local relevant strategy

The Allotments Policy (Wakefield Council) where “organic gardening, composting, recycling and promoting biodiversity are positively encouraged by Wakefield Council on all allotments sites.” (Ref. 4)
The Health and Social Care Act (through the Wakefield Health and Wellbeing Board). Appletree Allotment and community garden is part of this (created by the "staff within the Health Improvement team at Wakefield Council"). (Ref. 3, 2)

The Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Wakefield 2013-2016 (Ref 3)

4. Governance and financing

Governance

Governance arrangements

Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Non-government actors

Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches

Private sector/Corporate/Business

Citizens or community groups

Coalition with multiple of the above

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

Appletrees allotment and community garden is a governmental organization (and allotment committee), where Wakefield Council’s Street Scene Services is responsible for the management of allotments. (Ref. 4, 2)
The organization includes citizens, volunteers and corporates with e.g. local schools and businesses in projects. (Ref. 1, 2)

Key actors - initiating organization

Local government/municipality

Land owners

No information found

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

Local government/municipality

Public sector institution

Private sector/corporate actor/company

Citizens or community group

Land owners

No information found

Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used

Dissemination of information and education

Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)

Co-management/Joint management

Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)

Policy drivers

NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy

Unknown

NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan

The Health and Social Care Act (through the Wakefield Health and Wellbeing Board). Appletree Allotment and community garden is part of this (created by the "staff within the Health Improvement team at Wakefield Council"). (Ref. 3, 2)

NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"

The Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Wakefield 2013-2016 (Ref 3)

Mandatory or voluntary intervention

Mandatory (based on policy)

Intervention is mandatory

Other

Please specify other type of mandatory intervention

Health and wellbeing improvements. (Ref. 2, 3)

Enablers

Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

Wakefield Green Infrastructure Plan (2010), which mentions that “allotment gardens, community gardens … form a valuable part of green infrastructure … present the opportunity to create benefits for the health and well-being of local communities and addressing climate change issues.” (Ref. 6)

Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section

If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.

City specific green space strategy or plan

Municipal / city level environmental plan or programme

Urban redevelopment plan

Other

Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

Wakefield Council's 'Allotment Service' which works in partnership with tenant groups, individuals and other agencies. (Ref. 7)

Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

Incredible Edible Wakefield’s study "What future for allotments in the Wakefield District" (2015). (Ref. 8)

Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

The allotments service is totally funded by those who use the service. Also, “Wakefield Council encourages the formation of Allotments Committees”, where the "Site Secretary: carries out a range of duties set out in the terms of an agreement in return for a cash sum from Wakefield Council". (Ref. 4)

Co-finance for NBS

Co-financing governance arrangements

Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?

Not applicable

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?

Unknown

What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?

Unknown

What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?

Unknown

Please specify cost savings

Unknown

Please specify total cost (EUR)

Unknown; The allotments service is totally funded by those who use the service. Also, “Wakefield Council encourages the formation of Allotments Committees”, where the "Site Secretary: carries out a range of duties set out in the terms of an agreement in return for a cash sum from Wakefield Council". (Ref. 4)

Source(s) of funding

Public local authority budget

Other

Please specify other source of funding

Rent collection.
The allotments service is totally funded by those who use the service. (Ref 4)
Although, an allotment committee can get a cash sum from the Council in return for carring out a range of duties.
(Ref. 4)

Type of fund(s) used

Donations

Membership or entrance fees

Other

Please specify other type of fund used

exchange: Although, an allotment committee can get a cash sum from the Council in return for carring out a range of duties. (Ref 4)

Selling vegetables grown at the garden (only if the person is not providing labour in exchange of vegetables) (Ref 8)

Non-financial contribution

Yes

Type of non-financial contribution

Provision of labour

Exchange of services

Who provided the non-financial contribution?

Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Please specify other Business model

Food production and sale. Selling vegetables grown at the garden (only if the person is not providing labour in exchange of vegetables) (Ref 8)

Business models

Green densification model

Green education model

Other

Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?

Public actor (e.g. municipality)

Citizens / local communities

5. Innovation

Type of innovation

Social

Cultural innovation

Novelty level of the innovation

The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) with substantial adaptation

Please specify novelty level of the innovation

The Health Improvement team at Wakefield Council has been working on redeveloping the former Beaconsfield allotment site. (Ref. 2, 3)

Replicability/Transferability

Unknown

Please specify Replicability/Transferability

Unknown.

6. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Climate change

Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters

Green space and habitat

Increased green space area

Increased number of species present

Description of environmental benefits

At the garden they grow and enjoy organic fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers. (Ref 12)
Apart from growing vegetables the garden hosts insect houses and hedgehog home (Ref 5)
Through the GI: allotments/community gardens: addressing climate change issues. (Ref. 6)

Economic impacts

Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)

Generation of income from NBS

Please specify other socio-cultural impact

emotionally uplifting: "an emotionally uplifting and friendly green garden space." (Ref 12)

Description of economic benefits

Selling vegetables grown at the garden (only if the person is not providing labour in exchange of vegetables) (Ref 8)

Please specify other environmental justice issue

Through the GI: allotments/community gardens: addressing climate change issues. (Ref. 6)

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts

Achieved impacts

Indicators

E.g. creating and insect house and a hedgehog home made by one of the volunteers (contributing to permaculture, wildlife and wildflower areas). (Ref. 5, 1)

Also, providing allotment based activities (e.g. weeding the raised beds, planting, potting up, harvesting). (Ref. 2)

Through the GI: allotments/community gardens: addressing climate change issues. (Ref. 6)

Environmental, social and economic impacts

Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)

Analysis of specific impact categories

Job creation: The NBS created ...

Voluntary work opportunities

Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...

Other

Please specify other method used to evaluate the impacts of NBS

All allotment sites managed by Wakefield Council will be inspected once a year. (Ref 4)

Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?

No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project

COVID-19 pandemic

Unknown as of 28 September 2020

Methods of impact monitoring

Process of recording NBS impacts

Collection of monitoring data at specific time intervals during the project to aid evaluation

Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS

Focus groups

Questionnaire surveys / online surveys

Other

Unknown

Evidence for use of assessment

Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Impact assessment mechanism

Name of any specific impact assessment tools

All allotment sites managed by Wakefield Council will be inspected once a year.
Inspections will usually be carried out in the growing season. No advance warning will be required or given.
(Ref. 4)

Use of GIS in mapping impacts

Citizen involvement

Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation

Yes

Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment

Questionnaire

Other

Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment

Public meetings and questionnaires were used to explore the views of plot-holders on Wakefield Council’s allotment sites and other interested parties. (Ref. 8)

Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation

Unknown

Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment

Unknown

7. Sources

References

Web links relevant to the intervention

List of references

Ref. 1. Wakefield Council (n.d.) Appletree Allotment and Community Garden. Healthy Wakefield. Information obtained: 2017-07-10. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 2. Nova (2015) Appletree Community Allotment and Garden, Agbrigg. News. Information obtained: 2017-07-10. Source: https://www.nova-wd.org.uk/news/2015/08/20/appletree-community-allotment-and-garden,-agbrigg/ [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 3. Wakefield Council (n.d.) Health and Wellbeing Board. Public health. Information obtained: 2017-07-10. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/residents/health-care-and-advice/public-health/what-is-public-health/health-wellbeing-board [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 4. Wakefield Council (2013) The Allotments Policy. Street Scene Services. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/bins-environment/allotments/allotments-leisure-gardens/allotments-policy.docx [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 5. Appletree Allotment & Community Garden (2017) Environment. About us. Information obtained: 2017-07-10. Source: http://appletreeagbrigg.wixsite.com/appletree/environment [Updated in 2020. Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 6. Wakefield Council (2010) Wakefield Green Infrastructure Plan. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/planning/planning-policy/information-monitoring/green-infrastrcture-plan-october-2010.pdf [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 7. Wakefield Council (2014) Allotment handbook. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/bins-environment/allotments/allotments-leisure-gardens/allotment-handbook.pdf [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 8. Incredible Edible Wakefield (2015) What future for allotments in the Wakefield District? Source: http://www.incredible-edible-wakefield.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Wakefield_District_Allotment_Study.pdf [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 9. Facebook (2020) Appletree Allotment and Community Garden. Source: https://www.facebook.com/AppleTreeAgbrigg/ [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 10. Appletree Allotment & Community Garden (2020) Community Harvest. Source: https://appletreeagbrigg.wixsite.com/appletree/community-harvest [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 11. Appletree Allotment & Community Garden (2020) Mini Growers. Source: https://appletreeagbrigg.wixsite.com/appletree/mini-growers [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 12. Appletree Allotment & Community Garden (2020) Home. Source: https://appletreeagbrigg.wixsite.com/appletree [Accessed 28 September 2020]

Comments and notes

Public Images

Appletree Allotment and Community Garden (2017)

Sharon Darwell, retrieved 08/18/2018

Appletree Allotment and Community Garden

Sharon Darwell, retrieved 08/18/2018

Community Meal at the Appletree Allotment and Community Garden (2016)

Sharon Darwell, retrieved 08/18/2018