This is Haslemere recently had the pleasure of meeting Mike Young, one of the recipients of a 2026 Haslemere Volunteer Award. Rather than sitting down for a formal interview, Mike kindly showed us around the allotments where he has quietly given hundreds of hours of his time to help others.

It soon became clear why Mike’s contribution has been recognised. Mike has been an allotment holder since the winter of 2012 and joined the allotment committee soon afterwards. Over the years, he has transformed his own two plots, but it is everything he does beyond their boundaries that makes him such a deserving recipient of the award.

Mike cuts the paths, trims the hedges around the car park and picnic area, checks and maintains the perimeter deer fence and keeps an eye on the communal areas. He is also involved in a WhatsApp group for allotment holders and organises help whenever someone is struggling to manage their plot. He told us that his first ever job was mowing the lawns for a local council. Whilst he readily admits that it was perhaps not a job that offered much opportunity to progress, he remembers extremely clearly how much pride he took in the role.

His biggest project when joining the allotments was creating the communal composting area. When Mike started work, the site was full of rubbish including metal, plastic and old matting used by holders to supress weeds. Clearing it took around three months and produced enough waste to fill a skip. Mike then built the compost area from scratch, creating something that everyone at the allotments can now use.

He also helped to create a communal picnic area. This is a charming lawned space, lined with benches and with a communal garden room where additional seating is stored. The latter was provided by Haslemere Town Council. 

None of these extra tasks are part of maintaining his own plots. Mike simply saw work that needed doing and got on with it. ’I can’t walk past something,’ he admitted to us. ‘If I see something that needs doing, I have to do it.’

Helping the whole allotment community

There are three council-owned allotment sites in Haslemere, providing approximately 93 plots in total. The site Mike showed us around contains around 45 of them.

Demand for an allotment has remained high over the past few years, with the waiting list at one point exceeding 100 people. However, allotment gardening can require more work than newcomers initially expect and, as a result, there is often a relatively high turnover. Mike made it clear that people should be under no illusion that running an allotment takes hours of time each week – it can often be viewed rather romantically by first timers, but it is physically demanding and time consuming… not that this effort doesn’t come with its rewards.

Whilst Mike appreciates just how demanding maintaining a plot can be, he also knows that people sometimes just need a helping hand to be able to continue. Through the allotment WhatsApp group, he can quickly bring people together when a plot holder is temporarily unable to keep on top of their work. Whether someone is unwell, going through a difficult period or simply overwhelmed by the amount that needs doing, Mike helps organise practical support.

It is an amazing example of volunteering at its most natural. There are no formal rotas or complicated structures - just neighbours noticing when someone needs help and offering their time. Mike would love to see this community spirit continue to grow.

Fifty years of growing experience

Now aged 76, Mike has around 50 years of gardening and growing experience. He retired in 2011 and, as at the time there was no waiting list, he was quickly given an allotment to work on. He was later able to take on a second adjoining plot. What began as a bare plot with a shed has been transformed into an extraordinary garden, full of flowers, fruit, vegetables and wildlife.

Many of the materials Mike has used were found free of charge or bought inexpensively online. Paving slabs and bricks have been reused, while a summer house was purchased on eBay for just £75. The result shows that creating a beautiful and productive space does not have to cost a fortune.

Mike grows many plants from seed and uses companion planting to protect his crops naturally. Flowers planted around the tomatoes, for example, help to deter whitefly and blackfly. His roses are a particular passion and were producing an impressive second display of flowers when we visited, despite the recent heat.

Last year, Mike’s hard work was recognised when he won the award for the best plot. He was presented with a cup and a £50 voucher by the Mayor.

It was the first year of the competition and Mike is expecting plenty of competition this year. However, typically, he is already thinking about how the awards could encourage other people. He would like to see a ‘Most Improved Plot’ category introduced so that newer growers and those working to bring neglected plots back into cultivation can also have their efforts recognised.

A haven for wildlife

Mike’s plots are not only productive - they are also a haven for wildlife. A pond attracts frogs, toads and newts, whilst Mike has recorded seven different species of dragonfly. His bird hide gives him somewhere to sit quietly and observe the many birds visiting the allotments.

So far, he has recorded an incredible 37 bird species, including a rare wryneck. Wrynecks no longer breed regularly in the UK, making its appearance on a Haslemere allotment particularly special.

Photography has been another important part of Mike’s life. He previously worked as a professional photographer, taking sporting and fashion photographs for newspapers and magazines. He now photographs the birds visiting his plot and occasionally sells prints through word of mouth. We had the privilege of seeing some of them and they are spectacular - he is extremely talented. We're hoping he may put on an exhibition at the Haslemere Hall to share them with the wider community.

The plot is also home to five hens, which usually produce four or five eggs a day - three were feeling broody when we visited.

And finally, there is even a summer house, principally enjoyed by Mike’s wife, complete with a small stove that means the space can be used during colder weather. It's an idyllic place to sit and just be at one with that nature surrounding it.

'I need a place to go'

The allotment has become particularly important to Mike because his wife is living with Alzheimer’s. His daughters provide care at certain times during the week and his wife attends a Friday craft group, but Mike remains responsible for much of her day-to-day care. On some summer mornings, he has been known to arrive at the allotment as early as 4am so that he can spend time there before she wakes. However, this takes its toll on him so it's not something he can do often.

For Mike, the allotment provides somewhere close to home where he can continue doing something he loves. 'I need a place to go,' he told us. The bird hide gives him a peaceful space without the cost or practicalities of travelling further afield. The physical work, contact with nature and friendships formed with other allotment holders all support his wellbeing.

Mike is open about the importance of having this outlet. While his Volunteer Award celebrates everything he gives to the allotment community, volunteering and growing also give something valuable back to him.

'There’s no better place than being outside in your garden or allotment,' he said.

Start with something you enjoy

Mike’s advice to anyone thinking about growing their own produce is to start from seed, reuse materials wherever possible and not be afraid to learn as they go. However, growing your own food is not a cheap hobby. Whilst growing from seed is cheaper than buying plants, people are often surprised by the costs involved in growing your own.

That said, home-grown fruit and vegetables come with virtually no road miles and, according to Mike, taste infinitely better than anything bought from a supermarket. 

His wider message about volunteering is equally straightforward. You do not necessarily need to join several committees, make a huge commitment or have specialist qualifications. Volunteering can begin simply by noticing something that needs doing and offering to help.

Mike’s work may involve cutting paths, repairing fences, organising compost or supporting a fellow plot holder, but every local organisation needs different skills. Some need gardeners and practical helpers. Others need drivers, administrators, fundraisers, cooks, trustees, befrienders, photographers or people willing to spare an occasional hour at an event.

The best place to start is often with something you already enjoy.

Mike has spent decades growing plants, photographing wildlife and working outdoors. By sharing those interests and skills, he has created a better environment for dozens of fellow allotment holders.

His award is thoroughly deserved. More importantly, his story is a wonderful reminder of the difference one person can make by quietly and consistently helping others.

Thank you, Mike, for showing us around your remarkable plots - and for everything you do for Haslemere’s allotment community.

To discover volunteering opportunities in and around Haslemere, visit the Volunteering Directory on This is Haslemere or get in touch with the team, who can help connect you with a local organisation.