Feature Photo by Joe Hayes
This week, I want to introduce a topic that might inspire you to embrace a new hobby and start growing your own vegetables and fruit. While it’s convenient to buy packaged tomatoes and peppers from the store, nothing compares to the satisfaction of watching them grow in your own garden and eventually serving them at your family dinner.
With National Allotment Week approaching in the UK, there’s no better time to highlight the numerous benefits of allotments. From fostering biodiversity to providing fresh, homegrown produce, these small plots of land offer a wealth of advantages that everyone should consider.
ABOUT ALLOTMENT WEEK
For over two decades, the National Allotment Society (NAS) has been promoting allotments through an annual awareness campaign. They even have a “NAW Promotional Tool Kit” that can be downloaded by everyone, with resources to aid in event planning and promotion, including tips, poster templates, social media graphics, digital banners, printable bunting, and a sample news release. You can request your free downloadable copy here.
Mark your calendars for this year’s National Allotments Week, taking place from Monday, August 12th to Sunday, August 18th. This year’s theme? One that is very close to my heart, is biodiversity.
The Origins of the national allotment society
The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Limited was established on March 10, 1930, evolving from “The Agricultural Organisation Society” founded in April 1901. The A.O.S. promoted cooperation among agriculturists, creating co-operatives and advocating for small holdings and allotments. The Society played a key role in the 1908 Small Holding & Allotment Act and saw various legislative successes, though not all were fully satisfactory.
The Agricultural Rates Act 1923 and income tax relief on sales were notable achievements aiding allotments. By 1924, significant advancements were made in land renting societies. However, a 1925 report indicated a decline in allotment associations due to industrial challenges and lack of alternative land.
On March 10, 1930, the National Union of Allotment Holders Limited and the Allotment Organization Society merged to form the National Allotment Society Limited, led by President Sir Francis Dyke Acland. The new society aimed to assist the unemployed, with 64,000 families receiving help in 1930.
During WWII, the Society participated in the “Dig for Victory” campaign, distributing seeds globally to support gardeners. The N.A.S. also initiated a National Allotments Amenity Competition to improve allotment appearances. In 1941, it developed a constructive allotment policy for post-war reconstruction.
The Land planning bill
In 1946, the Society became the National Allotment and Garden Society, contributing to the 1950 Allotment Act. Post-war years saw a decline in allotments and membership, but the Society remained active in advocating for the protection of these valuable spaces. In 1980, the Society played a crucial role in the passage of the Land Planning Bill through Parliament. Their efforts were bolstered by an outpouring of letters from affiliated societies and intense lobbying by representatives. This concerted effort was instrumental in ensuring that local authorities could not dispose of allotments without seeking permission from the Secretary of State, thereby safeguarding these vital community resources.
The 1980s brought significant organizational changes, including moving headquarters to Corby, named O’Dell House. Despite declining demand for allotments, the Society maintained relevance, re-establishing regular contact with members through a quarterly journal. A 1997 national survey underscored the continued need for a united voice to protect allotments, ensuring the Society’s ongoing importance.
WHY IS BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT?
Biodiversity, the variety of plant and animal life on our planet, is rapidly declining, which could lead to significant long-term consequences – as I mentioned in some of my previous environmentally-focused articles. But why is biodiversity so important for our planet? And why should we protect and celebrate it? The importance of biodiversity lies in its role in maintaining healthy ecosystems of various scales and how interconnected everything is in creating a safe environment for all living beings.
One crucial reason for the significance of biodiversity is its necessity for the survival of ecosystems. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, biodiversity is fundamental for the existence and proper functioning of all ecosystems. A diverse environment enables different forms of life to adapt better to changes and stresses in their surroundings.
biodiversity safeguards ecosystems
Diversity enhances the ability of organisms to resist diseases, similar to how machines rely on multiple parts to function. Likewise, biodiversity safeguards ecosystems, acting as a defence mechanism against various challenges. The extinction of plants and animals can, of course, disrupt ecosystems and these intricate relationships, leading to a chain reaction that destabilises an area or introduces negative alterations.
Another crucial aspect of biodiversity is its impact on human survival. Conservation International highlights that biodiversity enhances essential elements for life, such as fertile soil and pollination. Diminished diversity in an area results in a weakening of these vital resources, some essential for our survival. Take medications as an example, not only are some plants medicinal, but medications like aspirin and some cancer-fighting drugs contain important elements that are found in plants. If these plants are not there anymore, neither will be the medications.
Coral reefs, often called the “medical cabinets of the 21st century” by the National Ocean Service, have faced significant challenges recently. These vibrant ecosystems are home to diverse plants and animals that have been crucial in developing treatments for conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, and multiple forms of cancer. As these ecosystems are disrupted, we risk losing these invaluable species and the potential medical breakthroughs they could offer. Highlighting this during National Allotment Week underscores the importance of biodiversity in all ecosystems, reminding us of the critical need to preserve and protect these natural treasures.
THE BENEFITS OF ALLOTMENTS
Allotments are essential community resources that enhance health and well-being, offer sustainable areas for cultivation, and contribute to the creation of biodiverse green pathways. These spaces not only hold significance in the UK’s heritage but also play a crucial role in shaping our future.
For Green Spaces
Traditionally viewed as areas for personal enjoyment, there are also many ecological benefits of allotment sites. These spaces are teeming with biodiversity, providing habitats for wildlife and pollinators across the nation.
The fertile soil found in allotments nurtures a distinctive ecosystem that supports various life forms, especially crucial in urban settings. Even in rural regions, the ecological richness per square meter of allotment sites exceeds that of neighbouring industrially farmed agricultural land. These pieces of land represent interconnected green features that play a vital role in both urban and rural settings. These spaces enhance health and well-being, air quality, biodiversity, and nature conservation, and also contribute to climate change resilience and mitigation efforts.
For Social & Community
Allotments are not just beneficial for plot holders; they are increasingly utilised for the greater good of communities. Various projects across the country are using allotment spaces for community, educational, disability, and social prescribing initiatives. From community events to educational programs and workshops, allotment sites serve as hubs for mental health projects, food-sharing schemes, sensory gardens for individuals with disabilities, and collaborations with community programs. In case you didn’t know, gardening, especially on allotments, offers social benefits by reducing loneliness and allowing struggling individuals to contribute to society. Thankfully, many plot holders actively participate in managing their sites, fostering a sense of community even in areas without formal allotment associations.
These pieces of land also provide valuable educational opportunities, enabling those without large gardens to learn from experienced gardeners in a natural setting. Furthermore, allotment holders often collaborate with local schools and clubs to run educational programs that teach young people about nature and the importance of growing their own produce. We have talked about the importance of teaching our kids how to live more sustainably. Well, this is it!
For Health & wellbeing
The significance of gardening in enhancing mental health is becoming more recognised, as previously mentioned. Numerous allotment gardeners find that spending time tending to plants and connecting with nature on their plot brings about a sense of tranquillity and optimism. It’s not a coincidence that the latest home decor trends are filled with plants…
Gardening in an allotment setting also provides social interaction with others, which counteracts the negative effects of loneliness, which can be as detrimental to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and twice as harmful as obesity. Research conducted in the Netherlands revealed that a 10% increase in exposure to green spaces resulted in health benefits equivalent to being five years younger – I think that’s incredible!
Furthermore, engaging in regular gardening activities offers physical advantages, helping individuals to stay more active as every single allotment activity requires some sort of movement. We already know it, spending time outdoors is beneficial for overall well-being. With sunscreen, that is.
For The Produce
When properly managed, a plot can yield enough food to supplement a family’s weekly groceries with fresh fruits and vegetables all year round. Allotment gardeners have the option to embrace organic gardening, avoiding the consumption of chemicals commonly found in store-bought produce.
According to a survey conducted among members of the National Allotment Society, nearly every participant expressed their fondness for allotment gardening due to the fresh air, homegrown produce, healthy lifestyle, and the community of like-minded individuals it provides.
But just like anything, growing vegetables requires acquiring new knowledge and skills. I’ve done this before, and I can assure you that the joy derived from tasting your first homegrown tomato or freshly harvested new potato enhances the flavour even more!
STARTING OUT WITH AN ALLOTMENT
Embarking on your allotment journey is a fantastic opportunity to cultivate organic produce, connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts, and immerse yourself in nature. Perfect for individuals without a garden, you can expect a plentiful harvest of fruits, vegetables, and flowers in no time. I’ve been there before, so here are the five steps I followed to have a fruitful allotment:
HOW To secure an allotment in the UK
- Contact Your Local Council: Visit your local council’s website or call them to inquire about available allotments.
- Join the Waiting List: Due to high demand, there might be a waiting list for allotment plots.
- Submit an Application: Fill out the necessary application form, usually available online.
- Attend an Induction: Some councils may require new allotment holders to attend an induction session.
To get an allotment quickly, consider the following tips:
- Join Multiple Waiting Lists: Apply to several allotment sites in your area.
- Check for Private Allotments: Some private allotments might have shorter waiting times.
- Look for Smaller Plots: Half or quarter plots may be available sooner.
- Be Flexible: Be willing to accept any plot that becomes available.
It’s possible that you will be assigned an allotment that is not the closest allotment to you. This can be a bit surprising sometimes. Think about how far you are willing to travel for an allotment.
If you are lucky, you will be assigned an allotment within a one mile radius of your home – this will take approximately 15 minutes to walk to. Some people travel over five miles to their allotment – consider if this is something you’d be happy to do, or if this would be a deal breaker.
How Do Allotments Work?
Allotments operate on a rental basis where individuals or families rent a plot of land to grow their own produce. Key components include:
- Annual Rent: Paid to the council or landlord.
- Maintenance: Plot holders must keep their plots well-maintained.
- Regulations: Compliance with site-specific rules regarding structures, pesticide use, and plot upkeep.
- Community: Allotments foster a sense of community among plot holders through shared activities and knowledge exchange.
How Hard is it to Have an Allotment?
Maintaining an allotment requires effort and dedication. Here are some challenges you might face:
- Time Commitment: Regular visits and maintenance are necessary.
- Physical Labour: Gardening involves digging, planting, and weeding.
- Knowledge: Understanding how to grow different plants effectively is crucial.
However, the rewards in terms of fresh produce and satisfaction make it worthwhile.
How to Get Funding for Allotments
Funding for allotments can be obtained from various sources:
- Government Grants: Local councils and national bodies such as the National Lottery Community Fund offer grants for community gardening projects.
- Charitable Organizations: Groups like the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) provide grants specifically for allotment and gardening projects.
- Crowdfunding: Platforms like GoFundMe or Crowdfunder can help raise money from the local community.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Local businesses might sponsor allotments as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives.
PlanNING Your Plot
Designing an allotment is a personal. It’s your own area where you can tailor it to meet all your gardening requirements. Even if some plots are in disarray from previous occupants, you have the opportunity to revamp and customise them exactly to your liking. Or in some cases, get rid of it and start again.
Allotment plots can be pretty big and you need to move around it easily. Before you start digging think about the plot layout, where your beds will go and how you will access them.
Raised beds are a great option and can be easily made from old scaffold boards or pallets. If you prefer traditional beds, you’ll still need paths to avoid soil compaction, which hinders root growth.
Grass paths are the easiest option. You can dig the whole plot and lay grass seed or turf, or dig beds into existing turf. Trim the edges to keep them neat and you have hard-wearing natural pathways.
A weed-resistant membrane with wood chipping works well too, and don’t forget the stones you dug out from the planting beds – they can be used to build up a pathway as can patio slabs, roofing tiles, and old bricks.
Now it’s time to have a think, what crops are you interested in growing in your garden? Whether you’re aiming for a vegetable patch or a flower garden, it’s essential to have a clear plan for the plants you wish to cultivate. Acquiring seeds ahead of time can assist you in envisioning and preparing for your dream garden, so that you get planting timings right.
Choosing Between ‘Dig’ and ‘No Dig’ Gardening
Traditionally, gardening involved thoroughly digging up and turning over your plot before planting. However, no dig gardening has become a popular alternative. Here’s what each method involves:
No Dig Gardening
- Preparation: Lay black polythene or plastic over the plot to kill weeds. This process can take a few weeks to months, depending on the extent of the overgrowth.
- Soil Covering: Once weed-free, cover the area with a thick layer (at least 4cm) of organic matter.
- Planting: Plant directly into the organic matter without digging. This method is gaining popularity because it’s easier on the back.
Dig Gardening
If you prefer traditional methods, soil-turning provides excellent exercise. For unkempt plots, perform a double dig, which involves digging to the depth of two spade lengths. If this proves too strenuous, consider purchasing a rotavator. Although you can hire one, buying may be more cost-effective after a couple of sessions.
Essential Tools and Equipment
Equipping yourself with the right tools is paramount. Basic gardening tools like a spade, fork, hoe, a good pair of secateurs for precision tasks, gloves, and watering can are indispensable. Depending on your allotment’s size, consider investing in a wheelbarrow, loppers, strimmer and a garden shredder for bigger jobs.
Many allotments don’t supply water, so get a water butt if you can and leave out containers to fill with rain too, it’s surprising how much water your thirsty plants will drink.
PREPARING Your plot
When you first get your allotment, the dream scenario is that it will be a beautifully-kept plot that’s been manured, dug and cared for. In reality, this is pretty unlikely –you’re likely to find an unkempt plot that’s overgrown and requiring a lot of TLC. People often abandon their allotment plot before officially giving it up, so it may be a while since it’s had much attention.
If you have a really messy allotment you may have to spend the first year clearing the site to get it in tip-top condition. If the allotment plot is overgrown, you’re going to need some reliable equipment to help clear the space.
Keep your safety gear on and work your way through the tangle steadily but surely. If you’re offered a plot in winter, or you’re in no rush, try laying cardboard or polythene over weedy areas. This smothers them, cuts out light and deprives them of water so your job will be less back-breaking.
Bear in mind that wildlife that will take up residence in the long grass and overgrown greenery. This includes hedgehogs, frogs, grass snakes, toads and so many others, so don’t just hit it with a strimmer because they cause horrific injuries. Poke about in the grass before you begin, make noise and go slowly – give the wildlife a chance to escape.
PREPARING Your Soil
Put on your gardening gloves and prepare your soil for planting. Quality soil leads to strong root systems, and robust roots result in thriving plants. Begin by clearing weeds, eliminating stones, and enhancing the soil with compost. Regular cultivation and mulching will keep the soil in prime condition for planting. That’s your basis for a healthy allotment.
Putting a compost bin on your plot is a good way to get a free supply of compost at hand. Keep it topped up with the right amounts of brown and green waste and you won’t look back.
Related – All You Need to Know About Composting
Implementing Sustainable Practices
Cultivate your allotment with sustainability in mind. Practice water conservation through efficient irrigation methods, embrace organic gardening techniques, and explore composting to reduce waste and enhance soil fertility naturally.
VISITING Your Allotment
Regular visits to your allotment are essential to maintain it properly. Ideally, you should visit at least once a week to water plants, weed, and harvest produce. Regular weeding, pest control, and monitoring for signs of plant diseases are crucial components of effective allotment maintenance.
During peak growing seasons, more frequent visits may be necessary to ensure your plants thrive. Plan your gardening activities according to the seasons, from spring planting to winter preparation, as an allotment requires year-round attention.
Pest Control
No doubt you’ll get your fair share of aphids, caterpillars, birds and all manner of uninvited guests in your allotment. You can use commercial sprays on insects, eggs, and larvae, but its possible to use organic methods.
Citrus peel soaked in water makes a good aphid deterrent, and caterpillars can be picked off by hand. Marigolds planted around the plot can help keep flying insects away too.
There’s plenty of information out there on organic gardening, so take a look before buying the sprays that kill our bees, butterflies and essential pollinating insects.
Net your fruit bushes against birds but make sure you check the netting regular for trapped wildlife such as hedgehogs, slow worms, frogs and the birds themselves.
what should i grow as a beginner?
As a beginner, it’s worth trying vegetables that are easy to grow and will be ripe in the first year. Carrots, lettuce, peas, beans and potatoes are considered some of the easiest crops to start with. For a sustainable allotment, consider growing beetroot, turnips, and rhubarb, which are easy to cultivate and costly to purchase. While parsnips, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes are inexpensive to buy, they require significant space. Planning carefully ensures you maximize your allotment’s yield and sustainability.
Related – My Edible Garden
Planting Schedule by Month
November
- Broad Beans: Sow from November to March and harvest from June onwards.
- Carrots: Plant from November onwards before the soil freezes. Carrots need more space than other plants but are easy to grow.
December
- Lettuce: Plant in December for an early start to winter gardens. Lettuce thrives in light soils enriched with organic material like manure or compost.
January
- Lettuce: Plant in January for an early start to winter gardens. Lettuce thrives in light soils enriched with organic material like manure or compost.
- Peas: For a continuous supply, plant peas from January onwards, sowing every two weeks. Peas prefer a cool environment and grow quickly.
February
- Tomatoes: Sow from February to April and harvest from July to October.
- Potatoes: Sow from February/March until September. Potatoes need high soil moisture, so regular hoeing after rain or irrigation is necessary. Alternatively, grow them in large pots to maximize space.
March
- Spring Onions: Sow from March to July and harvest after eight weeks.
- Beetroot: Sow from March to July and harvest from September.
- Peas: Sow from March to June and harvest two to three months later.
- Broad Beans: Sow from November to March and harvest from June onwards.
- Tomatoes: Sow from February to April and harvest from July to October.
- Potatoes: Sow from February/March until September.
- Onions/Garlic: Sow in spring and harvest in late autumn.
April
- Tomatoes: Sow from February to April and harvest from July to October.
- Beans: Plant from early spring onwards. Beans prefer warmer temperatures and soil rich in organic matter. They take up more space, so consider growing them alongside peas or corn.
May
- Beans: Plant from early spring onwards. Beans prefer warmer temperatures and soil rich in organic matter. They take up more space, so consider growing them alongside peas or corn.
June
- Peas: Sow from March to June and harvest two to three months later.
July
- Spring Onions: Sow from March to July and harvest after eight weeks.
- Beetroot: Sow from March to July and harvest from September.
August
- Radishes: Sow three weeks after the last frost until late summer. Radishes are quick-growing crops that prefer cool weather.
September
- Potatoes: Sow from February/March until September. Potatoes need high soil moisture, so regular hoeing after rain or irrigation is necessary. Alternatively, grow them in large pots to maximize space.
October
- Radishes: Sow three weeks after the last frost until late summer. Radishes are quick-growing crops that prefer cool weather.
Spring (General)
- Onions/Garlic: Sow in spring and harvest in late autumn.
and finally........
As you immerse yourself in the allotment lifestyle, you’ll find it not only enhances your physical health through fresh, home-grown food but also enriches your mental well-being.
The sense of community, the joy of seeing your plants grow, and the satisfaction of a bountiful harvest are unmatched. Embrace the learning process, enjoy the seasonal rhythms, and share your experiences with fellow gardeners.
Your allotment will become a place of solace, productivity, and community spirit, providing you with fresh produce and a renewed connection to the land. Happy gardening, and may your allotment journey be fruitful and fulfilling!