Hi Jimster.... The official size of an English allotment is 250 square metres... the original terminology was 10 rods. But you'll see from the plan on the web site they come in all sizes... with most allotments having a huge waiting list (ours is over 80) plots get split into two. If you're interested in the history of English allotments (which goes back hundreds of years) click the link under the Welcome section headed 'History of allotments'. Thanks for the positive feedback about the web content borderbarb. Regards, John Here is a link that might be useful: An English Allotment Garden

thanks for the taste of home, I enjoyed that, I did rather will on the old crossword! and it reminded me, I had been intending to do this for a while on the Garden Web, put up a link to Gardener's Question Time, which I used to listen to even before I Gardened. it is obviously a program where gardeners ask expert gardeners advice, it is a panel, so different opinions, plus segments on gardens and allotments in the UK, obviously it will be different to the US in Climate and names of plants, I still think it would be of interest to some people, it doesn't take itself too seriously, but they are expert. It is a radio program, so you can access from the US but you will need to download a er thing! it will tell you what to do, even I managed it! I get my hubby to copy them in some fancy gizmo way! to my Ipod along with a lot of radio 4, 7 and 2 programs which I listen too in the garden :-), if you listen and enjoyed, I listen to Radio Ulsters Gardeners Corner as well and very often the food program talks on Farmers Markets, and gardening, the last time I listened to the food program in the UK, was on Farmers Markets in New York, Amazing, and the acceptance of food stamps, to encourage healthy eating. On the same but different note, Netflix, I watched a film documentary called The Garden, I was in tears, it was so wonderful yet sad, what the people had achieved and what was ultimately lost, but the power of the Garden went on. Here is a link that might be useful: Gardeners Question Time

Oh I want to go to see the Eden Project. It looks absolutely facinating. I'm especially interested in the rain forest Biodome. I know I won't be happy in the real rain forest, with all the bugs and other critters so I enjoy the 'controlled' rain forest. The Eden Project said they had drinking water available and something about a cool room. Sounds like I can really enjoy that place. It also mentioned that the 'core' ceiling was built with Fibonacci Numbers in Nature. I'd like to see that. BTW, the Omaha Zoo, of all places has an excellent rain forest biodome. I've been there and enjoyed it very much. Thanks for the post. Here is a link that might be useful: Omaha zoo

i love oaks for gardening under ... no experience with this one.. what is the potential width.. and how far from the house are you considering ... newer sealed sewer lines.. or septic field?? no tree should be that close to a field ... i would not feed the hosta ever again.. if you want the tree to ignore them.. if you fert the plants under the tree... you can figure out where it will grow roots ... i wonder what the understock is ... my oaks.. love my hot dry sand.. i do NOT know if they will appreciate.. as a babe ... the wet black loam ... 6 hours of sun is not bad.. but it isnt that great.. i do NOT know the shade tolerance of oak ... just listing variables that come to mind .. good luck ken