Allotments & Community Gardens
Thanks to the two areas of land that the William Hobbayne Charity have dedicated to growing spaces, local Hanwell residents can enjoy growing their own produce and flowers, while connecting with their community. The two sites are:
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Billets Hart Allotments
A place to promote community spirit and an opportunity for local residents to grow their own food.
There are around 70 plots of differing sizes bordered on two sides by the River Brent and accessed via Green Lane, right across from the Fox pub.
Originally a meadow, it has historically been used for small holdings, open pasture land and village fairs. It forms part of the land given by William Hobbayne in 1484 that led to the establishment of the Charity of William Hobbayne. The land was leased to the Hanwell District Council for use as an allotment garden in 1922. However in 2008 The Charity decided to manage the allotments themselves as a place to promote the community spirit and offer an opportunity for those residing in the postal district of Hanwell, W7 to continue to grow their own food in a sustainable manner (and/or keep domestic livestock). Many people keep chickens for eggs and we also have three registered bee-keepers on the site.
In 2009, the Billets Hart Allotment Association was formed, of which every plot holder is a member. There is a committee of nine elected plot holders, in addition two representatives of the William Hobbayne Charity act as Site Managers for the site. The purpose of the committee is to undertake the self-management of the site and its maintenance, and to ensure and promote a productive, co-ordinated and peaceful place for members to grow and cultivate their crops.
Fundraising is an important part of the social activities on the site in order to pay for maintenance and help towards other projects to benefit the site. Each year the Association holds a very successful plant sale at the gates to the allotments, giving both fellow plot holders and members of the public an opportunity to purchase vegetable and flower plants.
The current waiting time for an allotment space is three years. Please note you will be offered a Community Gardens plot first and will not be given a plot at Billets Hart unless you have successfully managed a plot at the Community Gardens.
William Hobbayne Community Gardens
Turning derelict land into an area of cultivation
The Community Gardens are the result of transforming derelict land beside the Grand Union Canal into 55 mini growing spaces (three metres by three metres) for local people to grow their own fruit and vegetables and as a community space.
In the Autumn of 2009 the Charity entered into negotiations with the Canal and River Trust (formerly the British Waterways Board) to lease the land behind 86 to 110 St. Margarets Road. Site works followed which included the clearance of accumulated rubbish, sub-soil drainage, water supply and the introduction of fresh top soil. A number of corporate bodies were very helpful by providing a range of volunteers for the project.
Gardeners began their work on individual plots in April 2012. At the same time the William Hobbayne Community Gardens Association was formed with its first Annual general meeting in September 2012. Two representatives of the Charity of William Hobbayne act as site managers and liaise with the Association’s site committee.
Plot holders are instrumental in maintaining the site, its pond and bug runs were formed to support wildlife.
Beekeeping was established in 2013.
In October 2014 The Charity of William Hobbayne purchased the freehold of the Community Gardens to ensure the long term security of this much valued community project.
The current waiting time for a plot at the William Hobbayne Community Gardens site is three years.
Allotment and Community Garden waiting list
Allotments are very popular and we do have a waiting list of aproximately three years on both sites which we manage on a first come first serve basis.
Please note you will be offered a Community Gardens plot first and will not be given a plot at Billets Hart unless you have successfully managed a plot in the Community Gardens. You must have your permanent residence in W7 to apply.
If you are interested in joining the waiting list or would like to find out more information please fill in the form.
Please note that we will not consider an application from someone who already has an allotment in the borough.