How Tracy started a community allotment

When Tracy, 56, left her corporate job, she never thought it would be the start of a newfound passion for planting, growing and community connection. 

Tracy lives in Benfleet, Essex, and started her journey after being made redundant from her corporate role in 2021. Keen to stay busy while she looked for a new job, she began supporting an older lady in her local area to maintain her garden. Despite never having gardened before, Tracy learnt how to prune, weed and plant – and soon became keen to do more! 

Not long after, Tracy started a new role with the Rural Community Council of Essex, working with Active Essex, where she supports people to find physical activity they enjoy, working closely with local social isolation charities. When her work meant Tracy crossed paths with Basildon Mind and visited their allotment, she was immediately inspired to establish something similar in Castle Point. 

Keen to get the ball rolling, Tracy did some research and discovered a nearby vacant allotment plot after making contact with a local councillor. The plot was soon secured, but Tracy’s next challenge was clearing it of knee-high brambles, weeds and nettles. Luckily, her community came to the rescue – after posting on Facebook groups and putting up posters, Tracy was thrilled when over 20 people of all ages came to help! She then turned her head to turning the project into an official community group. 

“We created a committee and I started researching setting up a constitution, health and safety policies, and volunteer registration forms – and then began applying for funding. I learnt a huge amount!” 

Slowly but surely, word spread and over 400 people registered to get involved! Unlike many allotments, the space is free of charge and doesn’t require membership, running three sessions a week where anyone and everyone can join in.  

So far, the community has grown chard, potatoes, peas, carrots and much more, with all crops shared between volunteers or donated to a local community fridge. The allotment is full of useful items repurposed by Tracy’s right-hand man, volunteer and master builder Brian, who has transformed everyday things such as pallets, timber and netting into beds, planters and tables.  

“Everyone here wants the same things – to spend time outside, chat and listen to each other. People can do some weeding, water the plants, sow some seeds or do some harvesting. We have people who come in mobility scooters, or with babies and prams – they sit at our upcycled table and get stuck into some repotting, sorting our huge seed box, or making labels for our beds. Sometimes people come just to have a cuppa and a chat too. The allotment has become our happy place.” 

Passionate about making the most of local connections, Tracy has turned the allotment into a truly collaborative place – from local gardening groups sharing plants, to a gardening company donating an irrigation system and even the nearby petrol station opening its toilets to volunteers!

Tracy has also made links with local schools, colleges and Scouts groups, who have visited the allotment for a tour and some planting experience.  

These days, Castle Point Community Allotment is a vital source of social connection and access to a green space, leading to new friendships, improved mental and physical health and greater appreciation of nature.

One of the allotment’s most dedicated volunteers is Fabio, 12, an aspiring horticulturalist who has relished having a nearby place where he can explore his passion for planting and growing.

Fabio has helped to establish a wildflower garden, and keeps a close eye on the allotment’s bee house, teaching other volunteers about how the the bees hibernate and nest. 

Fabio said: “Gardening helps the planet and I want to help stop climate change! I grow things at the allotment, I help the creatures in biodiversity and get experience for the future. It’s such a special place because it’s for my community and it’s so peaceful. I’m excited to grow all kinds of vegetables there and harvest my own food!”