Environment

Stately Homes become 'grow your own' allotments

by Paul Conneally | February 19, 2009 at 01:14 am

380 views | 41 Recommendations | 7 comments

The National Trust is to turn over area of land within the grounds of Stately Homes to become grow your own allotments.

They will make 140 new allotments available to the public to use as allotments and grow their own fresh fruit, vegetables and other plants.

After a long period of neglect the allotment movement in Britain has over the last few years been gaining momentum and people across the UK are queuing up to get allotments from the dwindling stocks as allotments have been bought up and built on by developers since the 80's.

The success of the National Trust allotments in Cotehele in Cornwal has led to this new release and the aim is to create 1000 new allotments over the coming years.

The National Trust is to create 140 new allotments in Cornwall and Devon to help individuals and communities grow their own fruit and vegetables.

The move is part of a scheme by the trust to release enough land for up to 1,000 allotments across the UK by 2012.

The plans include new allotments at Wembury in Devon and adding to those available at Cotehele in Cornwall.

The release will be organised through the Landshare website, which matches growers with available land.

There's something in the air. More and more people want to grow their own fruit and vegetables
National Trust director general Fiona Reynolds
At Wembury, about two hectares of land have been set aside for 40 plots, which will be the first allotments the site has had.

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Uwe Paschen

at 06:09 on February 19th, 2009

We try to get the Government here in Japan to allocate abandoned Privately owned Farm land to those that are home less and or Jobless to allow them to grow they own food.

Amy Judd

at 08:39 on February 19th, 2009

This is such a cool idea - plus those homes are just gorgeous to garden around.

dowdinsk

at 09:27 on February 19th, 2009

Every little helps.

mudricky

at 09:33 on February 19th, 2009

I used to grow things when I had a garden.

Barbara McPherson

at 10:22 on February 19th, 2009

Great news! Fresh air, exercise and fresh veggies -- can't beat that.

judibluemed

at 07:40 on February 21st, 2009

Petworth House, Petworth, West Sussex, England, UK.

Managed by The National Trust, the house and grounds are open to the public. Well worth a visit, even better if there could be an allotment available!

judibluemed has contributed a photo to this story.

Cross Duck

at 03:54 on February 22nd, 2009

If this is well done it should provide a much needed facility and enhance/improve the image of the National Trust itself as concerned with the present as much as the past.

Cross Duck has contributed a photo to this story.