In 2002 a small group of people decided they had had enough of an old allotment site which was covered in rubbish and used only for fly tipping. However, with the aid of funds from Derbyshire County Council the site was completely cleared and reconstructed to provide grassed areas and pathways, Since 2002 MMGA has successfully developed the site to provide:

•    24  “open” allotment plots – i.e. without any structures/sheds 

•      An arboretum comprising of over 50 trees, oaks, alders, ash willows and smaller trees such as bird cherries and rowans etc. 

•       Ponds, a “Monet” bridge and bog garden with a naturalised rockery 

•      An orchard of apples, plums, greengage quince mulberry, and damson trees 

•      A sensory garden, herb and rose gardens, and a “laburnum walk” 

•      Picnic and seating areas and toilet facilities 

•      Site enhancement with additional rowan trees, willows, dogwoods, laurels, birches, cherry trees, hawtorns and a diverse variety of plants, shrubs, and flowers 

•      A site that allows for discrete personal memorials and gifted seats and benches 

•      A site with increasing wildlife encouraged via the provision of bird boxes and wildlife friendly habitats and bee hives 

Over the last 20 years MMGA has provided Open Day events, which have supported visually impaired people, provided a facility for minor offenders to meet community service orders, and by being completely open to public access provided a green space for the general community to visit and enjoy. For over a decade it has provided a facility for a “Root and Branch” group to provide support to individuals suffering from mental illness. The allotments have been developed, fully utilised, and supported by mains water supplies and a regular local supply of horse manure.

The facilities have provided opportunities for all ages to enjoy the site, get exercise, walk dogs, admire the greenery, and use the benches as well as provide allotments for locals to use at very modest fees. The National Citizen Scheme has made use of the facilities to give their students a week long “experience“  and in 2023 an “Open weekend” was available to NGS members and the local community.

For over ten years discussions have been progressed with the Devonshire Property Group (DPG)  , representing the Duke of Devonshire to achieve a synergistic benefit arising out of their planned major housing development in Mastin Moor and Woodthorpe.  An agreement has been reached for DPG to provide an adjacent area of about 3 acres on a long term peppercorn lease to enable a doubling of the size of the MMGA site. This will allow the provision of further community facilities similar to the existing site which will benefit all the local community including the new housing residents.

The existing site is rented from Staveley Council on a long term lease with a nominal rent and has been maintained by unpaid volunteers. Financial viability has been established, aided by occasional fundraising activities.

We hope you enjoy your visit to the MMGA site