Allotments in Corbridge: Bridge End, Waiting Lists and Growing Your Own

Corbridge sits in fertile Tyne Valley farmland, and plenty of villagers grow their own. Many homes have good gardens, but for anyone without one, or wanting more space for vegetables, the village's allotments are the place to start. This guide explains where they are, who runs them, how to get a plot and what else is available while you wait.

Bridge End Allotments

The village's allotment site is at Bridge End, on the south side of the Tyne by Corbridge Bridge and the roundabout. That means a short walk over the bridge from the Market Place. Photographs of the site show rows of plots with sheds and greenhouses.

The site is managed by Corbridge Parish Council. The council's published accounts and minutes show how the arrangement works:

• The council leases the land from Dilston Farms, and pays the rent each year.
• It pays the water charges for the allotment supply.
• It collects the allotment rents from plot holders.
• The plot holders have their own allotment society, and the council passes plot holders' subscriptions on to it.

The site has a mains water supply, installed several years ago with funding from the parish council and the county councillor's members' fund. The parish clerk acts as the council's representative with the allotment holders.

How to get a plot

Contact the parish clerk to ask for a plot or to join the waiting list:

• Email: clerk@corbridge-pc.gov.uk
• Phone: 07950 297634
• Website: corbridge-pc.gov.uk

Be prepared to wait. At its March 2026 meeting the parish council noted that there was "a large waiting list for an allotment at the Bridge End site". The council does not publish its plot rents online, so ask the clerk for the current charges and plot sizes when you apply. It is also worth asking how the list is ordered, whether parish residents are given priority and roughly how long the wait is likely to be.

When a plot does come up, it is worth asking whether a half plot is available. A full plot is a big commitment for a beginner.

Changes with the car park extension

Bridge End is changing. The parish council has paid legal fees for the surrender of part of the allotment land to allow the nearby car park to be extended. At the same meeting where the waiting list was discussed, councillors noted that an overgrown area in the older part of the site could be cleared during the works. It could provide three or four smaller plots, which would help to shorten the list.

If you are on the waiting list, it is worth keeping an eye on the parish council's minutes, which are published on its website, for updates on the works and any new plots.

Allotments in Hexham

Hexham, three miles west, has several allotment sites run by Hexham Town Council, including at Quatre Bras, Wydon Park and Dene Park. These are primarily for Hexham residents, so if you live in Corbridge you should check the town council's eligibility rules before applying. For most villagers, the Bridge End list is the realistic route.

Other ways to garden while you wait

A waiting list does not have to mean waiting to garden.

• Corbridge in Bloom. The village's volunteer planting group keeps the streets and planters colourful from spring to autumn, with grant aid from the parish council. It is a sociable way to get your hands dirty, and the parish clerk can put you in touch.
• Dilston Physic Garden. Just across the river, Dilston Physic Garden is a garden of medicinal plants that welcomes volunteers for weeding, pruning and herb work. It is a good way to learn from experienced growers.
• Riverbank work. The Tyne Rivers Trust, based at Stagshaw, runs volunteer sessions planting trees, laying hedges and clearing invasive plants along the river.
• Apple pressing. The Corbridge Community Partnership runs apple pressing in the autumn at the community hub on Princes Street, a useful outlet if you have a fruit tree with more apples than you can eat.
• Open gardens. Corbridge Open Gardens, held in June 2026 with tickets from the community hub, opened private gardens around the village to raise money for local charities. It is a good place to see what grows well in Corbridge soil and to meet other gardeners.

Our volunteering guide has more on these groups and how to join.

Supplies

For compost, seeds, seed potatoes, canes and tools, the nearest large garden centre is Tyne Valley Garden Centre at Mickley Square, near Stocksfield, about a 15-minute drive east.

Tips for new plot holders

• Visit first. Walk past the site in different seasons to see how plots are kept, and talk to plot holders if they are there.
• Start small. Clear and plant one bed well rather than digging the whole plot in the first month.
• Share the load. Some people take on a plot with a friend or neighbour, which halves the work. Ask the clerk whether a joint tenancy is allowed.
• Mind the river. Bridge End is close to the Tyne, so ask plot holders how the ground copes in a wet winter before planning permanent beds.
• Read the rules. Ask the clerk for the tenancy agreement and site rules on sheds, bonfires, livestock and keeping the plot cultivated.

For a wider look at life in the village, see our moving to Corbridge guide and our guide to walks around Corbridge.