Waiting List FAQs
This page was last updated on 8 October 2025.
Please note that of 8 October 2025 we have closed our waiting list until further notice. An announcement will be made here on this page when it reopens.
The FAQs have been left in place so you are aware of the what renting a plot at Bagthorpe Gardens entails.
We are still accepting applications for Supporter Membership which supports the upkeep of our historic site. Enquiries about this can be made via the Contact page. Please note that becoming a Supporter Member does not entitle you to a place on the waiting list while the list is closed.
Have I got the time for an allotment?
Allotment gardening needs you to make a regular time commitment to your plot. It is very different to having a garden attached to your house. When you first get a plot it will probably need some extra work to get it back into production.
Through the growing season your plot could need 3-4 hours of work a week. Regular visits are needed to keep plants watered and weeded, and your plot productive. Little and often is best. Have you got this amount of time in your current schedule?
Plots are regularly inspected as we want to make sure they are being cultivated. Plots come with an additional commitment to maintain adjacent hedges and paths. (Please see the Tenancy Agreement and Cultivation Standards for full details).
Can I become a supporting member of Bagthorpe Gardens without having a plot?
Yes! Membership costs £15 which goes towards maintaining our historic site. You will also be invited to our members events, receive all the news and information emails, and be invited to the AGM
Can I share a plot with someone else?
You may wish to join the waiting list as a couple at the same address, or join the waiting list with a friend to share the plot, the work and the produce!
Each co-tenant will have to be a member, but there will only be one plot fee.
How big are the plots?
There are two general sizes of plots. The standard sized plot is about 10m x 5m (50m2) but there are some smaller plots too. We cannot guarantee what size plot you will be offered.
How much does a plot cost to rent?
A plot is £15 per year payable in advance regardless of the size.
Each tenant or co-tenant also pays membership of £15 each.
Water bills are calculated at the end of each growing year.
There is a returnable deposit for the keys you are issued with (£15 for the perimeter gates and £10 for any internal keys).
There is a regular “paying-in” day at the end of January each year, where you can pay your dues and chat with other gardeners, usually with tea and cake!
Do you have a catchment area?
We only accept waiting list applications from the NG1, NG3, NG5 and NG7 postcodes.
We accept applications for non-gardening membership from anywhere.
What is the current waiting time for a plot at Bagthorpe Gardens?
The current waiting time is over 3 years.
The last plots offered were to people who joined the waiting list in 2022.
Please contact the secretary if you change your email address or you want to be removed from the waiting list.
What happens when my name gets to the top of the waiting list?
You will receive an email from our Waiting List co-ordinator to confirm that you still want a plot and to arrange a viewing of the plot we have to offer.
You will need to:
* Confirm to the Membership Secretary that you wish to accept the plot within a week of viewing it.
* Read and sign the tenancy agreement which includes the Cultivation Policy and our Code of Conduct to other members. This is important, as this contains all the important Terms and Conditions.
You can read the current Tenancy Agreement here.
* Pay your membership dues and plot rent.
* Pay a returnable deposit for any keys
* Enjoy your allotment!
