🌱 Community Campaign · Teddington, London

Save Teddington's
Last Allotments

Richmond Council has approved plans to bulldoze the Shacklegate Lane allotments — Teddington's only remaining plots, cherished for over 100 years — to expand the cemetery next door. We said no. They didn't listen.

100+

Years of history

1,758

Petition signatures

57+

Formal objections submitted

Take Action Now Join the Facebook Group Follow us on Instagram

What's happening

A century of community, gone in a council vote

The Shacklegate Lane allotments have been part of Teddington life for over 100 years. They're the last allotments in the area — and Richmond Council plans to take them away.

The council claims that the cemetery was approaching capacity, and they decided the easiest solution for them was to take the allotment land next door. Planning application PA25/3013 was submitted by the council itself — unusual because it was the council applying for permission to use its own land. Despite 57+ formal planning objections from residents, the Planning Committee voted it through in December 2025.

What makes this particularly galling is that every allotment site in the Richmond borough already has a waiting list of several years. These plots are in demand — families, elderly residents, and community growers all depend on them. Closing Teddington's last allotments doesn't just affect the current plot holders: it extinguishes the possibility for future residents entirely.

The council has said it will offer "alternative plots on other sites and assistance to move" to displaced plot holders. But alternative allotment sites in Teddington simply do not exist — and commuting to another part of the borough for a patch of growing space defeats the point. This is a short-term fix that permanently destroys a long-term community resource.

Sunlit path through the Shacklegate Lane allotments, raised beds and greenery on either side

Shacklegate Lane, Teddington

The only remaining allotment site in Teddington — adjacent to Teddington Cemetery.

Approved December 2025

The Planning Committee passed application PA25/3013 despite significant community opposition.

Years-long waiting lists

Every allotment in Richmond borough already has a waiting list of several years. Demand is high.

1,758 signatures ignored

A formal petition signed by 1,758 residents was submitted and disregarded by the council.

As featured in

In the national press

The campaign has reached national audiences — covered by some of the UK's biggest outlets.

BBC News Dismay as Teddington allotments set to become graveyard Charlotte Lillywhite · 30 March 2026 Read article → The Standard South London allotments to be turned into graveyard despite pleas from hundreds of residents March 2026 Read article → The Sunday Times After 50 years on my allotment, the council is bulldozing it for graves Samuel Lovett Read article →

"This isn't just a piece of land. It's a living, breathing part of our community. Since the council first made the decision in the 1990s, the world has changed. People care more than ever about sustainability, about access to green spaces, about mental and physical wellbeing and about locally-grown food."

Jane Cowling Resident and petition presenter to the Council's Environment Committee — quoted in The Standard and BBC News, March 2026

In pictures

What we stand to lose

From a refuge for pollinators and wildlife to abundant harvests - these allotments are a living, working green space providing healthy, local food in the heart of Teddington.

Wide view of Shacklegate Lane allotments under a blue sky, showing sheds, trees and growing plots

Active growing plots with vegetables, plants and trees in the background

A huge harvest of tomatoes in many varieties laid out on trays — the produce of the allotments

Rows of purple and green lettuce growing in a well-tended allotment bed

Bowls of freshly harvested green, red and orange peppers grown at the allotments

Campaign supporter standing beside the #SaveTeddingtonAllotments banner outside the allotment railings

Photos taken at Shacklegate Lane allotments by plot holders and supporters.

How we got here

Timeline of events

From a cherished community space to a planning battle — here's the story so far.

In the early 1990s, the council took a large swathe of the original allotment site. In the intervening years the world has changed. People care more than ever about sustainability, about access to green space, about mental and physical wellbeing, and about locally grown food. These are now part of everyday life. However the council's course of action has remained unchanged. So, have they signposted their intentions? Absolutely. But should they have deviated from their prescribed course of action? Yes, because it's no longer the best practice and no longer in line with their own policy priorities. They should have pivoted, and recognised the increased importance of allotments in a climate emergency, and recognised the new best practice of sustainable cemetery management that avoids cemetery expansion. They should have tried to find a solution that saves the allotments.

100+ years ago

Allotments established at Shacklegate Lane

The Shacklegate Lane allotments are created, providing growing space for Teddington residents across generations.

2007

London Local Authorities Act enables grave reuse

The London Local Authorities Act grants permission to reuse old graves, providing London boroughs with a legal mechanism to extend cemetery capacity without requiring new land. This gave Richmond Council a sustainable alternative to cemetery expansion — one that has never been meaningfully pursued.

2017

Scrutiny report recommends grave reuse for Richmond cemeteries

A formal scrutiny report on cemetery management recommends that Richmond Council adopt grave reuse as a sustainable approach to long-term burial capacity. The recommendation directly signals that cemetery expansion need not be the default solution — yet the Council's course remains unchanged.

June 2018

Cabinet adopts scrutiny panel recommendations

The Cabinet formally adopted the recommendations of the scrutiny panel and, in response to representation from allotment representative Candace Taylor, agreed that the allotment site would be taken back in two sections as and when needed.

2019

Council declares a Climate Emergency

Richmond Council formally declares a Climate Emergency, committing to consider climate impact as a lens across every decision it makes. Under this commitment, the environmental benefits of allotments — local food growing, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration — should have been central to any cemetery capacity review. They were not.

Summer 2025

Council announces cemetery expansion plans

Richmond Council reveals that Teddington Cemetery is approaching capacity and proposes taking over the adjacent Shacklegate Lane allotments as a solution.

2025

Residents mobilise — planning objections submitted

57+ formal objections are submitted during the planning consultation process. Residents slam the plans, citing the loss of green space and the years-long waiting list for allotments across the borough.

2025

Teddington Society and Green Party oppose closure

The Teddington Society and the Richmond & Twickenham Green Party publicly oppose the council's plans, calling the decision to close the borough's last Teddington allotments short-sighted.

December 2025 ⚠️

Council approves its own planning application

Richmond Council's Planning Committee passes application PA25/3013 — a decision by the council on its own land. The allotments are formally approved for conversion to cemetery use, despite community opposition.

Early 2026

Petition launched — 1,758 signatures

A formal petition is submitted to Richmond Council asking it to reconsider the Shacklegate Lane allotment closure. 1,758 residents sign — the council declines to reverse its decision.

2026 — Present

Social Media campaign launches, pressure continues

Community Facebook, Instagram and X pages are established to coordinate the campaign, share updates, and keep public pressure on the council. The story reaches national audiences — covered by BBC News, The Standard, The Sunday Times, Teddington Nub News, Radio Jackie, and Yahoo News.

2026

Law Commission report recommends national approach to cemetery management

The Law Commission publishes a report recommending a national approach to cemetery management, further reinforcing the case for sustainable alternatives to cemetery expansion. Richmond's decision to proceed regardless underlines how out of step with emerging best practice this approach has been all along.

April 2026 — Now

Campaign website launches

This website goes live to bring the campaign to a wider audience. The fight to save — or properly replace — Teddington's last allotments continues. Your voice still matters.

Make your voice heard

What you can do right now

The council has made its decision — but public pressure, media attention, and political scrutiny can still change outcomes. Every action below takes less than 5 minutes.

Join the Community Group

Connect with other residents fighting to save the allotments. Get updates, share ideas, and stay informed on the latest developments.

Join on Facebook →

Ask Munira Wilson and copy your councillors

A personal email from a constituent carries real weight. Use our template below — or write your own. Ask Munira Wilson to push for a proper alternative allotment solution, and copy your ward councillors.

See Email Template ↓

Share the Campaign

Copy this website link and share it everywhere — Facebook, WhatsApp, X/Twitter, Nextdoor, local groups. The more people who know, the louder the pressure gets.

View the Council Petition

The formal petition is recorded on the Richmond Council website. Share it to show the breadth of community opposition — and check for any updates on council responses.

View Petition →

Contact the Campaign

Have information, photos, or press enquiries? Get in touch with the Save Teddington Allotments team directly.

Email the Campaign →

Ask Munira Wilson and copy your councillors

Write to Munira Wilson, MP for Twickenham, and copy your ward councillors. Find councillor contact details on the Richmond Council website. Choose an angle below, then copy and personalise the template. A message in your own words is always more effective.

📋 Alternative Provision A straightforward, practical ask: the council must identify a real replacement site before any work begins. Good for residents who want to stay factual and solution-focused.

Subject: Shacklegate Lane Allotments - Request for Alternative Provision Dear Munira Wilson / Councillor [Name], I am writing about the closure of the Shacklegate Lane allotments — the only remaining allotment site in Teddington — following the approval of planning application PA25/3013 in December 2025. 1,758 residents signed a petition opposing this decision and were ignored. The allotments have served the community for over 100 years. With borough-wide waiting lists already stretching several years, their permanent loss represents a real reduction in green space and growing provision for local residents. I urge you to push for a proper review of whether alternative provision can be found, and whether the cemetery expansion can be redesigned to preserve some or all of the existing plots. Thank you for your time. I look forward to your reply. Yours sincerely, [Your name] [Your address]

🌍 Climate Emergency Challenges the council to honour its own 2019 Climate Emergency declaration. Allotments are green infrastructure - closing them directly contradicts Richmond's stated commitments.

Subject: Shacklegate Lane Allotments - Richmond's Climate Emergency Commitments Dear Munira Wilson / Councillor [Name], I am writing about the decision to close the Shacklegate Lane allotments, and how it sits alongside Richmond Council's own Climate Emergency declaration of 2019. 1,758 residents signed a petition opposing this decision and were ignored. In declaring a Climate Emergency, the council committed to treating climate impact as a lens across every decision. Allotments reduce food miles, support biodiversity, sequester carbon, and provide communities with real connection to nature. Closing Teddington's last allotment site to expand a cemetery — when sustainable alternatives such as grave reuse exist — appears directly at odds with those commitments. I would ask you to push for a proper review of this decision in light of the council's own climate commitments. Yours sincerely, [Your name] [Your address]

⚰️ Grave Reuse - Why Were Alternatives Ignored? Focuses on the council's failure to pursue grave reuse - a legal option since 2007, recommended by their own scrutiny report in 2017. Factual and hard to dismiss.

Subject: Shacklegate Lane Allotments - Why Has Grave Reuse Not Been Pursued? Dear Munira Wilson / Councillor [Name], I am writing about the closure of the Shacklegate Lane allotments, and the council's apparent failure to pursue a sustainable alternative that has been available for nearly two decades. 1,758 residents signed a petition opposing this decision and were ignored. The London Local Authorities Act 2007 granted London boroughs the legal power to reuse old graves — a direct mechanism to extend cemetery capacity without requiring additional land. Richmond Council's own scrutiny report in 2017 recommended exactly this approach. Despite these clear signposts, grave reuse has never been meaningfully implemented at Teddington Cemetery. I am asking you to require the council to explain why grave reuse was not pursued before this decision was made. Residents deserve an honest answer. Yours sincerely, [Your name] [Your address]

💚 Health & Wellbeing Makes the case through the lens of public health - NHS green social prescribing, mental health, elderly isolation, and the measurable benefits of access to growing space.

Subject: Shacklegate Lane Allotments - The Public Health Cost of This Decision Dear Munira Wilson / Councillor [Name], I am writing about the closure of the Shacklegate Lane allotments, and the direct impact on public health and community wellbeing in Teddington. 1,758 residents signed a petition opposing this decision and were ignored. The health benefits of allotments are well established. Access to green growing space is linked to reduced anxiety and depression, improved physical health, and reduced social isolation — particularly among elderly residents. The NHS's green social prescribing programme explicitly recognises gardening and growing as effective, low-cost health interventions. For many plot holders, especially older residents who have held these plots for decades, this space is far more than a hobby. I urge you to push for a proper health impact assessment of the closure, and to ensure that any alternative provision is genuinely local and accessible. Yours sincerely, [Your name] [Your address]

🗳️ Democratic Accountability Focuses on process: 1,758 signatures ignored, the council approving its own planning application, and the lack of genuine community consultation. Good for residents who feel the process itself was wrong.

Subject: Shacklegate Lane Allotments - A Question of Democratic Accountability Dear Munira Wilson / Councillor [Name], I am writing about the closure of the Shacklegate Lane allotments, and what I consider a failure of democratic process in how this decision was reached. 1,758 residents signed a petition asking the council to reconsider. It declined. Richmond Council was both the applicant and the decision-maker for planning application PA25/3013 — development of its own land assessed under its own planning process. 57+ formal planning objections were submitted by residents and disregarded. At every stage, community opposition has been noted and ignored. I am asking you, as our elected representative, to push for a formal review of this decision — and to seek an explanation of why 1,758 signatures and 57+ objections were insufficient to prompt one. Yours sincerely, [Your name] [Your address]

Press coverage

What the media is reporting

The story has been covered by local and regional outlets. Share these articles to spread awareness.

Teddington Nub News Residents slam plans to remove Teddington's only allotments for cemetery expansion Read article → Teddington Nub News Teddington's only allotments will be repurposed for cemetery expansion despite local objections Read article → Teddington Nub News Local Green Party opposes council's decision to remove Teddington's last allotments Read article → Radio Jackie Teddington Cemetery is going to be expanded on to nearby allotments Read article → The Teddington Society Council plans to close allotments in Teddington Read article → Yahoo News Teddington's 'last allotments' to become graveyard Read article →

Save Teddington's Last Allotments

A century of community, gone in a council vote

Shacklegate Lane, Teddington

Approved December 2025

Years-long waiting lists

1,758 signatures ignored

In the national press

What we stand to lose

Timeline of events

Allotments established at Shacklegate Lane

London Local Authorities Act enables grave reuse

Scrutiny report recommends grave reuse for Richmond cemeteries

Cabinet adopts scrutiny panel recommendations

Council declares a Climate Emergency

Council announces cemetery expansion plans

Residents mobilise — planning objections submitted

Teddington Society and Green Party oppose closure

Council approves its own planning application

Petition launched — 1,758 signatures

Social Media campaign launches, pressure continues

Law Commission report recommends national approach to cemetery management

Campaign website launches

What you can do right now

Join the Community Group

Ask Munira Wilson and copy your councillors

Share the Campaign

View the Council Petition

Contact the Campaign

Ask Munira Wilson and copy your councillors

What the media is reporting

Save Teddington's
Last Allotments