Roots
Organic Community Garden
Roots is sponsored by:
For Allotment Holders
Click here for a government booklet called 'A Plot Holder's Guide' (pdf).
History of Allotments
Allotments were provided by the General Enclosure Act during the Industrial Revolution
when people flooded into towns and cities from the countryside. In order for these
people to eat, a piece of land was allotted to each family. These allotments developed
into a standard size of 300 square yards, which was deemed sufficient to feed a family
of four. The land used to provide the allotments was common land that had previously
been used by local people to graze their animals. The poor, without access to this land,
lost a source of food and income, and many starved.
The First World War prompted a huge growth in the number of allotments - from 600,000
to 1,500,00. After the War many of the temporary sites were returned to their original
use. During World War Two allotments again became a major source of food. Allotments
became a common feature in towns and cities. Food production from allotments rose to
1,300,000 tonnes per year from around 1,400,000 plots.
After the War, the diminished need for allotments reduced their numbers - now there
are only around 250,000 and the numbers have halved since 1969.
Allotments and the Law
Allotments are under the control of local councils and are allocated by Act of Parliament.
Councils have a legal obligation to provide the land.
The Roots Organic Community Garden is based on an allotment leased from Worthing Borough Council.
The Council subcontracts the running of the allotments to Continental Landscapes. Rental costs for allotments
vary with area, but are always low. Our second site came with a shed on, and hopefully
soon we may have a greenhouse too! Be sure to check with your allotment committee as
to what activities are allowed and what are not, for example, we are not allowed to
light fires on our site.