Spotlight Magazines Spotlight on Mansfield South August 2015 | Page 14

Spotlight Magazine National Allotments Week 10th-16th August is National Allotments Week During World War II and immediately afterwards, almost everyone with a garden grew fruit and vegetables. Food was rationed so people supplemented their diet with produce they’d grown in their own back garden, or down on their allotment. To me the very word ‘allotment’ evokes memories of my granddad and post-war community spirit. During the 1960’s allotments began to go out of fashion and continued to decline in popularity until very recently. As a society we were more affluent; more likely to buy what produce we needed from the local supermarket, and vegetable gardening just wasn’t considered sexy! There’s an old saying: what goes around comes around, and it encapsulates perfectly the fate of allotments which are currently enjoying a popularity surge. Suddenly we’re concerned about food in a big way. The number of food banks is growing as families struggle to put even the most basic provisions on the table. There are concerns about additives and pesticides on shop-bought fruit and veg, while the cost of organic food puts it out of the reach of the masses. And what about all those thousands of food-miles our strawberries and courgettes clock up on their journey to the supermarket shelves? Surely that’s damaging the environment. Then there’s the thorny problem of childhood obesity. The list of foodrelated concerns seems to be growing exponentially. Yet modern housing often means tiny back gardens and frequently no front garden, so where are we going to grow all this lovely produce? The answer of course is to acquire an allotment and many people are doing just that. To join them simply approach your council. Price and availability varies around the country. In some areas there are waiting lists. But councils are taking allotments much more seriously and many are actively seeking to provide new sites. If a plot is too large for your personal needs you may be able to rent half or find a like-minded friend to share it with. Enquire today and you and your family could soon, quite literally, be reaping the benefits! Allotment Benefits Diet: You can harvest fresh, organic, fruit and veg Economic: You’ll save loads of money growing your own Environmental: Recycling organic waste into compost, reducing food miles and creating a wildlife-friendly habitat Health: Great for aerobic exercise and therapeutic calm Social: It’s a brilliant way to meet friendly, like-minded people of all ages. Useful Website: http://www.nsalg.org.uk/ By Rachel Leverton In the absence of clear leadership from the top, many of us are taking matters into our own hands, deciding to emulate our grandparents and grow our own food. 14 www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 01623 706570 • [email protected]