With the rise in media coverage, the increased cost of fresh food, the desire to know what is in the food we eat and the drive towards taking health activity, the interest in allotment gardening has been steadily increasing, while the provision has remained static or declined.

A look at the national averages shows that the number of allotment plots available in Llanelli is well below what it should be, and the waiting lists held by allotment providers bares out this point. Llanelli’s Green Network Partnership, facilitated by Foothold Regeneration, has therefore decided to look at providing more allotment plots in Llanelli.

A strategic group has been drawn together, including the authorities that will manage and maintain the new sites. Four sites have been identified, including three smaller community-based sites and one major strategic site, all on land which has little or no environmental value, being rough grass that is regularly fly tipped and unmaintained. Funding has been secured to commission some site investigation work to check the sites for suitability as Llanelli has a huge industrial past and we need to be sure that the land is not contaminated or providing habitat specialist habitat for endangered species and this work is due to start shortly.

The Green Network will make grant applications to secure the capital funding, to create state of art allotment spaces, with water supplies, sheds and paths, and security fencing which the partnership are hoping to have some available for the 2010 growing season.

Allotments are a haven for wildlife, the cultivated and empty plots, nectar-producing plants, compost heaps, grass areas, sheds and stores, and the boundary hedges and banks all provide a variety of habitats, attracting birds, insects and small mammals. They are places in which individuals can have a real impact in helping biodiversity.

In particular many insects, spiders and invertebrates thrive in areas of ‘weedy’ vegetation such as vacant plots, and because this type of habitat has been virtually eliminated from farmland these corners of urban areas can have an unexpectedly high wildlife value. Any area of allotments should not seek to be too tidy!

By managing allotments in an environmentally friendly manner you can help provide a good environment for many types of beneficial creatures, which assist the gardener in a number of ways:

• Insects pollinate the flowers of fruit and vegetable plants in their search for nectar.
• Birds, insects and other creatures devour garden pests such as aphids, mealy bugs and whiteflies.
• Earthworms help maintain the soil’s quality.

The Green Network is receiving more enquiries from communities that want to create allotment space for their communities and the Green Network Project Manager will continue to work with these groups to help them achieve their objectives. For further information please contact Richard Davie at Foothold Regeneration on 01554 779910.