Essentials for National Allotments Week
5th Aug 2022
8-14 August 2022 is National Allotments Week, an annual event organised by The National Allotment Society. This year’s National Allotments Week theme is ‘Bugs, Bees and Broccoli’, recognising the importance of nature in gardening.
The Society says: “An allotment plot is a complex web of plants, micro-organisms, fungi, insects and animals that not only produces food but also supports eco-system services such as pollination and offers a refuge for wildlife in urban areas.”
Indeed, one of the main reasons given for having an allotment is that they create a habitat for wildlife.
Gardening – good for the environment and you
Allotments have been a feature of the UK landscape since Anglo Saxon times with an estimated 330,000 across the country today.
The allotment has experienced its fair share of ups and
downs in levels of interest over the years. The Second World War, for example,
saw a surge with the UK urged to ‘Dig for Victory’, while the 1960s and 1970s
saw a downturn with the growth of the supermarket.
Today, there’s a resurgence of interest with, in addition to supporting wildlife and the environment, the better taste and need to reduce ‘food miles’, wasteful packaging and use of chemicals all contributing to the interest in ‘growing-your-own’.
And gardening is good for health – and a great workout, as we discovered in recent research. With a typical year seeing gardening and DIY activities helping to burn 80,000 calories, gardeners average working off:
- 6,384 kcals while weeding
- 3,466 kcals when pruning
- 3,852 kcals while watering
No wonder, there are currently more than 100,000 people on allotment waiting lists!
Allotment essentials
Must-haves for the allotmenteer include:
A kneeler is also a
critical piece of equipment. We offer a variety of garden kneelers, with our Kneeler and Seat particularly popular. The under-seat
compartment is a useful store for hand tools, while the seat makes it a great
choice for the allotment where there may be no other seating options.
Whatever you’re growing on the allotment you’ll need to move things around – whether that’s tools, plants, or garden waste. The garden caddy might be just what you need, or for heavier loads the mobile tipper cart or steel mesh gardener’s cart would be ideal. And of course, many use their allotment for growing flowers, and our three-piece lopper, shears and secateur set would make a perfect addition to the toolset.
Backing the bees
We’re delighted to see ‘bees’ included in the theme for this year’s National Allotments Week.
Bees and other pollinators are responsible for pollinating about 75% of crop plants. But their numbers have been in serious decline since the 1940s due to the increasing loss of their natural habitats. So, allotments play a vital part in helping to build up the bee population.
We were also thrilled to discover – as part of Draper’s latest research project – that having a ‘bumblebee nest box’ is among the top 40 garden trends for 2022.
And finally… to broccoli
The word broccoli comes from broccolo, the Italian for “the flowering top of a cabbage”.
High in nutrients – including fibre, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, and potassium – broccoli is said to be one of the healthiest vegetables for the diet, and so a great option for the allotment.
And if you’re new to broccoli, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has a good article on how to grow your own.
Happy National Allotments Week
Whether you’re an official allotmenteer, or your ‘allotment’ plot is in your back garden – happy gardening!
