Allotments are getting more popular these days, but they are in short supply. Sites are disappearing, and waiting lists are getting longer (for example ours is usually at least a year). We have links to campaigns to save allotment sites, studies about allotments, and lots of other interesting articles and web sites.

More people want to grow their own fresh tasty food, and they want to know where their food comes from and whether it contains chemicals. They want the chance to enjoy the exercise and fresh air, especially if they live in a flat or don't have a garden.

But allotments are in short supply. Sites are disappearing, and waiting lists are getting longer. Our waiting list is at least a year.

Studies have been done on this, for example the London assembly study on allotments : A Lot to Lose: London's disappearing allotments, October 2006 , and the study of allotments commissioned by the government which found in 2004-5 that one-third of people wanting an allotment waited over one year, and two thirds waited over six months. There is a campaign in parliament to get councils to provide more - get your MP to sign the Early Day Motion.  Allotment sites can disappear. See the Manor Gardens allotment site campaign. This 100-year-old site has been swept away to make way for the Olympics, despite a strong campaign to show that it could be part of the greenest Olympics ever. But undaunted the Manor Gardens allotment society continues to campaign for allotment provision in the Olympic site post-Olympics. Read more about their campaign here.

Waiting lists can be very long, and in some cases have even closed, for example the Hackney Allotment Society   Our waiting list is at least a year.  There are lots of other interesting sites about allotments on our links page.  

See England in Particular article