Stoke Lane Allotments has existed since around the time of the First World War. At that time many allotment sites were set up across Carlton, Gedling and Netherfield covering much of the land up to the Railway sidings. Occupancy of the plots reached its peak during and after the Second World War.

Steadily there was a decline in usage and allotment sites disappeared to make way for housing and the Colwick Loop Road. The Victoria Road Allotment Association was re-located onto vacant plots on the Stoke Lane Site. Whilst the main Stoke Lane Site remained under the management of Carlton Urban District Council and later Gedling Borough Council, Victoria Road were self-managed.

The popularity of allotments was still in decline throughout the 1970s and 80s and even Victoria Road Allotment Society had more vacancies than let plots. By the 1990s Stoke Lane and Victoria Road had over 50 vacant plots between them on a site of 209 plots. Many of those, which were let, were in a poor state of cultivation.

A draft proposal in the Gedling Plan 2000 included land on the Stoke Lane Allotment Site as suitable for building of houses. It would mean that many plot holders would have to move from the plots they had cultivated for many years to one which was overgrown with weeds and brambles and start again.

Several affected plot holders got together and decided to fight this proposal. The Stoke Lane Allotment Association was formed. It was resolved at this first meeting that the Association would use all means to ensure that the allotment site was preserved intact as allotment land. Later the Council agreed that the site could be self-managed. Further to this if that management could prove a need for allotment land then the proposal could be dropped from the plan. There were about 55 plots to go under the proposals.

Several plot holders got together and discussed what if anything could be done. The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners advised them that Councils could not take allotments from a statutory site without the consent of Secretary of State. They also advised that we form an association and join NSALG who would offer free legal advice. Our regional NSALG representative, Shirley Fleetwood, offered hands on support and advice in the fight to preserve the allotments as they were.

On 12th May 2000 that first meeting was held and the Stoke Lane Allotment Association was formed. Clive Howes was elected as chair, Phil Watterson as secretary, Alec Thomson as Treasurer with half a dozen other committee members. It was resolved at this meeting that the Association would use all means to ensure that the allotment site was preserved intact as allotment land.

All members were encouraged to sign letters objecting to the building proposals. There were also local meetings held by the Borough Council to discuss the draft 10 year plan. Allotment holders were mustered to attend and state their objection to the proposals to build on the Stoke Lane Site. The Councillors at the meeting had to admit that no consultation with plot holders had taken place prior to the land being identified for building. The Council Leader who was at one of the meetings admitted that he had never seen the site. He was invited to visit and later walked the site with Phil and Clive. It was pointed out that the problem of plots remaining vacant was because the Council were not managing the site in the best way. It was tentatively agreed that if the committee could prove to the Council that they were able to organise and manage the site then the Stoke Lane Allotments could be self-managed. Further to this if that management could prove a need for allotment land then the proposal could be dropped from the plan.

Self-management of the site was confirmed at the first AGM held on 4th September 2000. Within a year all the vacant plots on the Stoke Lane Association part of the site had been let.

The Stoke Lane Allotment Site was taken out of the Revised draft Local Plan as land suitable for building houses and is now confirmed as Statutory Allotment Land. Very quickly all plots were let and the Victoria Road Allotment Association was dissolved and become part of the Stoke Lane Allotment Association.

17 years on we are a thriving association and with current interest in allotment gardening and Grow your own Veg we have a healthy waiting list of enthusiasts waiting for vacant plots.