Celebrating the biodiversity of allotments and gardens
Allotments are a small plot of land that you can rent from a local council or private organisation for the purposes of gardening and growing fruit and vegetables.
The National Allotment Society will be celebrating National Allotment Week on 12-18 August 2024. This week aims to raise awareness of allotments and to share important information with those who already have them.
This year's theme is Celebrating Biodiversity on UK Allotments, and the society will be sharing information on pollinators, wildlife, eco-friendly pest control, companion planting, soil health and more.
One square metre of land can support hundreds of different species of wildlife so cultivating an allotment can significantly benefit the wildlife in your local area. For instance, you can grow plants that encourage pollinating insects like bees, butterflies and beetles, which are vital to the health of our environment.
Having an allotment can be beneficial to your health in a variety of ways:
- Exercise – Activities like raking, digging and turning compost can all be good aerobic exercise, as well as helping to build or maintain muscle strength and flexibility.
- Mental health – Physical activity can improve mental health, and there is strong evidence that being in a green space can help you feel calmer and less anxious. An allotment can also feel like a sanctuary to escape the stresses of the day.
- Sunlight – Exposure to sunlight, throughout the year, can increase Vitamin D production and help to lower blood pressure.
- Healthy eating – Of course, all the fruits and vegetables that you grow will provide you with the essential vitamins and minerals. Growing them yourself will encourage you to eat more seasonal produce that is as locally sourced as you can get. This has an added benefit of significantly reducing your food's carbon pollution.
- Community – Allotments can provide a sense of community and a way of meeting other people with a common interest who live nearby.
Image courtesy of www.marklordphotography.co.uk
How to get growing
If you would like to get involved with allotments, or to start growing in your garden, below are some good places to start:
- Check out your local authority's website and register for an allotment. There will likely be a waiting list, so best to do this early. Sometimes, those with allotments are looking for help or to split their plot, so it is worth searching for local community groups online, or ask someone you know who has an allotment.
- Research the best approach to tending your allotment. Allotment Online has a wealth of advice on starting and keeping an allotment, such as the best times to plant and harvest, and the best kinds of plants to support the local wildlife. It even includes a section on ‘no dig growing', which may be a useful approach for those with limited mobility.
- Start planning what to do with your produce to reduce waste. During the periods of plenty, it's a good idea to find ways to keep ingredients fresh and interesting by trying a variety of recipes, as well as finding ways to preserve the foods for less fruitful periods. Freezing, pickling or making jams and chutneys are a great way to use up your fruits and vegetables to avoid wasting the fruits of your labours. You can also donate surplus food to local organisations, such as food banks, though first check that they can accept fresh produce.
If you would like to see what the NHS in Sussex is doing to support biodiversity and reduce food waste, see our Green Plans page for details.