It’s National Allotments Week! In order to understand the benefits of having an allotment, let’s first look at why people get allotments in the first place. Gardening has become the latest trend over the past year. With more people home than ever before, the garden has become a great place to focus on. But not everyone has a garden big enough to start growing flowers, or seasonal fruits and vegetables. Well, good thing allotments exist! Plots of land given to community members so you’re able to start growing all the fruits and vegetables you desire. Here are some of the benefits to owning an allotment…

1. Promotes a healthier lifestyle

An allotment is a great way to start eating healthier and encouraging a more nutritious diet. If planned and maintained properly, before long you’ll have a mighty harvest that can be enjoyed year on year. Only getting bigger as you become more experienced. The rewards that your allotment bears are a great factor to consider, harvesting and using your own crops is a great accomplishment and knowing that you’re consuming homegrown, pesticide-free, super-nutritious fruit and vegetables seals the deal. Also, when growing perennial fruit and vegetables, your allotment starts to give back and can become a cost-effective way of living.

2. A good source of exercise

Gardening is hard work. Before the plants start to flower and the fruits and vegetables bloom there is a lot of planning and labour. When you first get your allotment, it’s not going to look like your neighbours. Remember, this is just a plot of wild land that hasn’t yet been tamed. It’ll be an intensive cleaning up process and that’s just the beginning. From sectioning parts, using some DIY skills, and help from neighbours, it’ll take some time before your allotment looks picture perfect. Once that is done, there is even more work to do, from planting, watering and maintenance. The best part of this process is that not only are you working at your own pace but you’re exercising without even knowing it!

3. Gets the children involved

Owning an allotment doesn’t have to be a solo project, get the children involved too! There are loads of child friendly fruits and vegetables that can help them get involved and excited about healthy foods. With their own little planting projects and space in the allotment (that can be decorated to their hearts content), it can turn allotment trips into fun outings, and also get children interested in fruits and vegetables at a young age. Harvesting season is fun for everyone, but especially children, picking their own food and tasting it fresh from the plant, only promotes sustainability and the benefits that gardening has.

4. Reduces your carbon footprint

Allotments are great for the environment and lowering your personal carbon footprint. By growing your own produce over buying shop-bought alternatives, it limits the amount of wasted packages you’re using. Also, by growing organic vegetables and limiting the amount of pesticide used will protect the soil from any harmful chemicals.

5. Creates a great community

One of the best reasons to own an allotment is the amazing community that comes with it. Keeping an allotment is a great way to make new friends and meet people from your local area. Whether you’re a gardening pro or novice, there are loads of people from different walks of life that all come together to foster the community. Get to know your neighbours, share the latest gardening gossip and help each other out wherever you can!

Green spaces in urban areas are extremely vital places that need to be preserved in order to contribute to the biodiversity to the area. If you’re thinking about starting your own allotment, act fast! The waiting lists are long but worth it, especially if you’re going to make good use out of them.