Rootsallotments Reviews 389

I’ve had my patch for 8 months now, and it’s my absolute favourite place! I love going down there and seeing the new things that have grown. I’ve learnt so much through roots training videos and helpful emails / tips etc which you wouldn’t get with a normal allotment . It’s such a nice community feel and I have loved meeting new people there and learning new skills. The patch managers are helpful and friendly and have services available if we need extra help for our plots if we’re away/ unwell etc which is such a great extra. Having the shared tools is such a great bonus & added extras like workshops and classes to expand our knowledge is great! They also have great plans to help increase the biodiversity and to help communities in the local area which is lovely.

As an adult with Autism, its difficult for me to feel like I fit in anywhere. At Roots Allotment Stourbridge everyone says hello, everyone is polite and welcoming of others with differences.

Our children love coming up and getting involved, they have made friends up there and share a love for nature with many more people because of this place.

I have truly found another place where we can feel safe and supported. We have also ended up with a better social circle and calender.

My mental health improves everytime I am there.

Great place to grow your own produce, lots of friendly advice

Great place to learn new things in a very calming environment Really enjoy my time there Wllls very helpful on Bowshaw site Very friendly community

Beautiful area and very peaceful. Great to get out and get a bit of head space when I'm struggling with my bad days. My children love to come and assist with the watering and to have a walk around looking at what everyone is growing. Lovely members at the Nottingham site. Very happy 😊
Been a member since May and loving it!

Absolutely lovely community and allotment. Everyone is so keen to help out one another! The negative reviews absolutely don’t reflect the other sites (or the people responsible for running the sites), as the Sheffield Bowshaw site is full of lovely people and Will the patch manager is always on hand to answer questions or give advice. Really nice guy!

The compost is good quality, wood chip, tools, manure, fertiliser, seeds and plugs are all provided! Not sure what else you could ask for. For the £20 a month I pay (for a 3x12m plot) it’s SO worth the money. I’d pay that just for the community that’s included, I love my little patch of dirt!! Thanks Bowshaw team ❤️

I've been a member at Bowshaw Dronfield site since October 2024. The plot fees are reasonable & you get so much more.
Workshops on so many subjects including growing, composting, you receive annual seeds, and plug plants through the year. Our plot manager Will always makes time to answer any questions, even when he's busy. The community of fellow plot holders is one of sharing knowledge,& plants.
It's my special time when I'm up at the plot 💚🌱

I absolutely love it!
Staff are amazing!

I got my allotment in November 2024 after discovering I would have a six year wait for a local authority allotment anywhere near me.
I've been amazed by how friendly and helpful everyone is - no tut tutting about how to do things, just mutual support and helpful suggestions. And lots of helping each other with watering etc.
There is such a variety of different people on the site and having so much provided - from compost and manure to tools and workshops - has got me off to a great start. I've never grown any fruit or veg before and really didn't know where to start but have so enjoyed just trying things out.
I see negative comments about how can we grow anything on the thin layer of compost but I have so much I'm giving it away - carrots, potatoes, peas, strawberries, chard, courgettes, salad, fennel...I could go on.
But most of all, the allotment has become a place I can escape my worries and lose myself. I've had an incredibly difficult couple of years and this place has become a kind of sanctuary for me.
So please be encouraged Roots Allotments team - you are doing wonders for your members. Thank you.

I have 2 plots at Bowshaw roots and it is the most positive place. The manager Will knows his stuff and is always there to offer help & advice. There is nothing to extra to pay as all the seeds mature wood chip soil & equipment is provided. I’v had great results with the food! It’s honestly the nicest environment to be in. Lots of lovely people & very rewarding. I’m loving my new hobby.

Thanks Will

I have had a Roots allotment for 18 months now. It has been a wonderful life aferming time. The ethos of the organic no dig philosophy and the wonderful patch managers makes it great. We have had fun, informative learning opportunities. It has been very clear from the start that we are part of the Roots community and I have made some great new friends. I cannot recommend it enough.

I have had my allotment patch for nearly 2 years. It’s been such a great experience. I’ve grown so much produce of a wide variety. The community is amazing, and I enjoy low-key gatherings, and a regular chat and cup of tea with friends I’ve made there.
The cost is £19.99 a month which isn’t expensive for the benefit to both my physical and mental wellbeing, and all the produce I’ve grown.
It has been good to have equipment and a water supply available. The workshops have been interesting and informative. Highly recommend!

I think roots are absolutely amazing with the vision and movement they have going on. Ive been a member of dartfords shirehall pastures for a month or so now and have had nothing but positive experiences, josh the patch manager of the site has been nothing but helpful, kind, and full of knowledge always going the extra length to ensure the people are happy and satisfied. Anyone whos not involved are missing out on something special.

A business that thinks it’s ok to turn up in a National Park and with no ecological survey, or a single word to the parish council, fence off and plough a chalk meadow which has rewilded after YEARS of being uncultivated, right in the middle of nesting season! There were Red List ground nesting birds including yellowhammers and sky larks in there. Plus they’ve cut off a public right of way that goes straight across the middle of their site. Unsurprisingly the business is funded by venture capitalists, so obviously hoping to over time get planning for housing. I personally would rather have my eyeballs sucked out than give them a penny and anyone who believes their eco spiel is a fool,

I’ve recently become a member of the dartford plot and it is amazing. Peaceful and zen. Josh the site manager has been amazing and boosted my confidence to grow so much considering I was a total novice. He’s enthusiasm for all things allotment is endearing he’s highly knowledgable and makes for a friendly experience

Stop cutting back hedges where nesting birds are right now rearing chicks !
I think it's illegal , and it s not a good look .
Wonder how all those shallow / no dig little roots are doing in the current drought . On cardboard , with a thin layer of dodgy compost.

Don't be fooled by the altruistic sounding idea behind this. Caused noise and lots of traffic with no thought to advise residents who've lived next to the field for years and yet the residents have to put up with heavy diggers working at weekends and during the week. No habitat survey was done prior to lots of 6ft + deer fencing being installed - they claim to be eco friendly but obviously not regards wildlife - having a digger work for days next to nesting birds in hedgerows isn't my idea of eco friendly. Definitely not community friendly unless of course you've paid for an allotment. Interesting to read that Brighton and hove weren't interested in them.

Interestingly Roots Allotments have tried to remove my negative review from September. There are many fake positive reviews saying what a fantastic place the Abbots Leigh site is even though it hasn't opened yet as they don't have planning permission and are in a long running dispute with residents in Leigh Woods and Abbots Leigh. Put "Roots Allotments Controversy" in your search engine for information.

Roots Allotments continue to destroy a wildlife meadow in Abbots Leigh despite the local authority instructing them to stop the development. Utter disregard for nature, the local authority, locals and any planning laws. If North Somerset had any backbone it would prosecute these vandals.

My last review back in July still stands. Roots Allotments disregard of North Somerset Council Planning ruling, their continued indifference and disregard to the local community, neighbours’ is something that still beggar's belief.
YOU WOULD DO WELL TO AVOID or getting involved with them in this location.

Most recent planning breach and upsetting, bulling & disrespectful act is the dumping of circa 100t of gravel which has been spread to replace the original rubber matting (also a shameless planning breach) that forms the illegal driveway and parking bays to this unsuitable commercial allotment. Simply an Enviromental disaster in the making.

Save your money.