Hurstpierpoint allotments renovated from three grants to have ‘huge impact’

Hurstpierpoint allotments have had five new taps and tanks installed thanks to Hurstpierpoint Parish Council, Hurstpierpoint Community Charity and Mid Sussex District Council.

Ruth Schofield, who is involved with the allotments, said: “This is going to have a huge impact on many of the 100 plus allotment holders.

“Over the past few years there has been an increased interest in and demand for an allotment.

“This has further increased during the past few months when the allotment is one of the few places people could go.

“They have proved to be the salvation of many.”

Because of the increased demand, the original 10 rod plots have been subdivided to provide smaller areas which many people find more manageable.

Ruth said: “The original six standpipes were no longer sufficient to meet the needs of the additional plots.

“These taps were also a long way from some people’s allotment and during the hot summers, it was a struggle to carry watering cans a long distance.

“The Hurstpierpoint Allotment Association decided to see whether it was possible to raise the funds to install additional taps.

“The association had some funds, raised through the annual plant sale, seed swap and open day, but not enough for the project.

“Hurstpierpoint Parish Council was supportive of the idea and suggested Hurstpierpoint Community Charity and the Mid Sussex District Council Grants.

“Application forms were submitted, and we were delighted to hear that we had been successful and could go ahead with the work.

“A local company, Sussex Water Mains Services Ltd, provided the most competitive quote and in the wettest of February days arrived at the site.

“Their job was not an enviable one as they were digging wet clay, but they did a great job and kept any damage to the paths to a minimum.”

Every allotment now has easy access to water which will make the site more inclusive for the wide demographic who have an allotment.

These additional taps and tanks mean that the allotments continue to thrive and be a place where local people can come together to grow produce, to get exercise, to socialise, to share and generally be part of a great institution.

The allotments can be traced to the late 19th century – during this time land was assigned to the labouring poor to improve diet, social connections, and health.

As the 1800s ended, the land known as White Horse Field was owned by a local vicar, Richard Maschiter, having been purchased from the Grange Farm Estate some 15 years earlier.

When he died in 1909, his estate was divided up.

Local residents proposed the field to be turned over to the community for allotments.

The sale price of £200 an acre was prohibitive for parish budgets, but a group of parishioners purchased the land and in agreement with the parish council sold small plots that would become the houses on the west footpath of Western Road.

The plot sales subsidised the remaining field to the parish council at an affordable rate, who turned the space into allotments.