This is an FAQ as more and more people are asking - which is good.

The answer is that you either ring up the Town Hall [01394 282086] and ask for Lorna Monsen who is the person in charge of lettings.

OR
You can also email: lorna.monsen@felixstowe.gov.uk

There is considerable pressure at present on lettings, and all sites are full with waiting lists. But look below.

There is a note about measurements in Rods and Sq.metres FYI

Why have an allotment and grow your own?

Allotments are

• Fun
• Friendly,
• Fresh Air,
• Fresh food - you know what’s on the food, a powerful argument
• Not expensive - they 'pay' for themselves at shop prices for what you grow
• Exercise - you can use lots of calories digging!
• 'Back to nature'
• Enjoyed by young and old - young Mums now are trying it, some teenagers have plots in Felixstowe and some plots have swings!
• “Savers of marriages" - say some!

FAQs
Q.  Why are allotments measured in "rods"? Can I measure mine to be sure?

A. It's all in the history
Our old "imperial" measure was based on the yard [3 feet] and the Acre - which was the nominal amount a single horse and single share plough could cover in a day. It became the major unit, supplanting "hides" which were used in Saxon times up to Doomsday book [1088].

Area

Allotments have been measured in imperial units since about 1810, but we have converted for those of you who are metricated!

It starts from a 1 Acre field
One acre is 4840 sq. yards
a Rood was 1/4 acre or 1210 sq. yds
there were 40 rods of  30¼ sq. yds to each rood
one rod =  30.25 sq.yds = 25.292 sq.metres.

A Rod of area is a square of a rod [linear] which measuures 5½ yards.
4 rods length is a cricket pitch [22 yds]
10 cricket pitches [also known as "chains"from a surveyor's chain measure] to a furlong, and 8 furlongs to a mile!

Which all means that
a 10 rod plot [the national standard now, as it should support a family of 4 all year] is a nominal 302½ sq yds, or 222.92 sq.metres.
a 5 rod plot is nominal 151¼ sq. yds or 111.46 sq. metres.

Can I measure my plot?
Yes, given a long tape or use a length of string and then measure that with an ordinary measuring tape.  Length x width gives the area if it is a rectangle. Plot shapes are not regular, we find, so meaure as two triangles, one side and one end  multiplied and divide that by two, and then the other side and end, multiplied and divided by two gives the other triangle.  Add the two results to get the whole area (use the same units each time! Don't mix metres on half and square feet the other!!!.

Getting a plot [II]

We understand that some people leave their names at the Town hall but decline when their turn comes up - for a variety of reasons, in which case the next person is offered the plot so don't despair! Keep trying. At the last count there were 78 people wanting a plot somewhere. [Jan 2010]