9. Allotment: Viewing Sites to Grow My Own Food (January 2024) 

I told my family I wanted to run away with a toy boy to Wales, Sean. Although I was just joshing, we're a match made in heaven. We both love singing, food, growing things, cats, books, beautiful views. Pity I am in hot, dry, burnt Australia full of every venomous creature known, as well as other animals like cute kangaroos that can disembowel you. Anyway, a woman of Welsh ancestry, stuck in the wrong country, can dream and I will be living vicariously through your videos. Have fun in the new chapter of your life.From Kaye, Australia.

Hi Sean, I just recently discovered your channel and am enjoying your new adventure of moving back to Wales. I live high on a mountain of 6109 ft. In California. My home has been here for 40 years but am now facing a major crossroad in my life of 66 years. I need to move as the winters are harsh and the snow too much. Last winter we got 12 1/2 feet in my little town in one long storm of a weeks time. Being of duel citizenship, American and British, I am looking to move to England to be closer to family. My mum’s family name is Evans and we are proud to be of Welsh decent! The thought of moving and taking a chance of living a different kind of life is daunting as once I move forward there is no turning back or starting over at my age. But life is about taking risks and daring to pursue a dream not necessarily for a better life, but a life with new discoveries. I want to live in a quiet small town and have a garden to dig my hands deep into and smell the earth between my fingers. To be close to nature in a different way, discover new wildlife and climb new mountains fills my soul with excitement Watching your videos are great encouragement to step out out and live a new life! Thank you! Give your fur babies a hug for me!

You certainly have lots of lovely countryside and views to ramble along. I like how you add all the history as you walk along. There is a hidden History teacher inside you Sean. Thanks for sharing 👍 😊

Lovely stroll, such a beautiful village there. Gardens not only feed our tummies, it feeds our souls. Good luck on getting an allotment sooner rather than later. 🤞

It's great the way you are getting involved in your village and new life, going back to your roots ❤

Allotments are the backbone of many meal times and friendships..👍😁

Thanks for sharing your changes with us. It's inspiring. And the idea of allotments is fascinating. In the past, I've kept a container garden because my small acreage has anoxic soil--it is wetland which should never have been built upon so the yard floods regularly. The containers are still there in my back yard but they are much neglected and weedy; some even have small trees volunteering in them. Disability and three bouts of Covid have forced me to abandon this odd little garden that I loved. Right now, I'm beginning to feel a bit hopeful again--if one person can make changes, so can another. I'm telling myself that if I could just manage a few pots of herbs and tomatoes, I could rescue my garden. Maybe it can be my own version of an allotment. What's the worst that could happen? Nothing. Nothing is the worst, so any step forward is a win. Thank you for the inspiration! Best wishes with your allotment. I will be following your journey with interest.

i like plot number 1 😃 and that was a nice walk around the village 😃

Hi Sean. Just catching up on some of your older videos. This was lovely and so happy you now have a great plot and built your shed. Beautiful country and a good move for you too. Love and hugs from Northern California. ❤❤❤

Look how quiet it is! I'm green with envy! ❤

Thank you Sean for taking us on your morning stroll really beautiful. Diolch

These allotments looked much more you Sean, than the ones in London ever did. More relaxed and definitely more Heath Robinson! I can’t wait to see where you end up. Ours is run by the council and there are so many rules and regulations, but very few truly productive plots and many that haven’t been productive for years. Unfortunately the council employees in charge of the allotment don’t understand anything about growing or apparently about sustainability, which is shocking. Good luck getting a lovely plot Sean. Xx

Good luck with getting an allotment Sean.

Lovely walk Sean thanks for taking us along. Good luck in getting a site hope sooner than later so you can get preparing pre spring.

Love going on these wanders through the Rhonda with you Sean. So interesting

Site 1 definitely Sean,if you can can i

Hi from Scotland, hi sean great video it was lovely going around and seeing your village fingers crossed you get a plot soon hope there was not a lot of damage in Wales due to the storms take care Anne from Scotland

I liked seeing how the riverbank has some diversity of trees and plants for the wildlife and to stop erosion. I’m looking forward to some gardening content in the spring wherever you end up.

Hope you manage to get an allotment soon. I really miss ours

thanks for taking us along with you 🙂 I hope you get the allotment you want so you can start planning for spring. back in the 90s I used to cycle from home in Swansea and over the Bwlch and Rhigos mountains in a big loop. Half way up the Rhigos on the right was a site where someone had placed all sorts of colourful sculptures and decorations. I wonder if you can remember it and whether it's still there?

Hopefully you won’t have to wait too long for a plot. I can see you are eager to get your garden started.

Enjoyed that stroll seeing the beauty of the valley and mountains. Hope you dont have to wait too long for a plot Sean but great you have a garden now 😊

Good idea to scope out different plots. Nice video!

How fabulous to see the area around Penpych school. Nostalgia. Walking my grandchildren from school

Great video again Sean. Some times its good to move away. Think then we would all appreciate were we were born and grew up. So pleased you found it again. Hope you get your allotment soon so you can start planning for the year ahead.

Good Morning, Sean..'my' morning , your afternoon. How lovey to enjoy my tea and toast and stroll around the allotments with you. Thank you for you. Fondly, Dorothy.

Tried following along on Google Maps. That was an awesome tour. Thank you!!!!!

It is so good that you can fence your plot in Wales and there are no restrictions on the size of the shed. Wonderful views! I love the first site and the last one, so nice to hear the sound of the water! Hope you get an allotment very soon! 🤞🤞😘💕🌸

Great to see your videos getting lots of views since you've relocated to the homeland! Enjoying seeing you reaquaint yourself with everything and the superb landscapes 👍

Miss my old allotment so much. Like you said it's about relaxing as much as it is growing your veg. Great new footage since your recent move back to Wales ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Beautiful scenery. Good luck with an allotment. The lists are years long here in Surrey .

Love watching you pleased you moved to Wales my uncle lives Rhondda valley and I live Rhymney valley about 30 mins away hoping you get a plot soon so i can grow along with you good luck for the future

That's where you are! I fell in love with Treherbert and Blaen Cwm last year. I went down from Crumarthen to be part of a team up on Pen Pych rebuilding a bit of the old wall whilst learning how to dry stone wall. Spectacular views. Good luck on allotment finding! I'm trying to downsize mine but it's a bit like trying to chop off a limb after working so hard on it for the last 8 years!! Take care, hwyl!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Thank you Sean that was lovely a nice walk and chat .

Thanks Sean, great looking allotments

You nurture your garden so Beautifully, now you need to get a house plant. Philodendron You can hang it in the window, so the cats cannot reach and it cleans the air. Bring the green inside. I love my house plants. I have them in every window. They make me very happy.😊 And I do talk to them.

It's so nice to see the rivers and streams flowing. We don't see much of that here in Australia. By the way, watching your videos always motivates me to do my Welsh lessons.

Soon be potato day in several village halls of Shropshire. Time to buy my spuds, onions etc. It's a little social event. I've seen some in North Wales, have you seen any advertised near you? This year I'm growing potatoes in containers. I have a bit of land but it just becomes all a bit overgrown, docks are an issue, so raised beds and containers will be the way forward.

The river looks lovely and clean, I bet there are some smashing local welsh brown trout in it. Now there's a feast veggies from your allotment and a fresh brown trout grilled with butter. Wish you lots of luck with the plot. To be honest plots 1 and 2 look like the best candidates.

The herons were nesting down by Ysbyty George some time ago, we see them passing over heard, there were lots of them. In our village we have a new raven and a Red Kite, I have seen the Red Kite down as far as the cricket field in Treorchy. The allotments used to be allowed one 8 x 6 greenhouse/ shed, others were added at the person's risk i.e. they could be told to take them down. Polytunnels were permitted some years ago, there had been lots of complaints about them in other parts of the authority, mostly as they discolour over time and look unsightly. The 'Maindy' would be a good walk/ film when the trees come into leaf, it is really beautiful there.

In Canada, the government did the same thing to the old unused railway tracks and made the TransCanada Trail (24,000km) where you can literally walk across Canada and then walk north. You would really have to like walking and have quite a few years at your disposal, lol.

I’d try and get a plot that’s closest to your house if you can, although with your bicycle a little distance would be good too as long as it’s not up a big hill. On a walk a few days ago there was some purple aubretia out already, your daffs look lovely in the last clip, who knows what bulbs you’ve got in your back garden just waiting to appear, I have some tulips emerging, so much to look forward to and a very positive time of year, planning ahead is good, best wishes, Lisa

I used to love my allotment ! Had 2 polly tunnels,green house,chicken coop,shed and decking area,pond,swimming pool for summer:) due to I’ll health had to give up :( , but I still have my solar panels and some tools left there if you want ? Am from Cwmbran area

You have a few allotments that look very promising Sean. Thanks for the tour. Your knowledge of the area is invaluable. Looks like all the allotments are within walking distance from your house. A big bonus for sure. I love my veggie garden. So are looking forward to seeing what you will be growing and any advice will be more than welcome. Keep singing please. You have a lovely voice. I grew up with a Welsh grandma and she sang all the time. Loved it when her Welsh friends came over …..the harmony was gorgeous. Even my English Grampa managed to learn some of the hymns during their 50 year marriage.!!

Last year I walked along river Taff and near the barracks in Ton Pentre I saw a heron. I nearly fell over!

Good for you Sean and good luck in your search for a plot. Take any plot you can get and then share progress via channel - after 16 years on a waiting list we got a plot and within 6 months could have swapped a few times. In the meantime enjoy the countryside and the Vlogs!

Hey Sean, that was a fun video :) I like the countryside.

Hi Sean, wow what lovely views! My choice would be Site No. 1 for the views alone or Site no 4. 🙂

I think the leaders get together and all decide what they are doing to each country. Good or bad. But the walk ways over railways probably are one good idea.

Croeso y Cymru Sean - I am sure you will get your allotment...

I am finding your new move to Wales very interesting. It's a beautiful place and I think I would prefer to be there also, being a country girl. In the one video I watched where people were concerned about you leaving London, I decided to do some research because being here in the States, I don't know the UK that well. I discovered that Wales is only 4.5 hours from London and for us here in the States, that is really not that far; I travel 4 hours several times a year to visit family; so if you wanted to visit London, it could be done. You seem happier in Wales and so I think the move was a good idea for you! I am enjoying these new daily vlogs. Oh, and to answer your question about the allotment site...I would wait til late spring or summer to pick mine...and I would want one with full sun for at least 8 hours...Kim

They seem a lot smaller than what we have here in Essex

How delightful to be strolling around with you Sean. I think with the amount of allotments around the village, it shouldn’t be too long before one becomes available to you. 🙏🏻 So beautiful to see the river as well. Thank you for taking time to show us all. 😊

Lovely video,Sean. Thank you as always 👌🏻

Fences to keep the rabbits and/or deer out maybe? Weve battled deer before its a pain! Thst sure is a nicely full site!

What a beautiful walk about in your new village. I predict lots of happy moments for you. I miss the mountains and hills of my youth. Enjoying all the scenery you are sharing. Take care.

Fingers crossed you will be able to get an allotment soon. I can tell you are itching to get started! Bye for now.

It’s great that you have local knowledge that will assist you in selecting a plot. Wind, sun, shade, slope, soil type together with a gut feeling will help you decide. I wish you all the best. Do plots come up very often? Is it frowned upon if you are offered a plot but don’t feel right about it and say no? Again thanks for sharing and all the best until next time. 🇦🇺

Thank you for sharing your Sunday Sean, hopefully you will have your allotment soon❤️

Hi Sean all had lovely views but I loved the first allotment site best , it looked like you could have more choices of what you can do , hope your settled and happy in your new home all the best Tracy 😊

Hope you get your allotment soon x

Beautiful landscape. I just love nature & especially the mountains. Just enjoyed looking at all the allotments.

These are looking amazing... Unfortunately I'm doing the opposite to you and I am looking moving my allotment home. Very unsure what to do

Sean leep an eye out Red Kites have returned to the area since you last lived there

I wounder which allotment s was filmed in the Rhonda that was on the big dig allotment Terry Walton as on that site

The scenery looks so beautiful in winter I can’t wait to see your videos in the spring and summer!

Hope some allotments sites come soon for summer comes nice walks round nice landscapes round great video

A lovely ramble! You're so lucky to have such peace and quiet...also a sense of solitude. Really nice!

🐝 Thanks for the great video 🌻

Good morning Sean, What a lovely walk, thank you. I, like everyone else, really do hope you get a plot🙏Up north a few years ago i remember the council telling a friend thecwai time was around 30 years, im not quite sure how they worked that out🤔 Hopefully now there will be more Heron's in the area. Keep a look out on top of trees, very high up for their huge nests. What a lovely river & surrounding areas for nature. Nature & wildlife is a lifelong passion of mine. I guarantee you that their will be Dippers on that river. Britain's only Aquatic Songbird. They are one of my favourite birds to watch. Peoe say they are elusive, they are not & once they get used to seeing you around theyvwill happily sit on a the top rock or a stone in the river & sing for you & happily chatter away. I love watching them on the river Ystrad near my home. They very often nest under a road bridge & looking at what you have filmed i almost guarantee therecwill ne Dippers there. They are dark brown but with while across their upper chest & eyelids & this is a good way to spot them by their blinking white eyelids. This is just an idea, especially as you are having trouble with your knees, maybe but one of those little folding seats which you can carry by its strap over your shoulder, or they do a walking stick that folds out into a seat. I cant walk far anymore but always take the first mentioned out with me, i have MS so no more hiking or climbing mountains for me but i love watching others exploring & filming. Another storm due up north today, im not su🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿re if its going to hit the south or not. Stay safe, i hope you're having a lovely week. Annie🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Thank you Sean x

Those sites look great Sean. Can’t wait to see you working one

Perhaps you can do a step by step series “How to grow your own Allotment” from taking over an allotment, preparation, tools, planning etc?

In Toronto we have fences to keep the thieves out. Otherwise we'd end up with nothing. Can you grow tomatoes in Wales? I notice lots of greenhouses and tunnels. Maybe that's where people grow peppers and tomatoes.

I'm curious to know if you ever have a problem filming other folks plots? Do they ever object, or are they ambivalent or even keen to have them featured?

Keeping my fingers crossed for you Sean, hope that you get a great plot before to long. I think that you have made a really great move back home to Wales love your cottage take care

What are your criteria for a site that is just right for you? Are you looking for social interaction or being left alone? The last site had a lot of high walls around the plots. I wondered if the people liked having their own private spaces where people didn't bother them or if they had a problem with theft. It looked like the one had a tall barbed wire fence. Would you be willing to take on a plot that appeared to never have been used and was in its natural state or do you prefer to take over one that needs refurbishment. Does it need to be close to home? Are you looking for a large established site that is set up to help the plot holders with tools and mulch and water or something less structured? Rules to keep everyone in line or ability to do whatever?

That was a nice walk with you to look at your various allotment sites. I'm sure there will be a garden for you too. And until then, like you said, you can work in your backyard garden. 😊

Well, it will be interesting to see where the opportunities take you, Sean. I live just south of San Francisco in California , near San Bruno mountain. That mountain looks a lot like yours, and the weather is like living on a moor. Lots of crazy wind , fog, and beauty . I'm sure that's why my family chose the SF area. Not everything grows here....too much wind and crazy weather, but what likes this area, *really* likes living here...people and plants and animals. And I suspect that is true for you as well, so take your steps slowly and with a listening heart and you will do well.... .

How lovely ❤

Best wishes for your decision on the allotments. Your old allotment area looks like a good place. 🙂

Hiya 😂 Enjoying your videos SOOOOOO very much Take Care 😅

I do hope you get one by spring!

I can´t believe your Wales videos are 9 videos in. Time flies!

Hello Seán how can you find the 'verities of veg grown in the victorian kitchen garden please.

nice video sean

is there any standardization to plot sizes or shapes? how do you evaluate costs comparisons'?

I recently stumbled upon your channel and find it to be very peaceful to listen to and watch, even rather soothing. And we can all use more of that! I have lived alone for quite some time and can relate to much of what you do and speak of. I especially like to go for a "wander" and am loving walking with you in Wales. I spent some time in the UK when I was younger and fell in love with it! Actually worked in a castle in Scotland for a while and lived in Maida Vale, London ( when one could afford it!!!) I always wanted to return, but kinda got stuck in the States, as a single parent. I watch RU-vid on the telly so I probably won't be able to comment that often. But I am enjoying your content, and hope to go back and catch up on some of your older videos. I was a fitness instructor for many years and would like to suggest stretching...especially for your back and knees. and perhaps some body weight exercise. You can easily google these. :) So keep up the good work and Pob Lwc!

Sean, could you not share an allotment with someone who might have lost interest or struggling to grow anything? A joint venture. Best of luck in your search for one!👍😎

Would you use your allotment (when you get one) to grow mostly to support yourself or perhaps fruit and veg that people are paying a lot for in supermarkets (like berries or stuff like fennel). Just being nosey! 😊

I think you've made the right decision making the move back to wales, all the mountain air and walking will do you the world of good, ps dont chuck all that cardboard away, it will be perfect for making no dig beds or composting, also that first allotment site looked awesome

Bootiful

James , wasnt there a fellow who had an alotment in the Rhonda who they broadcast on radio 4 ?. I may have got that wrong . I had an allotment 20 years ago.

Nice walk. It looks like most of the allotments are in use. But you never know ... the allotmenteer can become ill and can not go on gardening ... That's what happened here. I got the allotment garden of someone who had health problems, the work was too much for him. I heard it through a friend (she knows everything happening in this neighbourhood) and could start renting that garden immediately, with everything growing on it (two apple trees, a lot of berry and currant bushes, etc.)! The land is probably owned by the county, but an association is managing the (two) allotment sites. One is large (that's where I am), the other only a few plots. Each of them has a 'committee' of gardeners renting a plot there. As usual in the Netherlands there are many rules and regulations. But in this case that's a good thing. If you leave your plot unattended for too long first you get a warning and if then still you don't do anything you have to leave and someone else will get that plot. It's allowed to build a greenhouse and/or shed, but only a certain percentage of the surface. There's third allotment site too, but that's on private land. The owner has his own rules, a little too strict for me.

Sean, have you heard anything about Rusty? Does he not have a home?

Hope you can get digging or no-digging soon! 🧑‍🌾

Hyfryd gweld y rhandiroedd gwahanol. Diddorol iawn.

Herons eat baby ducks :(

Sorry Sean but looks a bit of an eyesore, but that's just me.

Actually you can't tell how strong the wind is by looking at the wind generators as the majority in Wales are not connected to the grid and the blades are turned by diesel generation in their base, wonderful mismanagement by the Welsh assembly millions in subsidies for little to no return