Allotments fading away….
This summer I grew some herbs in a window box and some salad from seed.
Not only was the salad ever so tasty and the fresh herbs so zingy (and still alive in the mild October London weather; the salad is now eaten) but watching them grow was somehow a real life affirming experience.
Sun, water, a little care and attention (the day I let the salad wilt some in the sun was very sad) and these livings things grew… So, I think it is sad that London is losing its allotments.
A summary is here and: “London has lost more than 1,500 allotment plots over the past decade according to a report, A Lot to Lose: London’s disappearing allotments. It follows an investigation by the London Assembly’s Environment Committee led by Peter Hulme Cross AM which shows the loss of allotments is occurring at three levels – the number of site, the number of plots, and the area of land used for allotments. Launching the report Mr Hulme Cross said “all over London, where the pressure for land is intense, allotments are losing ground in our urban landscape.”
See here for in depth document and also for maps for where allotments are in London if you would like to join a waiting list and your nearest growing patch.
Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster and City of London have no allotments in the area, not one; but outer London boroughs have an obligation to provide residents with allotments if demanded…. I think 6 residents need to group together and send in an official demand.
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About me
I'm a playwright and investment analyst. I have a broad range of interests: food, gardening, innovation & intellectual property, sustainability, architecture & design, writing and the arts. I sit on the board of Talawa Theatre Company and advise a CIS investment trust on socially responsible investments.
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Recent Work
Recent plays include, for theatre: Nakamitsu, Yellow Gentlemen, Lost in Peru, Lemon Love. For radio: Places in Between (R4), Patent Breaking Life Saving (WS).
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Nakamitsu
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Yellow Gentlemen
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