About Hessle Grove Allotments

A community site 

As a self-managed association, HGAA depends on the active participation of all its plot holders. Tenants are expected to attend working parties regularly throughout the year, contributing to the maintenance of communal paths, boundaries, and shared spaces that keep the site in good order for everyone.

A little history

The site is thought to have been established around 1927, when the County School for Boys — now Glyn School — moved to its current grounds on the adjoining land. The allotments have been part of the Ewell Village landscape ever since. In 2013 the site transitioned from council management to a self-managed association run entirely by its plot holders, giving the community direct responsibility for the site's upkeep, tenancies, and waiting list.

Understanding our soil

The soil at Hessle Grove is classified as Soilscape 18 — slowly permeable, seasonally wet, slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils. In plain terms: it is heavy soil, sticky when wet and hard when dry, with naturally impeded drainage that can leave the site waterlogged in winter. 

The good news is that this soil is inherently fertile, and its proximity to the chalk boundary means it carries enough lime content to keep acidity in check — a natural buffer that suits a wide range of crops.

For more information see the British Geological Survey viewer .