Starting today, Monday 10th August it is National Allotment Week. And the overall theme for this year is " Growing Food for Health and Wellbeing ". But how much do we actually know about allotments and their history ? In my case, not a lot, so I have been doing some online reading that I would like to share. Turn away if you know already ! There are references for allotments going back to Saxon and Norman times, the former as a result of gaining " common land " by forest clearance but there were no rights as to who should have one. Until the 18th century it was lip service to the idea with land being " enclosed " at a ferocious rate by landowners and the church to the detriment of others. The General Enclosure Act of 1845 came in not with the altruistic view to share resources but more to attempt to defuse revolutionary thoughts and belatedly, starvation. It was hardly a big change though as it resulted in 2,200 acres of the enclosed 650,000 being given over to allotments. However, it was a law of the land and a start. The Smallholding and Allotment Act 1907 imposed responsibilities on parish, urban district and borough councils to provide allotments. Two seismic events in the 20th century, the World Wars, completely changed the attitude to allotments and growing food. There were genuine fears of the nation not having enough food in wartime. During the First War, land close to railway lines was freed by the rail companies to provide plots for their workers and then for the public. That answers the question as to why when on a rail journey you see allotments. In the Second War, the government were so concerned about lack of food that a national " Dig for Victory " campaign was launched, turning parks and open spaces into allotments. In 1950, Parliament passed a new law that meant that 4 acres of allotment space had to be provided per 1,000 in the local population.
Tomorrow, I will begin to tell the story of my allotment at Lancing Manor ... https://www.nsalg.org.uk/news-eve…/national-allotments-week/
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AuthorI launched this website on 16th August 2020 to bring together my thoughts on gardening,, its importance for health and wellbeing and two projects running concurrently, a renovation of my own garden on the West Sussex coast at Lancing and a nearby allotment. But also to learn from other gardeners about the inspirations for their plots, about their gardening projects and enjoyment of beautiful plants and gardens Archives
February 2024
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