Waiting for allotments

The 64 families that have expressed an interest in an allotment in Audlem may feel it's been a long wait for land to become available – but spare a thought for the would-be growers of veggies in Camden and Islington in north London.

People in a Camden are faced with up to 40 years waiting for an allotment as demand grows, a survey has indicated. In Islington, it could be 25 years. And it's not just a 'London' problem with a 30 years wait likely at Blyth Valley in Northumberland.

More than 80,000 people are waiting for a plot with a typical delay of three years, a poll of 301 UK councils found. The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG) said interest in allotments was "encouraging". A representative from the organisation was in Audlem last month to give guidance on setting up the village's own allotments.

The national survey showed that 56% of allotment users took up a plot to save money. Just over a third of respondents said they had an allotment to control the amount of pesticides used on their food. Its publication coincides with National Allotments Week which started yesterday.

NSALG secretary Geoff Stokes said: "It's encouraging that so many people are interested in getting out and getting in to some green space. Allotment gardening is a fantastic hobby and has so many benefits – it's cheap, it's good for you, and it can save you hundreds of pounds a year on food."

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