Allotments: Is the British system sustainable?

By Michael Smith (Veshengro)

When it comes to allotment gardens I am going to play the devil's advocate here for a moment with the question as to whether the British system of councils having to make land available for people wanting an allotment garden at often a derisory annual rent is a sustainable one.

Under the legal framework governing the provisions of allotment plots local councils are obliged to make available land for allotments is a certain number of people want some plots. This is the theory. In practice there is, however, a long waiting list in may places. The latter means that, in theory, there should be more plots made available.

Is, as I have said and asked, the British system describes, more or less, as above actually the best one possible and is it sustainable. Personally I do not think so on both counts.

There is more than one reason for that also.

One is, amongst others, the fact that many allotments are not actually on a very reliable lease and thus people have no interest often, in making the places look god. Unlike in other countries.

Two, as I have just mentioned other countries, the system of Schrebergaerten – gardens named after the founder of the movement in Germany, Schreber – in Germany appears to be a much better one where the land is leased – or even owned – by the allotment society and the members have a sublease on the piece of land that they work.

This does, in return, often come with lots of rules but also with a much different operation and also security. Most of those sites have a resident “warden” and often more than one permanent resident in the chalets that people tend to build – little dachas basically, as done in Russia – and thus the land is a lot more secure in comparison to the areas in Britain mainly.

Problem is only that under the British law no one could actually live on such places as it would require planning permission and all that jazz, and, knowing the way things work in the UK such permission would never be granted. No such problems, it would seem in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, etc. Sometimes, methinks, Britain really needs to rethink some of its laws.

While it is very good that people can “demand”, basically, from their local councils to have land made available for allotment garden plots, and I do support the system, I still wonder whether a systems would not work better even.

Community gardens, of the style they are found in the United States and also, already in some parts of Britain, also could work, especially as it has been shown in the US, also on brownfield land, even with what we call “hard standing” by using large containers and soil being brought in. There are many ways to grow food, also for those that do not have garden space where to grow food or who want additional space as to where to grow food.

With the financial situation that the Labor regime left Britain in and leaving the successor government no choice other than to try and cut the deficit it may be that we could deal with allotments in a different way where, for instance, the council would need to be less involved and spend less money administering the system.

Maybe this is a task for the “Big Society”...

© 2011