The great outdoors, fresh produce that you can proudly claim you grew yourself, a chance to meet new people and a sustainable way to put food on your table – we hardly need to sell to you the multitude of benefits the humble allotment has. With their roots dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, these gardening plots were traditionally given to the labouring poor for the provision of food growing, in an era of rapid industrialisation of the nation. Nowadays, the class associations may not be relevant, but allotments are more popular than ever. In fact, it is estimated that over 90,000 gardeners want an allotment and are on waiting lists (nsalg.org.uk). Whether this space allows people to boost their health and wellbeing, or is a way for them to tread lighter on the Earth, we hear from two different people on what an allotment means to them.
Andi’s story