With interest growing by the day, a set of allotments that have sprung up on three fields between Falmouth and Truro in Cornwall in the past 12 months, now has over 300 people travelling up to 15 miles to seek the good life and grow their own food.

The owners of the newly formed Chyenhall Allotments alongside the main Falmouth to Truro road near Treluswell, are Kay and David Hicks who cannot get over the response when they first came up with the idea.

Now people travel from Falmouth, Ponsanooth, Carnon Downs and even Helston making regular visits to their plots which are already producing the goods.

Tenants include retired couples, young families, professionals and even a resident celebrity in the form of Bob Black, drummer for the 1980s rock band the Flying Lizards.

Those who keep in touch via email and the allotments’ online Facebook group include TV gardening presenter Alan Titchmarsh and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, chef, smallholder and “real food” campaigner.

The 90ft by 30ft allotments are used in a variety of ways, with some people growing their own fruit and vegetables, others producing award-winning flowers and some simply using the area as the garden they don’t have at home.

All 100 plots have been snapped up and there is a waiting list of over 40 people all clamouring to get their hands on any that become free.

It is something of a phenomenon that has taken Mr and Mrs Hicks by surprise. Mrs Hicks said: “It’s just amazing how it has taken off. It seems to be the ‘in thing’ at the moment. We never expected it to go off like this – but we love it to bits.

“The feedback we have got from everybody is amazing. I haven’t heard a bad word against it.”

The first field of allotments celebrate their first anniversary this month. The plots were filled so quickly that a second field and then a third were added.

Although all the available land for allotments has been filled, the additions do not stop there.

Mr and Mrs Hicks have further, including provision of mobile toilets and creating a communal shed, where tenants can meet, swap tips and even trade seeds and leftover produce.

The couple hope to obtain lottery funding, although it is still early stages.

The allotments have created considerable interest and even horticultural giant the Eden Project has shown an interest and a representative is making regular visits documenting their progress.

Other towns and villages in the area have started to follow suit and Mr and Mrs Hicks are in regular contact with a farmer in Porthleven who is creating allotments on his land at Stopgate. Another scheme is in the development stage at Carnon Downs.

What do you think? Are you one of the allotmenteers? Let us know your views, send us pictures of your own plot or comment below.

Pete Greenway There is nothing that Pete Greenway likes more than to be hidden away amongst his flowers and in particular his beloved dahlias.

Mr Greenway was one of the first people to take on a plot at Chyenhall, having previously rented one in Falmouth for eight years.

He said: “It’s nice here. David and Kay have just made it nice for people to get involved.”

The allotments have already born their first prize winning produce, with Mr Greenway’s dahlias grown in the plot winning prizes at the National show at Shepton Mallett. He has also exhibited them in Bristol and Yeovil, as well as closer to home in the horticultural shows held around the area.

The allotment is not just for looks, however – he also grows a large number of vegetables that he and his wife enjoy throughout the year.

Bob Black He may have been the drummer with the 1980s rock band the Flying Lizards, but nowadays Bob Black prefers getting close to nature on his doorstep.

Mr Black, now an education office with community band Falmouth Soul Sensation, rents one of the allotment plots and particularly enjoys the chance to mix with a huge variety of people.

He said: “It’s the diversity. Some people are using their plots for pleasure, others have a garden for their kids to play in and others still grow vegetables.”

Roger Williams With so many tenants there are a huge variety of different tips and secrets over how to get the best from their Roger Williams, who rents the allotment with Maggie Sandle has covered each of the beds created in his plot with seaweed collected from local beaches.

Mr Williams said: “The chemicals act as a catalyst. I remember watching a programme on television about people in the Hebrides and on the western coast of Ireland, going out and loading beds with seaweed off the beach. I thought, ‘We’ll do that.’ Over the winter the seaweed will break down into the soil, eventually leaving a fine tilth.

George the donkey One of the most popular residents at Chyenhall is actually donkey George, who by far and away receives the most attention.

George can always be seen outside his wooden shed in field three and has become a firm favourite with tenants both young and old.

One of the first to sample any leftover and unwanted produce from the plots, George always enjoys the regular petting, stroking and heart-to-heart chats that he regularly receives.

However, George is not the only four-legged friend at the site. Four pigs currently have their home in field one, while an ever-increasing flock of ducks and geese live in the lake next to Mr and Mrs Hicks’ house across the road.