Jenny Mollison: Solar panels really come into their own on an allotment

For example, there are no end of rules and regulations about car parking, sizes of sheds, and water supplies to grapple with.

Getting in touch with organisations such as the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society and the Allotments Regeneration Initiative can be pretty helpful. If they don’t have the answer to a question, they probably know someone who does.

I love visiting different allotment sites. Although I’m usually there to offer some advice, I find I often learn a lot myself.

On a chilly day recently I visited Hawthorn Allotments in Inverness. It’s only been going for a couple of years, but is beginning to look quite established. There are houses on one side of the site and a steep grassy embankment on the other that leads up to the Caledonian Canal. It seemed odd to see the masts of boats in amongst the tree tops when I looked that way. Richard, their chairman, said they are lucky to have a flat site, but they do have a problem with wind whistling along from Loch Ness. The winter gales had played havoc with greenhouses. They are investing their ingenuity and resources in providing some shelter.

Few sites can afford the luxury of electricity, but solar panels really come into their own on an allotment. Edinburgh’s Inverleith Allotments have installed solar panels on their communal hut and I heard of another site which was going to have solar panels and a wind turbine to ensure continuity of supply.

One great way to find out how other groups are tackling their problems is to meet up with them. So Scottish Natural Heritage have organised a free event called “Community Growing, Making Local Food Work” this coming Thursday, 17 May, from 9:30am-4pm at their Battleby Conference Centre, Redgorton, near Perth. There will be lectures and workshops. I’m particularly looking forward to browsing the stalls in the “marketplace” area and picking the brains of all the exhibitors. It is a rare opportunity to find so much information in one place. So I would urge representatives from new groups and old to book in and share their stories and top tips.

• For more information tel: [phone] or visit www.snh.gov.uk