Allotments Are A Safe Space In Times Of Crisis | Letter

As a erstwhile allotment holder successful Glasgow, I publication Robin Tyne’s article pinch empathy (‘I joined each list’: nan gruelling hunt for a Glasgow allotment, 2 September). I excessively joined each waiting database successful Glasgow earlier I became a plotholder. There are not capable allotments successful Glasgow and so crossed nan UK. While nan institution Roots and different backstage allotments person a place, they tin ne'er beryllium a replacement for section authority ones. Under nan 2015 Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act, Scottish section authorities person a work to supply allotments. We request to find much abstraction successful our cities for them – spaces that person been proven to amended intelligence and beingness health, astatine an affordable price.

In 1932, nan Scottish allotment strategy for nan unemployed was created. Plots were provided, arsenic good arsenic grants for seeds and tools. The strategy was not conscionable to supply a spot for increasing nutrient but besides seen arsenic preventing a intelligence wellness crisis, moreover though that would not person been said astatine nan time. Plots were recovered connected existing allotment sites, but nan strategy also worked pinch section authorities to create new sites.

We telephone connected allotments successful times of crisis, and I judge our crippled sewage me, my hubby and our babe done nan Covid lockdowns. It gave america a safe extracurricular spot beyond our flat to spell to.

The worth of allotments needs to beryllium recognised by nan government. If we could find other onshore successful nan 1930s, surely we tin do it now without nan request of expensive companies.
Dr Hannah Connelly
Hull