Who we are
Most of Cambridge’s allotments are managed by the volunteer committees of 9 independent allotment societies. We are representatives of these societies.
We welcome others involved in running local council-managed and independent allotment sites.
Who we represent
National Allotment Society affiliated members in Cambridge. These are 1497* individual plotholders at 14 self-managed sites, plus associate members, and members of other allotment societies.
*November 2021
What we do
We work together to represent our members’ interests, share the cost of seed purchases, and promote our hobby.
Our current projects (spring 2022) include sharing ideas on sustainable and wildlife-friendly gardening and composting, collaborating on the tenancy agreements societies make with their plotholder tenants, and as ever our ongoing work on bulk seed supplies.
Bulk seeds
We source and supply seed to local allotments, buying in bulk to achieve low prices for our members.
Societies collect potato orders with payment from their individual members in early October. We collate these, buy in bulk, and distribute them to the societies in late January or early February, subject to the weather. We supply only classified Scottish seed potatoes tested for freedom from blackleg, blight and virus diseases.
Trading timetable
| Order form arrives | Return order | delivery | |||
| Potatoes | End July | End sept /begin Oct | End Jan | ||
| Spring onions etc | End July | End Aug | End Jan | ||
| Broad Beans | May June | May June | Early Sept | ||
| Autumn Onions/Garlic | Early July | End July | Early Sept | ||
| Autumn Shallots | Early July | End July | Mid/late Sept |
Constitution
We are formally constituted as Cambridge Central Council of Allotment Societies. Cambridge Allotments Network (CAN) is our working title.
History
CCCAS was formed over 100 years ago. These minutes from Chesterton Allotment Society mention that a conference was to be held on Nov. 3 1921. Later minutes record that the conference was held at the Eagle Hotel and a Mr Miller was elected as chairman. We have minutes of CCCAS meetings from 1963 onwards. If you know anything more about our early history we would love to hear from you.
In 1999 CAN helped to defend the Elfleda Road site against the football stadium expansion, ultimately saving 1/4 acre of allotment land. From 1999-2004 we ran a regular stall at Cambridge farmers’ market selling surplus allotment produce and advertising vacant plots. In 2000 and 2003 we ran promotion campaigns with funding from Cambridge Sustainable City. In 2009 we presented a petition for more allotments, with over 700 signatures, to Cambridge City Council, leading to a review of provision and the creation of a new site at Kendal Way. In 1999 and again in 2020 we negotiated new lease terms for our 14 sites with our landlord, Cambridge City Council.