Allotments are often owned and let out by local councils, so if you’re looking to start an allotment make this your first port of call. Many councils even have a designated allotment officer who will help you find a plot.

Non-council allotments tend to be run by committee. These allotments will generally display a notice board with contact details and meeting dates for new members.

Always visit an allotment before accepting a plot there.  It gives you the opportunity to speak to the plot holders and see what they have to say about the security, facilities and soil quality. They may also be able to point out a particularly fruitful area of the allotment in terms of the amount of light and shade it receives.

Visit on a Sunday afternoon when you’re most likely to find the allotment at its busiest.

The cost of starting an allotment varies greatly from council to council, but can be as little as £5 per year.

Often the price reflects the level of facilities available (you can expect to pay more for allotments with greenhouses and tool sheds, for example), but an average cost would be somewhere in the region of £20 to £30 per year. Discounts are usually offered for the retired.

Starting an allotment on privately owned, committee-run sites can be more expensive, as costs are not subsidised by the authorities.

However, take on an unkempt, overgrown plot and you may be given your first year rental free, recognising the extra effort that goes into clearing and rotavating the ground.

There may also be a chance to rent half an allotment, which is ideal for those keen to keep costs (and potential back ache) to a minimum.

The best time for starting an allotment is mid autumn to early winter. This gives you plenty of time to prepare the ground before planting and growing season begins.

If the plot you take over has not been in use for some time, it might be wise to use a rotavator to turn over the soil quickly and efficiently.