Future revealed for Bristol's Springfield Community Allotment after charity’s shock closure

Re:work has been the leaseholder of Springfield Community Allotment since 2022 - but the Knowle West-based charity ceased operations suddenly last Thursday (October 31), with the Charity Commission now reviewing “concerns” about the matter.

The allotment’s steering group says it now intends to transfer the lease of the council-owned site to We Are More, an afterschool club which uses it. 

But BristolWorld understands another organisation has also expressed an interest in taking on the plot.

Springfield Community Allotment’s steering group said: “After the sad news about the closure of our partner organisation Re:work, we are still committed to it being held and managed as a community resource.

“Our intention for the transfer of lease to We Are More acts as a powerful demonstrator of increased community-led action which is in line with the Knowle West Alliance approach to building community power from the grassroots up.” 

Jasmine Tippett, a local resident and chair of We Are More, added: “We Are More are delighted that we will continue our work growing and cooking fresh produce at Springfield Community Allotment and opening our doors widely for our community to provide a resource that many can enjoy.”

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Councillor Stephen Williams, chair of the council’s public health and communities committee, told BristolWorld: “We are working with the steering group involved with running the community plot and those who use it, to see if we can support them to be able to continue their work and activities at Springfield Community Allotment. 

“We hope to keep this running as a community allotment as it currently offers food growing activities and volunteering opportunities which help meet the goals of our emerging Food Growing and Allotment Strategy for community and collective food growing.” 

The allotment is part of the wider Springfield Allotments site off Andover Road in Knowle.

It was previously leased to Knowle West Health Association from 2012 until the end of 2021, after the charity said it could no longer afford to run it.

Six months later it was announced the site would be reopening under Re:work, with support from the Knowle West Alliance network, after a successful bid to the council.