Edinburgh Midmar Allotments Association

For general information provided by Edinburgh Council about allotments in Edinburgh. It includes some useful hints to help you get started.

The Federation of Edinburgh and District Allotments and Gardens Associations.

SAGS works for allotment sites and plot holders throughout Scotland to protect sites by networking among allotment associations, campaigning locally and nationally and raising awareness of the planning process and new legislation. It seeks to preserve skills in gardening and design through recording the on-going story of allotments and co-ordinates the conservation of seeds and plants. It also promotes the value of allotments for healthy activity and good food, celebrating our open air communities and saving the eco-system and enhancing bio-diversity.

The National Society of Allotments and Gardens represents allotments for the whole of the UK. It links to lots of individual sites, so you can find out what plotholders across Britain are up to (building sheds and drinking tea, mainly).

The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society is a Scotland-wide horticultural and gardening society. Members include both amateur and professional, generalists, specialists and those who simply like gardens and gardening. The RCHS aims to encourage and improve the science, art and practice of all types of horticulture and to advance education in gardening and horticulture for everyone.

Allotments UK and other related allotment links.

Garden Organic for those interested in organic gardening. The Website is excellent, a source of information and inspiration. Previously known as the Henry Doubleday Research Association.

The Soil Association has loads of news and information about issues concerning organic gardeners and farmers.

The National Vegetable Society is a useful organisation to know about. They produce a quarterly bulletin, which FEDAGA receives and passes on to site reps from time to time.

A huge database of horticultural information here: fruit and vegetables as well as flowers.

The ideal site for browsing around on a rainy day - there's lots of information, it's well presented and easy to follow.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is always worth a visit, and the website is a rich resource with news of exhibitions, events and courses.

Bridgend Growing Communities, based at Bridgend Allotments, this organisation's goal is to use community food growing as a catalyst for changing lives. The belief is that community growing can be used to build communities and to increase opportunities for the people who live in the area.

Greener Leith is an active "grassroots" organisation lobbying for environmental improvements in Leith. Well worth a visit.

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is dedicated to the conservation of bumblebees in the UK.

Probably all you could want to know about insects, including bees, that you might find on your plot.

BBC wildlife site dedicated to bumblebees, including videos of how to catch a bumblebee and which species you can safely stroke.