Allotments have played an important part in British history, particularly in the “Dig for Victory” campaign in World War II which saw people grow their own produce to boost their food supply. However, despite a recent surge in demand for allotments, in the past few decades allotment numbers have been in decline. The interest in
“growing your own” generated by popular TV chefs and organic food campaigns, improved awareness of climate change and the importance of environmental sustainability, increasing food prices and challenges to stereotypes about allotment growers, have all contributed to large waiting lists for allotments in many areas. Nationally, 100,000 people are now estimated to be on waiting lists for allotments. People in some boroughs currently will have to wait for decades to get a plot.
This paper argues that the revival in interest in allotments should be harnessed. We make a series of recommendations on how we can create, promote and protect them. Britain needs a new “Dig for Victory” campaign that recognises the myriad of positive outcomes that allotments can bring, that captures the public mood and which ensures a sustainable approach is adopted.
