Growing food on campus - Keele University

Growing Food on Campus

In the Spring of 2012 the approval was given for an allotments scheme on the University campus.  Discussions had been underway about such a scheme for some time and the University’s Executive Committee recognised that it fits well with Keele’s Strategic Plan commitment to ‘develop an environmentally aware and sustainable outward facing campus community’.  More specifically, there is a commitment in the University’s Environmental Policy to ‘support the development of staff and student allotments to promote engagement with local food and the food life cycle’. 

Allotment holders

The first allotment holders with the University’s Chancellor Jonathon Porritt

The site has been developed in the Walled Garden on campus.  Historically, this area was used to grow food for the Sneyd family (the landowners at the time and resident in Keele Hall in the 19th Century), and, more latterly, to grow plants for commercial purposes. The site was originally carefully selected and designed for optimal growing conditions..  However, since foundations were laid to allow the construction of greenhouses against the high back wall, it was determined that the most effective way of using the area was to create a series of raised beds. 

Allotment beds Construction took place over the Summer 2012  – in spite of driving rain which at one stage left the site looking like a bog!  However, there are now 10 raised beds in place which are tended by a group of allotments holders selected from amongst staff, students and the local community.

The allotments are overseen by an allotments management group who meet regularly to manage the scheme and discuss day to day practicalities.  If you would like to find out more about the scheme please contact Professor Andy Dobson.