About Us

The SWCAA is a non-profit making organisation run by gardeners for gardeners and all of whom are dedicated volunteers. We were formed out of concern for the lack of allotment protection and provision across the UK. Although based in Barnstaple in the glorious South West of England we cover the whole of the UK, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.  Our office continues to deal with all national enquiries, and we are establishing a local division there for our home in Barnstaple and Devon.  This makes no difference nationally when you contact us of course, but should help to maintain rapid response times, and fulfill our undertaking of giving maximum commitment to all individual members. We promote the benefits of allotments, gardening and growing your own no matter how small your outside space.

We are helping many people to protect their existing allotment sites as well as helping to create new ones, we can provide you with a wealth of information, advice and guidance for all your allotment needs. We have established ourselves firmly as the fresh new, friendly and modern, voice for the allotment movement; we aspire to develop partnerships with like minded organisations to facilitate the working of good practice. SWCAA became a Community Interest Company on 25th February 2008.

We offer a friendly, efficient no strings service and we aim to be the first point of contact for all your allotment and gardening needs. Our volunteers all have many years of experience as allotment holders and gardeners and are all passionate about what we do. Becoming a friend of SWCAA is easy and enables you to make contact with other groups, clubs and Associations around the country, share advice and experiences and when problems arise have the piece of mind to know that help is just a phone call away. A wide range of inspiring ideas and information to take us forward will be reported on this website, as well as a whole host of useful and practical information on everything to do with allotments and gardening.

SWCAA will:

  • Promote the benefits of Allotments and Gardening to the wider public
  • Represent Gardeners' interests; develop partnerships with like-minded Community Interest Companies and Organisations
  • Foster Community Spirit and provide a potential for peer support amongst allotment holders, which could help combat isolation for some members of the community who are alone.
  • We will facilitate the networking of good practice, promote and celebrate the enjoyment of growing and gardening for all
  • Promote the cultivation of all life in a forward thinking and constructive manner.

We support both self-managed and council-run fields, Community and cottage gardens as well as schools and other community groups we hope to encourage good relations with the Councils and Private Landlords involved. Problems do arise; they range from banning the provision of huts, illegally banning chickens and rabbits, failure to allow water supplies, to the closure of allotment fields for development or a refusal to meet the obligations to provide them. What ever the problem we are here to help

By joining together we promote our right to cultivate and extend our social activity. Under the benevolent 1908 Act, allotments provide us with healthier, tasty food, a satisfying and profitable hobby, fresh air and exercise. It is also a return to nature and creates friendship opportunities, therapeutic relief from stress and depression and best of all fresh food for yourself, your friends and the community. Allotments can also provide the chance to keep chickens,and bees, room for a greenhouse or shed, a place to produce fruit and flowers, and make great friends. But remember these things cannot happen by themselves! Your support is vital!

The Committee meets three or four times yearly, at the Imperial Pub (Weatherspoons), New North Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4AH (near St. David's Station in Exeter).

We look forward to hearing from you.