At the beginning of 2010 we asked Alton Town Council if we could use some plots and planters around the town to grow vegetables and herbs.

From simple beginnings we have gradually built up several different sites (see map) and the list keeps growing.

In 2010 the following were started:

Westbrooke Road – a roadside verge that had two raised bed, a herb garden and several containers. There is now a raised bed and a planter and a wildflower meadow as well as a bee-friendly corridor and the herb area.. A team of volunteers meet for a monthly working party – usually on a Friday afternoon.

The Railway Planters – three planters opposite the Railway Arms grow herbs.  In 2014 three concrete rings in front of the barrels were repainted and cultivated by ALFI, and following the council-led revamp of the Town approach in 2017, we now manage the new square containers.

Station Plot – four raised beds, a herb garden, hanging baskets, containers and wall-trained fruit trees. Monthly working party, usually on a Sunday morning.

In 2012: A Community Orchard at Jubilee Sports Field was started, initially with five trees. In 2014 ten more trees were added – apples, pears, plum, cherry and quince. Fruit to be available to the community.

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In 2014 we were able to add two more sites:

St Lawrence Vicarage soft fruit garden. Cleared and planted autumn 2014. Working parties are monthly on a Sunday morning.

Allen Gallery Garden There are two raised beds one for herbs and the other for perennial vegetables.

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In 2021 a further two sites were added:

BT Exchange Planters and fruit trees in containers, as well as a small wildflower meadow, are there now, together with water butts and a compost area.

Barley Fields Orchard is another community orchard.  Phase 1 is planted with fruit trees and bulbs in the surrounding grass. Phase 2 will have heritage fruit trees. This is adjacent to a new housing development.