As the trend for growing your own vegetables and flowers continues to grow, The City of Edinburgh Council is set to create more allotment plots.
This weekend the Council will be launching the new Allotments Strategy “Cultivating Communities: A Growing Challenge”.
The strategy, will build on the success of its predecessor, by detailing how the Council plans to keep up with the growing demand for allotments.
Over the last ten years there has been a dramatic increase in those seeking their own growing plots in the city.
There has also been a significant increase in the amount of tenement residents seeking allotments, particularly in the areas of Morningside, Leith, Bruntsfield and Stockbridge.
In 1998, around 400 people were on the waiting list for an allotment but this number has increased spectacularly to over 2000 in 2010.
Under the strategy the Council has examined the need to find and create more allotment plots – and a search has been started to identifying potential new sites.
As well as the obvious health benefits, a typical allotment can provide fruit and vegetables for a family of four all year.
Councillor Robert Aldridge, Environmental Convenor for the City of Edinburgh Council, said:
“In launching this new allotment strategy for the city, we are building on the success of our original allotment strategy and recognising our responsibility to support the increased number of people on the allotment plot waiting list.
“Allotments are excellent for contributing to a year-round healthy lifestyle and help to promote sustainability and well-being. People enjoy growing their own vegetables and flowers and this strategy will hopefully see the number and quality of allotments increase in the coming years.”
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