We are an umbrella organisation for allotment and Horticultural Groups in Harrow, Middlesex whose aim is to encourage allotment use and protect open space in the Borough.

History

Prior to 1997, Harrow Council invited two "allotment advisors" from the allotment societies, to represent the allotment holders at the relevant Council committee meetings. Similarly other “advisors” represented other interests such as Friends of the Earth.

Following their 1997 landslide victories in both national and local elections, the new government radically reorganised Harrow Council to "cabinet style" working, thus eliminating the role for these advisors. Hence our two allotment advisors - namely Ron Dickens of Newton Park and Sue Green of West Harrow - became redundant.

To redress this, in March 1998 a meeting of six allotment societies' officers was convened by Sue Green (West Harrow AGA) - these were Ron Dickens (Newton Park HS), Derek Osborne (Belmont HS), Gordon Cox (Harrow Horticultural and Rose S), Ralph Prior (Roxbourne HS), and Pinner Society - and Harrow in LEAF (HiL) was born with the objective to preserve, protect, promote, and improve allotments across the Borough.

HiL has successfully attracted members from the remaining sites, and nowadays almost all are involved via their society's affiliation, and/or through their site representative; additionally many allotment holders have become individual members. We have also attracted other compatible groups such as other horticultural associations, park user groups, and the beekeepers, and have established a successful working partnership with Harrow Council.

The committee of twenty-five dedicated volunteers meets bimonthly to progress HiL’s aims, namely to improve sites, and protect sites from threats: the latter being crucial to allotments at a time when they are vulnerable to development.

LEAF Headquaters

In 1999 a local community group donated a building to use as headquarters which was erected at the far end of West Harrow allotment site. A donation of paint from Dulux enabled us to refurbish the building and provide a focal point where committee meetings, plant sales, barbeques and open days are held during the year. Funding from the Brent & Harrow Joint Consultative Committee provided a raised bed and disabled toilet facility nearby.

Grants

A funding application to the Allotments Regeneration Initiative (ARI) Scheme, the Social, Economic and Environmental Development (SEED) Programme along with British Airways and Harrow Council provided funds to erect secure storage facilities and recycling bays on 13 sites in the borough

Allotments Regeneration Initiative

ARI is a partnership between the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG), the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG) and QED Allotments Group and is funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. It aims to stimulate more people to get growing on urban allotments, both as individual plot holders and through community projects. A total of 60 organisations submitted bids for grants but only 7 were successful and of those, 4 were local authorities, so the result was a terrific achievement for Harrow in Leaf who were awarded a total of £36,132 over two years

SEED

A further £49,558 was Lottery funded by the £15.3 million SEED Programme, which is managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) and 11 consortium partners. The SEED programme distributes National Lottery money on behalf of the New Opportunities Fund under its Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities funding programme. This programme aims to stimulate local economic development and support community enterprise, promoting sustainability and helping disadvantaged communities improve the quality of their environment. Over the coming months Harrow in Leaf will be speaking to local community groups about The "Benefits of Allotment Gardening" and would like to hear from any groups who are interested in holding a talk