The charity has over 160 plots on its land in Tilehurst, including a small number of plots adapted in various ways for use by people with a disability or restricted mobility. These plots are let under contract on a 12-month licence to individuals for use as allotment gardens. Each plot is to be wholly or mainly cultivated by the named plot-holder (the Licensee) for the production of vegetable or fruit crops for consumption by the plot-holder’s family. Licence charges are reviewed annually.
The purpose of letting out the plots is solely as a means to generate income for the charity. Our charitable purposes do not include any obligation to provide allotments. There are no public rights of way over any of the charity’s land which is all privately owned. Plot-holders pay for their licence which gives them lawful access for 12 months to tend their plot within the allotments area.
The only persons in authority on the allotments are the Charity’s Trustees (the land-owners) and the Charity’s Officers (such as the Allotments Manager) – who carry a photo-ID card bearing the Charity’s logo.
Important Notice Thames Water has imposed a Temporary Use Ban (‘hosepipe ban’) from 23rd July 2026 until further notice. See the ‘Water Usage’ heading below.
Warnings:
- Anyone seen entering or passing through the allotment site without any intention of tending their allotment may be challenged. Any threatening or violent behaviour on the site, and any instances of theft of or damage to the charity’s property will not be tolerated and will be reported to the police.
- Plot-holders are advised not to store any items of value on their plot, and to arrange their own insurance cover if desired. In the event of any instances of theft or damage to their property or any fly-tipping on or near their plot, plot-holders are advised to report the matter to the police and/or the Local Authority as appropriate.
For further information about the allotments, click on the following index of Section headings (with dates when last updated).
About different types of allotments (Jun/2024)
How large is an allotment? (May/2026)
Where are the allotments? (Jul/2026)
How much does an allotment cost? (Jun/2026)
How do I get an allotment? (Apr/2024)
Where is my plot? (May/2026)
Allotment contract (Aug/2026)
Vehicle access (Aug/2026)
Trees and bushes (May/2026)
Waste management (Mar/2026)
Inspections and Health & Safety (Apr/2024)
Water usage (Jul/2026)
About different types of allotments
Allotment gardens can be one of three different types – Statutory, Temporary or Private.
Statutory
These are allotment gardens which the Local Authority must provide and maintain for an indefinite period.
Temporary
These are allotment gardens which the Local Authority may provide for a finite or unspecified period, e.g. until the land is required for other purposes.
Private
This is privately-owned land which the land-owner chooses to offer as allotment gardens for a finite or unspecified period.
The charity’s plots are Private allotment gardens made available under contract on an annual licence in order to generate income for the charity.
How large is an allotment?
Plot sizes do vary slightly, but each standard-sized allotment is nominally 125 square metres. In a few cases where there is a more significant size variation, this may result in a slight increase or decrease in the annual charge.
A few plot-holders with two or more adjacent plots have previously been charged at a slightly lower rate (reflecting the fact that, historically, allotments were nominally 250 square metres); however this practice is being phased out in September 2026 when charges will be per standard-sized plot.
The ‘Keep-On-Gardening’ area on the site provides a number of much smaller plots. These enable participation by people with restricted mobility or a disability. Some of these small plots are at ground level, some at chair-height, and others at table height.
Where are the allotments?
The allotment site is located near to the Victoria Recreation Ground in Tilehurst, between Armour Road and Armour Hill.
Depending on the precise location of the plot, access is either by the gateway in Armour Hill or by the gateway at the end of Polsted Road. (Polsted Road is a private road, but the charity has a legal agreement in place enabling lawful use of the road by persons with a valid reason to access the allotment site.)
Note that, because the charity’s land is privately-owned without any public rights of way, the whole allotment site is completely closed for one day per year. Currently the closure is from dusk on Christmas Eve until dusk on Christmas Day, although this may vary under the latest version of the Allotment Contract (June 2026).
How much does an allotment cost?
The annual charge per plot for the 12 months from 29th September 2026 is:
Standard-sized plot (nominal 125m2)
£89 per year for each plot
* Standard-sized plot (nominal 125m2) with a valid Concession
£77 per year (for the first plot only)
Small ‘KOG’ plot (Keep On Gardening)
£10 per year
Transitional Relief. In June 2025, notice was given that each Double Plot (nominal 250m2) would be charged as two Standard Plots with effect from 29th September 2026. To avoid excessive increases, affected plot-holders would be given ‘transitional relief’ in the form of a temporary, diminishing reduction. Details of the reduction are be given in individual invoices.
* Concessions. A licensed plot-holder whose main income is State Benefit or State Pension – and whose normal full-time residence is in the Charity’s Area Of Benefit (i.e. in the West Berkshire Parishes of Tilehurst, Holybrook or Theale, or in Reading Borough to the west of the Reading West railway line) – may claim a concession which reduces the charge as shown above. Each person may claim only one such concession and may be required to provide evidence of eligibility.
Payment of charges. New plot-holders are advised of the charge that is payable at the outset. For subsequent years, invoices are issued to plot-holders annually in late August, and payment is to be made in advance of the 12-month period to which it applies, i.e. no later than 28th September of that year. If the invoices are delayed for any reason, additional time will be allowed for payment.
Review of charges. Charges apply to the 12-month period from 29th September of each year until 28th September of the following year. The charges are reviewed annually. Any changes are announced by 29th June each year, by being displayed at the allotment site and published on this website.
How do I get an allotment?
Plots are available only by applying directly to the charity, which deals with all enquiries about allotments and manages the process of assigning plots.
To express an interest in having one of the charity’s allotment gardens, simply…
- Download and print a copy of the Allotment Enquiry Form. (The form cannot be submitted on-line.)
- Complete the printed form and sign it.
- Return the form to the charity by either post or email:
– Post the form to TPLC, P.O. Box 2802, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 4GE
– Scan or photograph the form and email it to allotments@tplc.org.uk
Important Note: Do not try to complete the Allotment Enquiry Form in your browser or on your smartphone – you will be unable to submit the form this way, and all your typing will be lost.
If you don’t have the use of a computer and printer to print out the form, you should ask a friend or colleague to do this for you.
We try to match candidates to suitable plots as they become available to let, so there is no simple queuing system. Consequently we are unable to indicate an applicant’s ‘position within the queue’, nor the likely waiting-time. Plots are allocated at the sole discretion of the charity.
Where is my plot?
If you are offered a licence for a particular plot, you can check its position using the Allotment Site Map.
Allotment contract
If your request for an allotment garden is successful, you will need to enter into a contract with the charity. The contract document may be downloaded (see links below) or will be issued to you on request. It is recommended that you first read the contract and retain a copy for future reference. You should then print out of a copy of the front page of the contract, fill in your personal details and sign it in the presence of a witness. The signed front page should then be returned to the charity either by post or by email. Payment of the appropriate Annual Fee must also be made before you can start work on your plot.
Prospective plot-holders should familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions of the Allotment Contract. The charity reserves the right to revise the terms and conditions from time to time and to re-issue the updated Contract.
The Allotment Contract document used for all new contracts is the June 2026 version. This will be the only Allotment Contract document in use with effect from 29th September 2026.
- TPLC_AllotmentContract(2026jun)_26-27 — for all new contracts starting on or after 29th September 2026.
- TPLC_AllotmentSyndicateContract(2026jun)_26-27 — where a plot is to be cultivated by a syndicate.
The previous version of the Allotment Contract (June 2024 version) was used for plot allocations between September 2024 and July 2026. The signatories of that contract document had three months’ notice of the terms and conditions being updated to the new June 2026 version of the contract.
An even earlier version of the Allotment Contract (June 2013 version) was used for plot allocations between June 2013 and September 2024. The signatories of that contract document had 15 months’ notice of the contracts being determined (ended) on 28th September 2026. The plot-holders were offered new contracts (June 2026 version) so that they could continue gardening on the same plot(s).
Vehicle access
On-street parking is generally available within walking distance of the allotment site, especially near the Armour Hill entrance.
Polsted Road This is a private road owned and policed by its residents. Plot-holders must not park on Polsted Road and must observe the 5mph speed limit set by the residents. Plot-holders with a key to the allotment gates are allowed to drive along Polsted Road in order to drive through the gateway and onto the allotment site.
Use of the vehicular gates, trackways and parking spaces on the allotment site is at the sole discretion of the charity. The issuing of an Allotment Garden Contract permits plot-holders to have pedestrian access to the allotment site, but does not automatically include permission to bring a car or other powered vehicle onto the charity’s land.
Plot-holders needing to bring a vehicle onto the allotment site should read the Vehicle Access Rules (June 2026) under which keys to the gateways are made available. The charity reserves the right to revise these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The latest revisions have been made to simplify and clarify the rules, and to keep in step with the latest version of the Allotment Contract (June 2026 version).
Trees and bushes
Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs)
The whole of the allotments site is covered by two Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) imposed by Reading Borough Council. The Order relates to all trees regardless of their condition, including fruit trees. The Order prohibits anyone from cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilfully damaging or destroying any tree without the written consent of Reading Borough Council. If consent for any work on a tree is granted by the Council, it will be subject to any conditions which the Council may impose and which must be followed. For further details about the TPOs, contact Reading Borough Council.
Any person found guilty in the Magistrates Court of breaching a Tree Preservation Order is liable for a fine of up to £20,000 (or an unlimited fine if convicted in the Crown Court). Any plot-holder who witnesses actions on the allotment site which breach a Tree Preservation Order should report the matter to the Allotments Manager without delay.
Planting of Trees and Bushes
The plot-holder must not plant any tree or bush, nor allow any tree or bush to grow by natural seeding or otherwise, without the written consent of the Charity. Any request to plant a tree or bush, other than a fruit tree or bush of a recognised variety cultivated for its crop, will not be permitted. Fruit trees should be of dwarf variety, in espalier or fan form.
Fruit trees and bushes are only to be planted inside the plot, on the southern side, at least one metre from the plot boundary, and not overhanging or encroaching upon paths, fencing or neighbouring plots.
Pruning of Trees and Bushes
The plot-holder must not, without the written consent of the Charity, cut down or trim any trees or bushes on the allotment site except the proper annual pruning of fruit trees or bushes on his/her Plot. The consent of Reading Borough Council is not needed before pruning a fruit tree which is cultivated for the production of fruit, as long as the work is carried out in accordance with good horticultural practice.
The plot-holder is to prune fruit trees and bushes annually, so their height does not exceed three metres. If a plot has an existing tree or bush which is non-compliant with these conditions or which is deemed a nuisance to neighbouring plots or residents, then the plot-holder is to take corrective action at an appropriate time. Trees or bushes over three metres should have their height reduced, and consideration should be given to removing a non-compliant or badly-positioned tree or bush altogether (subject to the required permissions from the Charity and the Council, where appropriate).
Waste management
General — No fly-tipping or dumping of any sort of waste is permitted on any of the charity’s land. Fly-tipping is a criminal offence and will be reported. Anyone seen bringing any type of waste material onto the site may be challenged. Note that the previous practice of using the allotment site or the Victoria Recreation Ground for recycling of Christmas trees was discontinued some years ago.
‘Green (Organic) Waste’ — Plot-holders may have a compost heap of reasonable dimensions within the confines of their own allotment garden. Surplus waste vegetation may also be moved to an area designated as a ‘Green Waste Plot’. (This is currently designated as Plot PD8A — refer to the Allotment Site Map — Be careful not to dump green waste in the wrong place.)
Bonfires — It’s better to dispose of garden waste in an environmentally friendly way such as composting. However, during the period 1st October to 31st March, plot-holders may burn dry organic materials only on their plot provided that:
- they remain in attendance throughout the duration of their fire and keep it under control;
- they extinguish the fire before leaving the allotment site;
- they do not cause any nuisance or pollution, nor allow smoke, ash or smuts to spread over any neighbouring properties or public highways.
It is illegal to burn most types of waste, but dry garden waste such as plant material may be burned as long as it doesn’t cause a nuisance. Plot-holders lighting bonfires will be held liable for any nuisance caused to other allotment users, to neighbours or to the general public. Refer to the Local Authority guidance on bonfires.
Other Waste
- Soil and stones are not waste, and should be kept on the plot-holder’s own plot.
- Domestic waste should be taken away and disposed of at home.
- All other types of non-plant waste — such as glass, metal, masonry, wood, plastic, machinery etc — should be taken off-site and disposed of responsibly.
Inspections and Health & Safety
Each year the charity carries out unannounced inspections of the allotment site on one or more occasions. Any health and safety matters noted during an inspection are fed back to the relevant plot-holder(s), as are any instances of non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the Allotment Garden Contract.
Plot-holders should familiarise themselves with the Health and Safety Guidelines for the allotments.
Water usage
A water supply is provided from Spring to Autumn, subject to supply constraints, solely for the purpose of watering plants. Water is very expensive, so please do not use more than the minimum necessary. Water sprinklers and other irrigation systems are not allowed on the allotments site. Do not use the water supply as drinking water – please bring your own drinking water from home.
During a Hosepipe Ban — Watering cans are to be the normal means of watering plants.
A hosepipe must not be used unless the plot-holder has severe mobility difficulties or other disabilities which prevent the safe use of a watering can. Any person who assists the plot-holder should use a watering can. Anyone breaching a hosepipe ban without a lawful exemption will be liable for a fine of up to £1,000 by the relevant authorities under the Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010.
At all other times — A hosepipe must be hand-held at all times when in use.
