The Joy of Allotment Gardening

Maybe you are

• retired,
• unemployed,
• stressed out at work,
• in need of some regular light exercise following an illness or heart condition,
• or disabled in some way,
• enjoy the outdoors,
• simply delight in the pleasures of gardening
  or
• just want to be sure about what you are eating?

Then allotment gardening could be just the thing for you.

Allotment gardening can give so much pleasure.

Apart from the light exercise, which will help to keep you fit into old age, to be involved with nature and watch the seeds that you sow grow into mature plants can give so much satisfaction. Then there is the added bonus that you can eat the freshly picked fruit and vegetables, the flavour of which is far superior to what you can buy in the shops.

There is also the social aspect of allotment gardening.

You have all seen allotment gardeners leaning against the fence chatting, putting the world to rights and discussing the finer points of tending the crops. Some sites even organise outings, socials and summer bar-b-ques.

People take up allotment gardening for all sorts of reasons.

There are the organic gardeners growing their own vegetables so they can be sure of what they are eating. There are the competition gardeners growing the biggest or most perfect vegetables or flowers. I’ve seen onions bigger than footballs and the most magnificent and fragrant sweet peas imaginable. People gardening to improve their health or to wind down from the strain and stresses of work and those who just get a great deal of satisfaction from it.

Having been a judge for the Leeds Allotment Amenities Competition held each year by the Leeds and District Gardeners Federation in conjunction with Leeds City Council, it has opened my eyes to see such a variety of allotment gardens (one even planted up as a miniature vineyard) it is quite amazing what can be achieved on a small plot of land. Many sites also have wheelchair access, and if not, there are grants available to create allotment plots for all types of disabilities.
If you feel you would like to take up allotment gardening there will be a site near you with more than likely a plot just waiting for you.

If you are interested, ring your local Council for more information

Phil Gomersall, Vice-chairman, Leeds & District Gardeners Federation