COST Action TU1201 – Urban Allotment Gardens in European Cities – Future, Challenges and Lessons Learned launched its activities at the first Joint Management Committee and Working Group Meeting in Dortmund City, Germany, from 7 to 9 March, 2013 and brought together a wide spectrum of researchers, stakeholders, policy makers and students from 23 European signatory countries and 36 higher education institutions, municipalities and private sector organisations. The aim of the three-day meeting was to bring network partners together and to kick off the work of the four Working Groups of the Action as well as to discuss important issues concerning the management and work plan of the Action such as: 1. Overview of status of the Action, involved parties, balance of Working Group participation 2. Review of Work & Budget Plan, agreement on rules for reimbursement for future meetings 3. Proposal for the appointment of an editorial board for the publication of a book on allotment gardening in Europe and selection of members 4. Agreement on Short Term Scientific Mission procedures and assessment criteria 5. Introducing Action’s website www.urbanallotments.eu.