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Allotment & Community Garden Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Allotment societies, community gardens and shared growing spaces must assess site safety risks — from manual handling and tool use to public access, water hazards and chemical storage. Describe your site and we generate a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering all hazards in minutes.
Used by allotment associations, parish councils, community garden groups and school garden coordinators across the UK
🌱 Open to the public or children? Mention it — we'll include visitor safety controls, secure fencing requirements, pond safety measures and supervision guidance to protect members and the public under UK health and safety law.
Legal requirements for allotments and community gardens
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, allotment associations, community garden groups and site operators have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of members, volunteers, employees and visitors. This includes assessing risks from gardening activities, site layout, tools, machinery and chemical storage.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3) require a suitable and sufficient risk assessment to be carried out and recorded where five or more people are involved — this includes committee members, volunteers and regular plot holders. Even smaller groups benefit from a written assessment to demonstrate due diligence and meet insurance requirements.
If the site is accessible to the public or children, the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 places a duty of care on the site operator to take reasonable steps to ensure visitors are safe. This includes maintaining pathways, securing water features, storing chemicals safely and controlling access to hazardous areas such as greenhouses, compost heaps and machinery sheds.
If pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers are stored or used on site, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require assessment of chemical risks and implementation of safe storage and handling procedures. Local councils and public liability insurers expect written evidence of risk management before approving site licences or insurance cover.
How it works
1. Describe your site
Tell us the site type (allotment association, community garden, school garden, shared orchard), typical activities (digging, planting, composting, strimming), tools and machinery used, and any site features like ponds, greenhouses, or public access. If children regularly visit or you run education sessions, mention it.
2. We generate your assessment
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering manual handling, tool safety, chemical storage, site access, water hazards and all relevant health and safety regulations.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and editable Word document. Present it to your council, insurer or site landlord, share it with members and volunteers, or keep it for committee records. £29, no subscription required.
What it covers
Every allotment and community garden risk assessment is written in full — covering all site hazards and gardening activities relevant to your location.
Manual handling — lifting compost bags, moving tools, wheelbarrow use
Sharp tool safety — spades, forks, secateurs, shears, hoes
Machinery hazards — strimmers, rotavators, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers
Slips, trips and falls — uneven paths, muddy ground, overgrown vegetation
Water features — ponds, water butts, irrigation systems, drowning risk
Chemical safety (COSHH) — fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, weedkillers
Secure storage of tools, fuel and chemicals — theft and public access
Greenhouse safety — glass breakage, heat stress, ventilation
Composting hazards — manual handling, biological exposure, heat from decomposition
Public access and visitor safety — site boundaries, signage, fencing
Lone working — plot holders working alone on site, emergency procedures
Children on site — supervision, secure fencing, restricted access to hazards
Fire risk — bonfires, stored fuel, dry vegetation, site rules
Tetanus and disease risk — soil contact, cuts from tools, animal waste
Works for
From traditional allotment societies to urban community gardens and school growing projects, Anyrisks covers every type of shared growing space.
What customers say
"Our parish council required a full risk assessment before they'd renew the lease. Anyrisks covered everything — paths, ponds, chemical storage, public access. Done in five minutes and the council accepted it immediately."
Margaret T.
Allotment association secretary, Shropshire
"We run gardening sessions for local schools and the insurer asked for a risk assessment. Anyrisks included child supervision, tool safety and secure fencing — exactly what was needed. Saved us hours of work."
James K.
Community garden coordinator, Bristol
"We have over 80 plot holders and a small team of volunteers. The assessment covered machinery, lone working and chemical storage. Professional, comprehensive and ready to hand to the council in minutes."
Susan D.
Allotment chair, South Yorkshire
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers manual handling, tools and machinery | ✓ | ✗ |
| COSHH assessment for chemicals and pesticides | ✓ | ✗ |
| Public access and visitor safety controls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pond safety and water hazard guidance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Regulation-referenced and UK-compliant | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do allotment associations need risk assessments by law?
Yes — under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, allotment associations with employees (paid staff, groundskeepers) or volunteers are required to carry out risk assessments. If members of the public access the site, Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires assessments covering visitor safety.
Can I use this for a community garden or shared growing space?
Yes — describe the type of site (allotment, community garden, school garden, shared orchard) and any specific features (greenhouses, composting areas, ponds, children's access). The assessment will be tailored to cover all hazards relevant to your site.
Does it cover tool use and chemical storage?
Yes — mention the tools used (spades, forks, shears, strimmers, rotavators) and any chemicals stored on site (fertilisers, weedkillers, pesticides). We will include manual handling, sharp tool safety, COSHH requirements and secure storage controls.
What about public liability and children on site?
The risk assessment covers site hazards that could affect visitors, children and members of the public. If children regularly access the site or you run educational sessions, mention this and we will include supervision requirements, secure fencing and pond safety controls.
Is it accepted by councils and insurers?
Yes — local authorities and public liability insurers expect a written risk assessment for allotment sites and community gardens. Anyrisks produces a regulation-referenced assessment in the format accepted by councils, parish councils and insurance providers.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe the site layout, activities, tools and any specific hazards (water features, uneven ground, public access). Anyrisks produces a complete, UK-compliant allotment risk assessment instantly.
Can I update the assessment after it's created?
Yes — the assessment is delivered as an editable Word document. You can update it whenever site conditions change, add new activities or revise controls. Many allotment committees review the assessment annually.
Do I need separate assessments for different plots?
No — a single site-wide risk assessment covering all common areas, shared facilities and typical allotment activities is usually sufficient. Individual plot holders are responsible for their own activities, but the association must assess shared risks (pathways, water points, communal sheds, site access).
Also see: The ultimate guide to risk assessment · Do I need a risk assessment? · Risk assessment legal requirements · Risk assessment generator