what is a british garden allotment

An allotment garden (British English), often called simply an allotment, or in North America, a community garden, is a plot of land made available for individual, non-commercial gardening or growing food plants.Such plots are formed by subdividing a piece of land into a few or up to several hundred parcels that are assigned to individuals or families.

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What is an allotment garden?

Today, most allotment gardens are on land owned by the municipality which rents the land to an allotment association. The association in turn gives each member a plot of land.

What is the history of allotments?

To fulfill the need for land, allotment legislation was enacted. The law was first fully codified in the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908, then modified by the Allotments Act 1922 and subsequent Allotments Acts up until the Allotments Act 1950 .

What is the history of allotment gardens in Denmark?

Private initiative formed the first Danish allotment association in Aalborg in 1884 and in Copenhagen an association named Arbejdernes Værn (lit. “The Worker’s Protection”) founded the first allotment gardens of the Danish Capital in 1891.

How many allotment gardens are there in Germany?

In 1983, this law was amended by the Federal Allotment Gardens Act [de]. Today, there are still about 1.4 million allotment gardens in Germany covering an area of 470 km 2 (180 sq mi). In Berlin alone there are 833 allotment garden complexes.

How do allotments work UK?

An allotment is a plot of land that you rent from your local council or a private landowner on which you can grow your own food. Allotments are communal places, so you rent a plot from an allotment site and share utilities such as water and fertiliser with the other plot owners.

What is a garden allotment in England?

An allotment is an area of land, leased either from a private or local authority landlord, for the use of growing fruit and vegetables. In some cases this land will also be used for the growing of ornamental plants, and the keeping of hens, rabbits and bees.

How big is a British allotment?

In the UK, allotments are small parcels of land rented to individuals usually for the purpose of growing food crops. There is no set standard size but the most common plot is 10 rods, an ancient measurement equivalent to 302 square yards or 253 square metres.

Why is it called an allotment?

What is an allotment? Allotments have been in existence for hundreds of years, with evidence pointing back to Anglo-Saxon times. But the system we recognise today has its roots in the Nineteenth Century, when land was given over to the labouring poor for the provision of food growing.

Do people live on allotments?

Many people grow so fond of their allotment gardens that they live there the entire summer. In most cases, however, members are not allowed to live there the entire year.

How much does an allotment cost UK?

How much does an allotment cost? The current cost of an allotment is £9.20 per rod/per 25.3 square metres, per annum. Accordingly, the cost of a 5 rod plot for 2022 is £46.00 for the year. A 10 rod plot is £92.00.

What are the benefits of having an allotment?

Benefits of allotment gardeningSocial Capital. ... Mental well being. ... Healthy activity. ... Fresh, local, seasonal produce. ... Sense of achievement. ... Contact with nature. ... Allotments during the pandemic. ... Research around the benefits of allotment gardening.

How do allotments work?

With an allotment, half of the allotted amount is deducted from your mid-month pay, and that amount remains in the system until the other half is deducted from your end-of-month pay. At that time, the entire amount is submitted to the designated recipient.

What can you do with an allotment?

Whether you are interested in gardening, growing, cooking or indeed eating, tending an allotment is ideal. You can grow a range of fruits, vegetables and herbs for the kitchen, and even grow ornamental plants for a productive and attractive plot. See if you can designate a piece of your garden to growing crops.

Do allotments have electricity?

Most allotment sites don't have mains power connected but that doesn't mean that you can't have some electricity on site.

When did allotments start in UK?

In 1887 the Allotments Act was introduced, which made it possible for local authorities to acquire land for allotments – by compulsory purchase if necessary. It also made it compulsory for local authorities to provide allotments where there was demand for them.

Can you grow flowers on an allotment?

Any horticultural goods can be produced on allotments, and it is not uncommon to see a little nursery bed of flowers to be transplanted into the garden: sweet williams, hollyhocks and wallflowers, for example. Some gardeners cannot bear to throw plants away, so excess from their garden ends up on their allotment.

How does an allotment work?

With an allotment, half of the allotted amount is deducted from your mid-month pay, and that amount remains in the system until the other half is deducted from your end-of-month pay. At that time, the entire amount is submitted to the designated recipient.

How do you make a garden allotment?

6 easy steps to start an allotmentFind a space. First of all, find a space in your local area for your allotment. ... Plan your plot. Planning an allotment is very personal. ... Spend time on your soil. ... Pick your produce. ... Set up a sharing scheme. ... Keep up with your weekly jobs.

What are allotment rules?

The allotment rules are given to each tenant at the start of their tenancy, and also sent with the rent reminder whenever the rules are reprinted. The tenant is responsible for any person they invite onto the allotments and for making them aware of the rules and health and safety guidance.

How do you do an allotment for beginners?

Here's a list of the easiest allotment ideas for beginners to plant:Salad Leaves – sow three weeks after planting up until late Autumn.Radishes – sow three weeks after the last frost up until late summer.Potatoes – sow Feb/March up until September.Peas – sow March-June and harvest two – three months later.More items...•

Who owns allotments in England?

Some are owned and managed by the allotment holders through an association, and others are owned by the Church of England.

How big is an allotment?

The most common plot size is “10 rods”, which is equal to 1/16 of an acre (302 square yards).

What is an Allotment?

We'll start with the basics. An allotment is a plot of land that's divided up in sections which are rented to individuals or families for gardening purposes. The emphasis is on food-growing, but that doesn't mean you'll never see flowers or other plants.

What was the biggest boost to the allotment system?

Perhaps the biggest boost to the allotment system, though, was the impact of the two world wars. Demand for allotments skyrocketed when war caused food shortages, and their use contributed greatly to the UK's ability to keep its people fed.

Why are allotments important?

Allotments are great for giving everyone a chance to work the land and take ownership of some part of the food supply.

How long has the allotment concept been around?

While many countries have some form of allotments, not all countries protect the concept the way the UK does. The concept is said to go back more than 1000 years, back when Saxons would clear woodland to make a common field. As time went on and land ownership became more concentrated in the hands of nobility and churches, it became harder for individuals to grow their own food.

When did the Small Holdings and Allotments Act start?

In 1887 , the Small Holdings and Allotments Act required local authorities to provide allotments if there was demand for them – and because some local authorities resisted, those rules were strengthened over the following decades.

What is an allotment garden?

An allotment garden (British English), often called simply an allotment, or in North America, a community garden, is a plot of land made available for individual, non-commercial gardening or growing food plants. Such plots are formed by subdividing a piece of land into a few or up to several hundred parcels that are assigned to individuals or families. Such parcels are cultivated individually, contrary to other community garden types where the entire area is tended collectively by a group of people. In countries that do not use the term "allotment (garden)", a "community garden" may refer to individual small garden plots as well as to a single, large piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people. The term " victory garden " is also still sometimes used, especially when a community garden dates back to the First or Second World War .

How important are allotment gardens?

Many cities were isolated from their rural hinterlands and agricultural products did not reach the city markets anymore or were sold at very high prices at the black markets. Consequently, food production within the city, especially fruit and vegetable production in home gardens and allotment gardens, became essential for survival. The importance of allotment gardens for food security was so obvious that in 1919, one year after the end of World War I, the first legislation for allotment gardening in Germany was passed. The so-called "Small Garden and Small-Rent Land Law", provided security in land tenure and fixed leasing fees. In 1983, this law was amended by the Federal Allotment Gardens Act [ de] ( Bundeskleingartengesetz ). Today, there are still about 1.4 million allotment gardens in Germany covering an area of 470 km 2 (180 sq mi). In Berlin alone there are 833 allotment garden complexes.

How many allotments are there in Norway?

Norway. There are 13 allotment gardens in Norway, with around 2000 allotments. The oldest, Etterstad Kolonihager, dates to 1908. The largest, Solvang Kolonihager, has around 600 allotments and is in Oslo, close to the woods and Sognsvann lake.

What is the Federation of Finnish Allotment Gardens?

The Federation of Finnish Allotment Gardens is a non-profit organization that supports allotment gardeners and connects them to allotments and each other. The first allotment garden was established 1916 in Tampere, and today there are about 30 allotment associations all around Finland made up of roughly 3700 allotmenteers.

Why was the allotment garden important?

The importance of allotment gardens for food security was so obvious that in 1919, one year after the end of World War I, the first legislation for allotment gardening in Germany was passed. The so-called "Small Garden and Small-Rent Land Law", provided security in land tenure and fixed leasing fees.

How many allotment gardens were there in Denmark in 1904?

In 1904, there were about 20,000 allotment gardens in Denmark. 6,000 of them were in Copenhagen. During the interwar years the number of allotment gardens grew rapidly. In 2001, the number of allotment gardens was estimated to be about 62,120.

What is the Midd Idejk fil-Biedja scheme?

The objective of the scheme, which was called Midd Idejk fil-Biedja ('Try Your Hand at Farming'), was to encourage people, especially the young and those living in urban areas, to take up organic farming. The scheme had over 50 allotment plots located at Għammieri, Malta.

What is an allotment?

Allotment Info. An allotment is an area of land, leased either from a private or local authority landlord, for the use of growing fruit and vegetables. In some cases this land will also be used for the growing of ornamental plants, and the keeping of hens, rabbits and bees. An allotment is traditionally measured in rods (perches or poles), ...

How many poles are in an allotment?

An allotment is traditionally measured in rods (perches or poles), an old measurement dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. 10 poles is the accepted size of an allotment, the equivalent of 250 square metres or about the size of a doubles tennis court.

What is allotment gardening?

Allotment gardens allow city and apartment dwellers to enjoy the benefits of gardening and foster a spirit of community.

What are the benefits of a garden allotment?

If you cannot grow food in your home, a garden allotment will allow you to grow healthy fruits and vegetables for yourself.

Where Are Community Gardens Located?

So now that you know a little more about community gardening, you may be wondering about where you can get your own garden allotment. The best places to start are:

What are the benefits of allotment gardens?

Allotment gardens have many benefits, for both the gardener and the community, and as a result, the increase in community gardens is not surprising. These benefits include: 1 Fresh Food – Many, many studies have shown the shorter the distance between harvest and table, the better the food is for you. If you cannot grow food in your home, a garden allotment will allow you to grow healthy fruits and vegetables for yourself. 2 Land Reclamation – Community gardening often takes place on lots that have been abandoned or are ignored. Without development, these lots attract garbage and crime. But one of the benefits of community gardens is that these lots become productive and safe areas. 3 Friendships – Gardeners, by nature, are a giving group. When allotment gardening happens, it places a large number of gardeners with a common interest in a small area. Friendships and deep bonds are bound to happen.

How to find community gardening groups?

The internet can also be a big help in finding community gardening groups. By simply typing in your neighborhood, city or major metropolis area combined with the words “community garden” or “allotment gardening,” you can find information on community gardens in your area.

Can you have a garden in an area?

Just because you live in an area where a garden at your home is not feasible does not mean that you cannot have a garden. Allotment gardens can allow you to have the garden that you dream of. And you never know, you may find that community gardening lets you find the community you always dreamed of too.

What is a smaller area of a garden?

BUT within a bigger garden there might be specific smaller areas such as "a kitchen garden" ( vegetable plot) or a herb garden.

What is a garden in the US?

In the US (also Canada I believe) a 'garden' is an intensely cultivated plot of land where one grows flowers, vegetables, roses, etc. The exterior part of a residential lot is called a 'yard.'. A lawn would never be referred to as a 'garden' or as a part of a garden, however a lawn and a garden might be the components of a yard.

What is a backyard called today?

Today, a backyard may had a makeover and have decking, a few pot plants, a gazebo or anything else that could fit in. It would hardly be called a garden, except by estate agents.

What is yard in prison?

A Yard is where prisoners exercise or an otherwise paved space where one keeps the bins. You see a lot of houses in England where the owner has paved or bricked over the front garden to turn it into a carpark. Now is no longer a garden. Posted by Robin Z.

What is a garden in a house?

The easiest rule is: if there's any sign of cultivation in the land around a house, even if it's a few herbs in a pot, call it a garden. You may find the householder refers to it as a yard themselves but generally that's a slightly insulting dismissive term.

Where do flowers grow in a garden?

In the US, most home gardens have the flowers in flower beds, generally around the edges---unless it is what is here called an "English garden" in which case the flowers cover the area ( which is usually a front "yard".)

Do stately homes have gardens?

It's perfectly usual to have Gardens within gardens - most of the great stately homes do. Go to Sissinghurst - the whole thing is one big garden but within the garden are "rooms" which are also called Gardens - the White Garden for example.

Overview

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Around the world

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