Sideways News

Redundant spaces around the UK will be transformed into public allotments

A grow-your-own scheme has been launched to encourage people to set up temporary allotments on land that is currently awaiting development.

The government-backed project aims to foster community spirit and improve health, as well as reduce Britain's dependence on imports, reports the Guardian.

About one in three people in the UK currently grow their own fruit and vegetables, according to a recent Defra survey.

Now environment and food secretary Hilary Benn has announced plans which he hopes will inspire more people to taste "The Good Life" - while ensuring the UK leads the way in making the EU's common agricultural and fishing policies more sustainable.

A similar allotment project outlined last month has so far seen £150,000 invested as part of plans to create more than 2,000 community gardens in redundant spaces in London by 2012.

Over 150 plots have benefited from Capital Growth grants, including schools, roofs, private gardens open to the public and canal banks.

Transport for London (TfL) has also signed up to the scheme by providing a brownfield site above Southwark Tube Station, where residents from local flats will be able to grow their own food.

By extending the scheme across the rest of the UK, ministers hope the voluntary sector will build on examples such as that set by the National Trust, which aims to have established 1,000 allotment plots on restored kitchen gardens, agricultural land and vacant spaces in its varied property portfolio within the next two years.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson offered his support to the scheme and said that more underused land should be used in this way, adding that the project provided "a cheap, fun way to grow food".

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