What do we encourage?
It is estimated that there are 12,200 Ha of allotments, most of which are owned and administered by Local Authorities.
Allotment provision in England and Wales, is governed by a series of Acts of Parliament from 1908 – 1950; the main points of which are:
- to place a legal duty on every Local Authority to provide a sufficient number of allotments to meet demand;
- to require rents to be set at a reasonable level;
- to require a minimum of 12 months' notice if the tenant is required to quit the plot;
- to ensure that land purchased by a Local Authority for allotment purposes cannot be disposed of without the consent of National Government.
We would like:
- Improved legislation aimed at protecting allotment land for use by future generations by ensuring the creation of green spaces in urban areas.
- Promotion of allotment gardening as a healthy activity, capitalising on the 'green lung' in an urban environment. Often being located near housing developments, allotments are essential habitats for wildlife. By cultivating an allotment you are helping to keep biodiversity levels buoyant. Without these 'green corridors' wildlife would become stranded by impassable concrete, meaning our ecosystem would suffer, crops yields would fall and the world would be a poorer place. Just 1 square metre of land can support hundreds of different species.
- We want to see more allotments created over the next 15 years to meet the demand of waiting lists; while at the same time ensure all allotments are protected (from developers) while there is a request for them and people still wish to allotment garden.
