Allotments and the environment

Allotments can play a big part in the fight to preserve our environment; we need to protect them, especially in urban areas as they are important Green spaces which need to be preserved.

All manner of wildlife can be found on the allotment from frogs, toads, newts and slow worms to field mice, hedgehogs and many different species of birds and insects. But allotment sites are under threat as never before. The numbers of allotment plots across the country have been declining which is bad news, especially as allotment gardening has taken off again in a big way. Councils are forced to consider alternative uses for sites, especially those that have been neglected. When allotments disappear, often wildlife disappears with them and these precious habitats are lost forever.

Many varieties of plants thrive on these sites, which contribute to the bio-diversity of the area and they also provide vital habitats for many species. Many good allotment sites have special areas which are left virtually untouched allowing wildlife to thrive.

More and more allotment sites and associations are promoting the benefits of re-cycling kitchen and allotment waste through composting which is a very satisfying practice and the best thing you can put back into your soil. They are also keen to encourage the saving of rain water. Providing running water on allotments is increasingly costing councils more and more, so setting up a successful water catching system early on is one of the best things you can do, the plants and vegetables definitely prefer it. An allotment is certainly the one place where the saying ‘Re-use Re-use, Recycle' certainly comes into it's own.