Learning and training days have become a very important activity for the Leeds Allotments Federation lately. They began in 2013 with a day devoted to studying the future of allotment policy in Leeds. Since then, they have moved on to issues around setting up and running self-managed sites. More recently our learning days have expanded to include topics of more general interest to allotment gardeners, such as pest and diseases, composting, and growing techniques.
LAF is insured for liability connected with our learning days. You can download and inspect our certificates for public liability and employer’s liability.
All members of LAF welcome to attend.
This year it will take place on Saturday 7th March 2026. Please see poster below for more information. The timetable will be posted when finalised.
Click here to book a ticket:
Here are some of the highlights of our previous Learning days:
2020:
Our first learning day of 2020 was held at Pudsey Civic Hall on 7th March. Over 100 people signed up, and made a lively, attentive audience for both the display stands and the interesting talks. Leeds Allotments Federation Chair, Derek Hanton welcomed us all and introduced the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Eileen Taylor, who opened the day with some remarks about the importance of gardening and food growing.
After the morning’s talks there was a free fish & chip lunch and a chance to socialize. Then there were talks in the afternoon, followed by a Question and Answer session. The day was brought to a close by Cllr Stuart Golton, Vice President of LAF.
A BIG “thank you” is due to everyone who contributed to the organization of the day, to all of the speakers and the organizations mounting displays, and especially to Leeds City Council Parks & Open Spaces for their generous help in paying the the excellent venue and for providing one of the speakers.
There was a wide range of interesting displays from different groups around Leeds, such as Leeds Allotments Federation, National Allotments Society, NAS Yorkshire, Leeds Beekeepers Association, Leeds City Council Pest Control Service, Skelton Grange Environment Centre, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Leeds City Council Parks & Countryside.
The talks slides can be downloaded below:
- Bee Diversity on Allotments, by Emilie Ellis of Sheffield University. Download the Slides from Emilie’s talk.
- Feed Leeds, by Tom Bliss and Sonia Woodcock. Download the slides from Tom’s talk.
- Choosing and Caring for Tools, by Joe Foster of Hollin Lane Allotments. Download the slides from Joe’s talk.
- GDPR and Safeguarding, by Joanne Clough of Leeds City Council. Download slides from Joanne’s talk.
- Composting, by Mick Poultney, Fellow of the National Vegetable Society. You can watch him talking about compost on youtube.
- Pruning Fruit Trees and Bushes, by Joe Lofthouse of RHS Harlow Carr. Download the slides from Joe Lofthouse’s talk.
- Raised Beds & No Dig, by Mick Poultney. You can watch him talking about his raised beds on youtube.
2019:
In conjunction with the allotment section of Leeds City Council the Leeds Allotment Federation organised another hugely successful annual learning day on March 16th – the third the Federation has organised. This one was fully booked within 2 weeks of being published. These events have been so successful the Federation are planning a second one for later this year.
It was opened by National Allotment Society President, Phil Gomersall who was extremely honoured to be asked. He gave a brief talk about his twenty odd years and his roles within the Leeds Allotments Federation.
Before the first speaker started his talk delegates were asked that if they had brought soil samples for testing could they hand them in to enable completion of testing by the end of the day.
Our first speaker was Joe Longthorne from RHS Harlow Carr talking about the RHS Harlow Carr Kitchen Garden and the various fruits and vegetables being grown. This young man has a huge amount of gardening knowledge.
Then the delegates split into three workshop groups for two separate sessions:
- Joe Lofthouse – ‘Pests and Diseases’
- Compost John – ‘Composting Advice’. Unfortunately John didn’t turn up and David Allison, RHS very kindly stepped into the breach.
- Liz Bunting – ‘Trustees v Limited Company Status’
Then we had a lovely buffet lunch. It was free, as was the Learning Day.
After lunch David Allison, as always, gave an extremely interesting and light hearted talk ‘A productive Allotment each month of the year’. This was followed by a Question and Answer session. His dynamic presentations never cease to amaze me and the audience was enthralled.
There were a hundred and twenty delegates in attendance plus helpers and speakers.
There were poster stands from Leeds Allotments Federation, National Allotment Society, Bee Keepers Association, Sheffield University and Leeds City Council’s nursery, The Arium, who very kindly supplied each delegate with a pot of tete-to-tete daffodils in flower. Kings Seeds also kindly donated 4 packs of seeds per delegate.
Delegates went home with the results of their soil samples and much more knowledge. Lots of networking took place with new acquaintances and alliances being formed. What great way to increase allotmenteers of Leeds Knowledge.
A very enlightening day was had by all according to the feedback.
Our second learning day for 2019 took place on Saturday 19 October at Burley St Mattias’ Church Centre, St Matthias’ Street , LS4 2DZ
The talks were about:
1. Looking After Your Back: A talk by Marie and Bernadette from Leeds Sports Injury and Physiotherapy Clinic Ltd with demonstrations of core-muscle strengthening exercises, and warm-ups to do before starting heavy work.
2. After the Harvest: A talk about herbal infusions, balms and vinegars with lots of samples to sniff by Donna Cutting from Fork to Fork.
3. LAF Group Allotment Insurance Scheme: Ken Mulley-Smith told us about about LAF’s group allotment insurance scheme, and why it is very important for allotment associations to be adequately insured. (slides)
4. Bee Keeping: Alison from the Leeds Beekeepers Association told us about the life cycle of honey bees and why they are so important to allotments. She demonstrated some modern beekeeping equipment.
5. Fresh Veg 12 Months of the Year: A talk by Joe Foster from Hollin Lane Allotments about harvesting fresh vegetables all round, including the June “hungry gap”. (slides)
6. Allotments Question Time: Questions from the floor, and answers from our resident “experts”.
2018:
Leeds Allotment Federation in partnership with Leeds City Council Parks & Countryside work together to help all allotment plot holders in Leeds. Anyone with an allotment in Leeds is welcome to come along and join us on our learning days.
This was a free event on March 24th with different workshops and speakers. These included ‘Composting John’, National Vegetable Society, Community Matters, and Pruning Fruit. We were joined by the Lord Mayor of Leeds and Andrew Tokey from Kings Seeds + other guests. A light lunch was provided.
2017:
Leeds & District Allotment Gardeners Federation in conjunction with Leeds City Council Nursery had pulled out all the stops at this event on February 4th . The primary aim was to encourage more self-management but in addition to offer information and help for the managers of existing associations with added interest through talks on growing and composting. There were also stands from other growing and funding organisations and lots of information from our own NAS. The event was open to all allotments in Leeds and Districts
The day started with an introduction by Paul Lattimer, LDAGF chairman.
Then Paul Ackroyd the nursery manager gave an interesting talk explaining that the nursery was moving lock, stock and barrel to a new site to make way for a new road and housing development. He went on to explain that the new greenhouses were that hi-tec they could be operated remotely.
This was followed by the first two workshop sessions which were run by some very prominent people. Delegates were to choose three of the four workshops being offered.
Workshops
- Role and responsibilities of Trustees by our own Liz Bunting, National Allotment Society.
- Getting the best from your allotment by David Alison, National Vegetable Society.
- The need for Insurance by Paul Lattimer, Leeds & District Allotment Gardeners Federation.
- Composting by John Cossham, Master Composter.
A superb lunch was organised by Judy Turley and Gill Walsh, LDAGF, Secretary and Treasurer respectively with drinks served by Lynn Rogers, LCC Allotment Officer.
A further workshop session was held after lunch.
There followed a short talk by Dr Jill Edmondson, Sheffield University explaining the details of an interesting and exciting research project MyHarvest.
There was even more to follow in this action packed day, Graham Porter, Chartered Institute of Horticulture, broadcaster and author who gave an interesting talk ‘The past, present and future of food production’.
The afternoon finally finished with a summary by Cllr Stewart Golton, LDAGF, vice-chairman who thanked every-one for coming and making it such a great success.
Wow! What a day! What an event!
Comments from delegates ‘can’t wait for the next one’.
