cultivating the space where wellbeing is restored through connection with nature and community
Welcome to Plot 22!
What we do
We are a community allotment space, based at the Weald allotment site in central Hove. We’ve been here for 15 years and at the last count had more than 400 members!
Whilst everyone is welcome at Plot 22, we are particularly interested in connecting with people whose life circumstance gives them greater potential to benefit from all the good things access to an allotment can provide. Our vision is ‘Healthy communities; where everyone can access the benefits of allotments and shared care of the land’.
Most of our community joined Plot 22 to meet new people, spend time outdoors, improve physical / mental wellbeing, learn new skills, connect with nature and / or contribute towards the community. Some even ended up as members of our team. If any of those things sound good to you and you’d like to pay us a visit, there are a number of ways to get involved:
Hosted Sessions, Workshops & Events
People usually connect with Plot 22 through our regular, hosted sessions.
Some of sessions are designed to give people experiencing a shared life circumstance an opportunity to spend time together. Others are structured around a common activity (such as caring for our garden), and provide opportunities for a mix of people from different backgrounds to come together, make new friends and form deeper, wider social connections.
Our hosts also run a variety of workshops and events throughout the year, ranging from nature discovery groups for our youngest members to regular meditation and poetry meets. Find out more at our Projects page.
Collaboration & Skill Sharing
We are always on the lookout for opportunities to work with likeminded partner groups and organisations who can help us maximise the community benefit of Plot 22. And thanks to the Lottery, we also currently have some funding to help cover costs of hosting collaborative sessions and events at the Plot! You can view some of our current and previous collaborations here.
We also think every community should have their own version of Plot 22, and are happy to share our experiences with other organisations looking to set up similar projects further afield.
If you run a charity, community group or similar organisation and would like to work with us we’d love to hear from you.
Sharing Our Space
Whether you are on the lookout for a place to run a workshop, team building event or meeting, our magical (and conveniently located!) outdoor space is available for hire.
We currently offer three types of hire - as well as our standard rate, we offer hosted events including food and a choice of plot themed activities for people looking for a more luxurious experience, and - thanks to the support of the Lottery - a limited number of free hires for individuals or groups who are doing something that benefits the community, but who don’t have the means to pay.
If you would like to find out more, please get in touch.
What makes us Plot 22
We are lucky to have lots of great community projects here in Brighton & Hove. We think a combination of factors makes Plot 22 a little different.
We are an allotment. Allotments are especially beneficial places as they offer opportunities for social / community connection alongside the wider wellbeing benefits associated with being in a natural space and gardening.
But we are not just an allotment! Our space is beautiful / magical – it has a special essence / aesthetic, created by our participants, volunteers and hosts over the past 15 years – which strengthens the connection between individual and place.
We are centrally located in Hove. This makes us easily accessible, and enables Plot 22 to be at the literal, as well as metaphorical heart of our community.
We host - whatever anyone’s level of experience, interest or circumstance, our experienced team ensure everyone has the opportunity to garden together, whilst providing themed sessions for groups who may have specific needs or interests.
We provide the opportunity to be part of something consistent. Our hosted sessions run consistently throughout the year, enabling our community to build deep social connections, and gain benefits from the enhanced physical / mental wellbeing, in their own time.
We are a real community – most of our team members joined Plot 22 as participants, then volunteered before hosting sessions. This gives us a high level of stability, commitment and authenticity.
We grow, prepare, and share food together - which offers numerous social, emotional, and even physical benefits, ranging from strengthening relationships and improving communication to promoting mindful eating and boosting overall well-being.
Our Permaculture Principles
Plot 22 is designed around the Permaculture principles of People Care, Earth Care and Fair Share:
People Care
PLOT 22 is an allotment garden where you can share in the planting, growing and eating of healthy seasonal food. When you come along you'll find a diverse group of people, contributing their unique skills and abilities to make the PLOT an enjoyable and rejuvenating place to be. It's where connection to each other and the land deepens over time and many have told us just being here helps them feel relaxed and refreshed.
Earth Care
There are many simple ways we can conserve our natural resources and live in harmony with the seasons. We encourage and demonstrate how to grow food and make compost organically. The design and the way we work is inspired by the principles of Permaculture. We work together in the spirit of kindness towards each other and extend this to the land and the non-human inhabitants.
Fare Share
PLOT 22 is a volunteer led charity. Produce is shared by cooking a communally prepared meal when we garden together or by offering surplus fruit and vegetables free to participants and volunteers. We strive at all times to operate in the spirit of transparency, collaboration and fairness. To ensure we are inclusive and safe, please be aware that we are a no alcohol, no smoking, meat and fish free project.
2024 in numbers
Could it be possible that a landscape might have a deep friendship with you? That it could sense your presence and feel the care you extend towards it?
–John O’Donohue, Author, Poet, Philosopher
Award winning charity, now celebrating 14 years 2010 - 2024
Argus Charity of the Year 2023/24
Gold - Best Community Garden Charity - Brighton & Hove City in Bloom 2019
Finalist - Best Nature Project - The Social Prescribing Awards 2019
PLOT 22 is a founding member of the Green Wellbeing Alliance.
We are very grateful to all the people and organisations whose financial support has enabled us to get us this far:
Enjoolata, Hubbub, National Lottery, Social Innovation Partnership, D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Sussex Community Foundation, Paley Trust, The Argus, Sussex Funeral Services, Hove Rotary Club, Santander, Comic Relief, The Allen Lane Foundation, Brighton & Hove Food Partnership, Tesco Bags for Life, The Cooperative Community Members, Brighton & Hove City Council, The Pebble Trust, Carriers for Causes, Share Your Story, The Homity Trust, The Chalk Cliff Trust, The Nineveh Trust, The Fonthill Foundation, The Community Trust of the Blessed Virgin, Greggs Foundation, Waitrose.