Welcome to ELGA Gardens

The gardens consist of just under one hundred individual plots spaced East and West either side of the long central path within a beautiful piece of land stretching almost a quarter of a mile from North to South and surrounded by many exquisite trees and shrubs. There is an abundance of wildlife and a dazzling variety of birds and birdsong. The gardens are a haven of peace and tranquillity and provide a beautiful landscape with long vistas, giving an open space feeling of countryside quiet not normally encountered within the boroughs of London. It is a place to be enjoyed, treasured, shared and respected.

Maintaining both the administration and setting of such a rich inheritance is a requirement of our Lease and the allotments Committee, democratically elected by the membership, is charged with ensuring that the terms of our Lease are fully complied with and that all who use the gardens do so with regard to the benefit of all. These are common sense rules and are intended as helpful specific guidance regarding the use of plots by individual plot holders in order to ensure the fair and egalitarian use of the gardens to the benefit of all.

Necessarily, there are some ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts, but they are to be seen in the light of making the gardens pleasant for all. They should not be regarded as strict rule making for its­­ own sake and are not intended to inhibit the creative use of individual plots by plot holders, but to ensure and protect the rights and enjoyment of all. There is a process clearly set out in a points system dealing with failures of any plot holder by way of inadequate plot husbandry, behaviour towards other plot holders, theft of produce, trespass, failure to pay the membership fee on time etc. There are also, as in any organisation, penalties for ignoring instructions regarding upkeep of plots, interfering with plot boundaries and matters affecting the rights of other plot holders.