2. THE VALUE,
QUALITY AND
AFFORDABILITY OF
ALLOTMENTS
The value of allotments should not be seen purely in monetary
terms, but must include benefits to health, diet, community fellowship
and protection of the environment.
Many allotment sites were originally sited on poor quality
land not wanted for other purposes (see Allotments Act 1908, Section
32 which allowed unsuitable allotment land to be replaced) which
has, over the period of use, been improved through dedicated workmanship.
This land, now well cultivated and fertile, is in danger of being
lost to development, to be replaced by poorer quality land once
again.
Many other organisations are realising the important part
allotments can play in the environment and health and recreation
issues.
Department of the Environment "Greening the Cities"
report includes allotments in its network of green space which
make up the landscape.
National Food Alliance/S.A.F.E. Alliance "Growing
Food in Cities" report promotes the benefits of urban agriculture
in the U.K.
The report recommended that everyone - from government to
local communities - should make food growing part of their policies
and practices. In the wake of a long series of food scares - the
report highlighted the many benefits of "growing your own".
"Growing Food in Cities" promoted the advantages
of urban agriculture which include:
A greener environment: less transport and packaging
and greater bio-diversity;
Employment and Training: new skills and opportunities
for business development;
Education: links with schools, special needs and adult
learning;
Leisure: promoting local tourism arts, crafts and volunteering;
Sustainable neighbourhoods: revitalising parks, allotments
and housing estates;
Community development: co-operation across ethnic,
age and other barriers, and even crime prevention;
and of course:
Better health: increased consumption of fresh foods
and more exercise, plus relief from stress, and therapy for those
with mental health problems.
The report also urged the Department of Environment to issue
Planning Policy Guidance notes to create and preserve green spaces,
and encourage local agencies to use city wide networks to promote
food growing.
The S.A.F.E. Alliance in their "Food Miles" report
referred to the two major determinants of a country's environmental
impact which are the nature of its food economy and its systems
of transport, and was concerned about the food we eat, where it
originates and how it reaches us. It referred to the distance
which food travels from producer to consumer using non renewable
fossil fuel energy.
Save the Children Fund in their report "Out of
the Frying Pan" refer to the true cost of feeding a family
on a low income. Their research shows that for those on low income
a combination of circumstances over which they have no control
militated against their best efforts to give their children a
balanced diet.
The research showed that a healthy food basket costs an average
£4.07 more than a less healthy basket. Many in deprived areas
paid comparatively more for their food than others living in more
affluent areas. Restricted access to supermarkets meant they had
to use local shops which were more expensive, or pay taxi fares
to transport heavy shopping home from the supermarket and in some
cases to get there as well.
With the advent of out of town shopping developments the
wider ranges of produce at affordable prices are becoming less
available to those on low income, not just in deprived communities,
but also rural communities.
New Economics Foundation are concerned with community
economic renewal and are organising a think tank to help focus
on what can be done by people at a local level to rebuild British
Society neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
All of these reports highlight issues which can be incorporated
into allotment gardening, from a sustainable environment to community
health.
The Office International of Allotment Gardeners which
represents 3.5 million allotment gardeners in Europe and Scandinavia
have recently presented their response to the European concept
for Local Planning to the European Parliament.
They stress the need for sustainable development to be accompanied
by a sustainable development of the green spaces by concepts for
social integration of widespread sections of the population. A
supervision of the expansion of town planning as the deprivation
of open spaces results in a loss of the quality of life which
would be fit for human beings in an urban community.
In particular, allotments are an ideal buffer for limiting
the expansion of overflowing cities, a high ecological significance
contributing to the conservation of the diverse flora and fauna
and sociocultural opportunities for users and neighbours.
See appendix:
(1) The allotment and leisure gardens and the sustainable
development.1
(2) Leisure garden sites and urban development planning.1
(3) Allotment Gardens, Indispensable for People, Society,
Nature and environment.1
(4) Resolution of the XXIX Congress of the Office International.1
There is however a considerable value in the crops grown,
not only for the Allotment tenants, but also to the National economy.
A trial plot, cultivated at Harlow Carr Gardens in 1975 by the
Royal Horticultural Society produced approximately 760Kg of fruit
and vegetables. If this is multiplied by the number of occupied
plots in England shown in the National Survey the yield would
be in excess of 200,000 tonnes per year.
Allotments add to the richness of communities, and provide
a community asset at little cost to the ratepayer
3. THE EXTENT
OF INTEREST
IN ALLOTMENT
CULTIVATION
The Society's National Survey of Allotments in England has
identified the following:
