ALMOST 150 allotments are to be made available to garden lovers living in the Severn Vale.

A generous landowner in Oldbury has recently handed over enough land for 136 allotments as well as an onsite car park for up to 40 vehicles.

The Hamallotments, as they are to be known, will be on land off Ham Lane, near to Oldbury Power Station.

The land has been made available by local farmer David Rugman.

Mr Rugman will remain landlord for the land but the day-to-day running of the Hamallotments will be co-ordinated by local gardening enthusiasts Pete Maidstone and David Hutton.

Out of the 136 allotments, 42 have already been taken by people living in Thornbury, Severn Beach and Almondsbury, who are keen to get digging.

Mr Maidstone said: "The owners are hoping many more applications will be made for the remaining pitches. The site is unique to the area in that is will have its own onsite car park situated in idyllic surroundings.

"The plots are available to all parishes surrounding Thornbury and is three and a half miles from the centre of Thornbury."

The Thornbury area has had a well-publicised shortage of allotments for many years. Thornbury Town Council had to close the town’s waiting list for allotments several years ago because people wanting an allotment were waiting more than five years for a plot to become available.

In Alveston last year a group of frustrated gardeners formed the Alveston Allotment Gardens Society despite having no land to plough. After months of searching in September the group was donated one and a half acres of land for allotments.

"This is a good opportunity for all those gardeners who have been patiently waiting for an allotment," said Mr Maidstone.

To apply for an allotment or for more information call 01454 856279 or 07754994378.

The allotment site is to be officially opened on Saturday, February 6 (10am).