Allotments are small areas of land that people can rent for either a short or a long time to grow fruit, vegetables, or keep hens, rabbits and bees. Many people like to own allotments as they give you more space than an average garden (most allotment spaces are about the same size as a tennis court) and you can use every inch to grow produce and keep animals. Allotments are also amazing community spaces where people can meet and talk to each other about what they are growing and share tools and equipment. They give people a chance to get outdoors and be self-sufficient even if their house doesn't have much of a garden.
There are so many benefits to having an allotment. One of the main ones is the fact that it brings people together and makes a community that people feel connected with. This can help to reduce loneliness and isolation, and just being outdoors with other likeminded people can really boost people's mental health and help them feel like they are making a positive contribution.
Working with nature all year-round gives people a greater appreciation for the environment and an understanding of how ecosystems work and what they need in order to thrive. This is turn can make people more environmentally-aware and more likely to make green choices in other parts of their life and influence others.
Growing your own fruit and veg is a fantastic way to reduce your carbon footprint and limit your consumption of food that has been grown in other parts of the world and transported a long distance to reach your supermarket. You are more likely to just grow what you need and then share or compost any left over to prevent it going to waste. Experiencing the success of growing your own food also brings a greater feeling of achievement and you are more likely to savour its delicious home-grown flavour!
Finally, the impact of gardening on both your mental and physical health are immense. Just being outside and moving around your allotments with your tools will work your muscles and improve your balance and coordination. Being in the sunshine will help to boost your vitamin D levels and improve your mood, and this combined with seeing your fellow allotments workers will help you feel happy and joyful at being in the outdoors ☺
To find out more about allotments, visit these links below:
