After a three-year battle, villagers finally have their own allotments.

The uphill struggle to acquire land for Iwade’s keen gardeners began in 2007 with the formation of the Iwade Gardening Group, whose members have been campaigning since.

Now, thanks to a local landowner and Swale council, the group is to rent about half an acre at the end of Elm Tree Avenue. Once divided up, it will provide small plots for about 45 allotment holders - who must all be Iwade residents.

Already 40 villagers have put their names down, with the allotments expected to be ready for use by the end of the year.

With the group’s success has come a change of name - the newly formed Iwade Allotments Association.

Association secretary Janet Gregory said: “Everyone is very enthusiastic and we are all champing at the bit to get started.

“We have been a long time waiting and we all know how lucky we are because there are such long waiting lists for allotments everywhere else.”

But the association’s work is not over as plots need to be marked out, standpipes and a hardstanding area within the site for use as a car park have yet to be installed and the association needs to start fundraising and applying for grants.

One of the association’s main stumbling blocks in finding land was the village’s designation as a high-density housing development area.

The construction of hundreds of new homes - many of them in narrow roads and with small gardens - has led to concerns from some residents over potential parking problems around the allotment site.

Mrs Gregory said while they were “understandable” concerns, she believed it could be a case of jumping to the wrong conclusion.

“We have always planned to have parking on the site so I don’t think there’s any need for anyone to worry,” she said. “It’s disappointing that people feel they have to complain because we will obviously do all we can not to cause any problems or nuisance.”

To apply for a plot or for offers of help, contact association treasurer Joan Exley on 01795 473116 or email m-j.exley1_@tiscali.co.uk