Most people joining our Transition group gave ‘growing food’ as the thing they most wanted to take action on. I approached the council to ask for a large piece of land, and they gave us several options on existing allotment sites. We now have a smallholding site on one allotment (Bedminster Down ‘C’), and a standard plot on another allotment (Redcatch) – they are at opposite ends of the area we cover, so anyone joining the group would be close to one of them – and they run as one virtual smallholding. In both cases the land had been grazing pasture for a long time, so we are starting from scratch. Bedminster Down ‘C’ has a large fenced area for chickens (when we are more established) and a wildlife area with a pond.