New solar panels with battery storage have been installed at the Town Council’s Quakers Hall Lane Allotments site, enhancing sustainability and supporting greener community gardening.
The project was proposed by the Sevenoaks Allotment Holders’ Association (SAHA) and funded by Sevenoaks Town Council as part of its Green Community Investment Plan. The initiative reflects the Town Council’s ongoing commitment to environmentally responsible projects that deliver long-term benefits for the local community.
The Town Council is grateful to the Sevenoaks Allotment Holders’ Association for managing this solar panel project.
Sevenoaks Town Council owns and manages the Quakers Hall Lane site, while SAHA, a volunteer-run organisation, operates the Trading Centre and organises a range of events for plot holders. These include monthly “Mug and Muffin” gatherings, school workshops and informal meetups that bring the allotment community together.
The newly installed solar panels, mounted on the roof of a block of sheds, provide a self-sufficient energy solution. The system supplies clean power for the Trading Centre and events, removing the need for a diesel generator.
Cllr Dr Merilyn Canet, Chair of the Community Assets (Open Spaces) Committee, said, “Members of SAHA and the Town Council are keen to make our lives as sustainable as possible, so we have installed solar panels to create electricity to use on the allotment site – an amazing example of cooperative working.
We have also worked with SAHA to improve the facilities by helping to build a gazebo to shelter people in bad weather or bright sunshine, or just to have a nice chat about growing things.”
For more information about Sevenoaks Town Council’s allotments and how to rent a plot, visit our allotments page.
