Aberdeen Allotments

A few months back I looked into the Aberdeen Allotments system.

For those who don’t know, an allotment is a plot of land that is rented for a small fee. The land is used for growing food. There’s a lot of demand for allotments all over the UK but not much supply.

I obtained a list of allotments from Aberdeen City Council (ACC). Then I went through this list checking on Google Maps for their location. I found some interesting results. Firstly, some of them are not visible on the map. Secondly, the allotments tend to avoid certain parts of Aberdeen, particularly those areas with a high proportion of council-owned accommodation, areas in which there are a lot of people with low income.


This is a snapshot of my Wicked Awesome Aberdeen Allotments Map.

Yellow pins: allotments I have visited and taken pictures of.
Green pins: Allotments that can be seen from Google Street View.
Blue pins: Allotments that be seen on Google Maps.
Black pins: Allotments that Aberdeen City council have listed but either cannot be found on the map or simply don't exist.
Check out #13. Mastrick Allotment supposedly located at Willowplace Park, which doesn't exist.

I have visited two of the allotments so far (indicated by yellow pins). I took pictures of Nigg Kirk Road 1 and checked the place out. I’ve yet to visit all the others and that’s where you come in: if you can get to one of the allotments listed at the link given below, take a picture and email it here. I’ll update the map and put your picture on the blawg. That way, we’ll get an accurate up-to-date listing and light up the map with yellow pins!

Failing that, I intend to do it all myself as soon as I get my hands on a bike. Hopefully Becycle will help me out. Eh guys?

My Wicked Awesome Aberdeen Allotments map
Aberdeen City Council's dubitable allotments list

You're very unlikely to find an available allotment anywhere in Aberdeen, or anywhere in the UK. But there is an awesome alternative, called Landshare. I would definitely recommend checking it out.