Rabbits will now not be shot under the orders of Kendal town council if they stray onto a council-run allotment area. Instead, the decision has been passed up to South Lakeland District Council to decide on any future cull involving shoot to kill.

Chairman of the Kendal Allotment Committee Alvin Finch says it’s a decision that might have to go higher up saying, “Rabbits had been reported on the Town View Allotments in Kendal where 14 plots experience the four-legged trespass. This autumn the numbers have dwindled but rats are on the rise in other allotments, and are engaged in eating the seeds from this year's crop of sunflowers.”

The Kendal Allotments Committees has heard how Council workers have also experienced abuse over the summer period, aimed against staff who regularly monitor the activities at the towns 472 Allotment plots over 17 sites. Mr Finch says it won’t be tolerated, “ There have been a number of evictions resulting in abuse to council staff in the past year by plot holders, which will not be tolerated and will result in people losing their plots.”

Applications to run your own allotment in Kendal have shot up by a quarter since Lockdown.

The allotment committee heard that the current waiting list is up to 215 which is an increase by a quarter since lockdown with an extra of 54 renting out since the pandemic, which on one day alone saw 7 plots filling.

Despite challenges on some allotment sites from old Asbestos, Neglected Polytunnels, Vermin, smoke from bonfires on-site, and vegetable theft, it seems Kendal residents want a retreat in the countryside away from lockdown with a safe distance to socialise with other people outdoors.

However, you will have to check your bank balance as the council have just increased the rental price per month by one penny per square foot, which brings your bill up to 38 pence per square foot per month.

Kendal Council Allotment land is made available for individual, non-commercial gardening for the growing of food plants and flowers in the town. Allotments were one of the few activities allowed to continue during the general lockdown earlier this year.