The Company was formed to enter into an agreement with Buckhurst Hill Parish Council (the owner of the five allotment sites in Buckhurst Hill, Essex) and to take on the activities of the existing unincorporated association that currently manages those sites. There are nearly 200 plotholders on the five sites that cover approximately 7.5 acres of land in the Parish. The plotholders are drawn from across the Parish and adjoining areas and they benefit from the activity not merely through growing their own flowers, fruit and vegetables, but also from the physical exercise and from the social interaction that the allotment community provides. The CIC became active from 25 March 2019 and it has managed the five allotment sites in Buckhurst Hill, Essex. The management agreement with Buckhurst Hill Parish Council was signed in July 2020. In early 2020 the UK went into lockdown and some restrictions remained in 2021. The UK government confirmed that working allotments was one of the permitted forms of daily exercise and as a result applications for plots increased to the point that the sites were all fully occupied and we had a waiting list for the first time in a number of years. The waiting list remains throughout the year ended 31 March 2025. In the year ended 31 March 2021 the CIC was successful in an application to the Essex Association of Local Councils and received £4,300 towards the construction of an Easy Access Zone. These funds were matched by Buckhurst Hill Parish Council in the subsequent financial year and the Easy Access Zone was constructed in the autumn of 2021. The Easy Access Zone began being cultivated in the spring of 2022. From 2023 these were fully let.

The CIC became active on 25 March 2019 and carried on from the work of the unincorporated association. The CIC’s main stakeholders are the plotholders on the allotment sites who are residents of Buckhurst Hill and nearby parishes. The other main stakeholder is Buckhurst Hill Parish Council on whose behalf the CIC operates the allotment sites. The CIC advertises vacant allotment plots in the Parish magazine and on noticeboards, and contact details are provided on its own website and that of the Parish council. We hold an annual meeting of the CIC. Plotholders are invited to contribute to the workings of the CIC and to make suggestions as to the activities on and management of the sites. The individual sites each have managers and communication from plotholders to the committee is usually via the managers but is sometimes directly to the chair. The committee liaised with the suppliers of the horse manure and bark chippings arranging for these to be delivered while socially distanced once restrictions allowed. The plot holders have continued to find this a very useful resource. The Committee works with the Parish council to determine improvements required through the year.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration