Allotments should be exempt from restrictions?

[GnomeDePlume]

And people should be encouraged to get onto their plots?

We are going to have less commercially grown fresh fruit & vegetables this summer because of a lack of pickers both in UK & across Europe.

There are around 300,000 plotholders across the UK. We cant feed the UK but each plot well cultivated can take a household out of the demand this summer.

This is a busy time of year for plotholders: preparing beds, sowing seeds, planting out. Plotholders should be being encouraged to get onto their plots as often as they can and for as long as they can to maximise their production this year.

You are allowed to go to allotments. Gove confirmed.

www.nsalg.org.uk/news/covid19-information/

They are allowed. I have been twice and chatted with the council representative there.

You are allowed.

People are at the ones half a mile down the road from me.

However national allotment society (link above) advises being sensible (i.e don't take the piss or you'll ruin it for everyone)

I know we are allowed to go as our once-per-day exercise but I am talking about a change of emphasis and that we should be encouraging people to go.

We shouldnt be limited to once per day, that plotholders should be encouraged to get onto their plots as often as possible and for as long as possible. DH and I are rationing our weekend plot visits. Normally we would go a couple of times per day at the weekend, a couple of hours in the morning then home for a rest then back out in the afternoon.

You are allowed to go and government advice is exercise ONCE a day BUT there is nothing to stop anyone going out more than that.
As long as you don’t come in contact with other people you could go multiple time’s a day- we go up for 3-4 hours at a time a few times a week. It’s a godsend. No contact with other people, even if we do see someone the plots are big, individual ones.

You can go out more than once a day. You can go out multiple times a day if you like if you practice social distancing.

You just need a reasonable excuse and as going to your allotment is not expressly forbidden you can go. Have a read of the actual legislation and you’ll find it is not the same as the government guidelines which is advisory.

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/made

The problem is the language being used and the social 'rules' being created.

'Allowed', 'not expressly forbidden' all give an impression that this is something which could be taken away at a moment's notice. I know that a number of my fellow allotmenteers are eyeing up sown seed trays and wondering which can be taken home and which will be sacrificed if further restrictions are imposed.

The language does not give confidence. Reliably growing food on an allotment is all about commitment at the start. You put your spade in the ground in the expectation that come spring you will be planting up. In early summer, or even before, harvests start (we are already enjoying rhubarb).

Take that confidence away and fewer allotmenteers will start the season.

Each home grown bowl of fruit, plate of vegetables leaves more on supermarket shelves for others to buy.

No need to encourage. Allotments here are heaving with people

I have almost filled mine with potatoes thinking that if we are stopped from going there later they will largely look after themselves as long as it rains. I had plans to grow all sorts of interesting things but have put them on hold

@OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow not the case everywhere. My allotment field is seeing a distinct lack of action. Normally a few days of good weather would see everyone on their plots beavering away. Not this year. A lot more caution about what is being started as described by Lillyhatesjaz.

I agree with you op. If I grow more, I buy less and leave more for others.

I'm surprised your site is quiet tho, maybe more plot holders in shielding group??

Had a lovely 6 hours on the plot at the weekend. My gardening business may be on hold for the mo but I'll have the finest allotment in the land.

YANBU.

But the government will not want to in any way indicate they think there'll be food shortages.

once you are going for exercise, and once for food surely?

I have planted potatoes too. I hope to plant some other stuff.

Out of the several hundred on our site, I only know of 1 person who can fully sustain all of their food from their allotment and buy very little extra from the shops. And she works on it full time all year round. There's at least 6 plots which don't even grow food, it's all cut flowers 1 of which is entirely dahlias for show competitions.

Allotmenting isn't going to support the food chain (which isn't running out anyway). Its just a nice recreational hobby which you are allowed to do.

Have you considered the lack of visitors to their allotments may be because they are isolating, symptomatic, or live with someone who is?

Agree. I don't think the volume of produce is significant but it's very positive activity. I went to mine at the weekend and it was busy. I agree that potholders need to be careful. Some were doing a lot of shouting-chatting and if it ended up looking sociable, however distanced, we could be stopped from going. People alone, working no problem. It made life feel normal and calm and peaceful. I felt very lucky to have that option.

Sorry op but you’re talking out of ya arse crack! Nobody is being prevented from spending time on their allotment. Just because your allotments are quiet doesn’t mean they all are.

My dad gave up his allotment a few years ago but he’d often spend from 9 am until 7pm beavering away there. One visit a day was plenty for him!

I grow some fresh veggies in my new build back garden and I’m sure house prices will plummet when everyone knows I grow broad beans, spuds, beetroot, carrot, lettuce, oak-Choi, tomatoes and cucumber with varying degrees of success and I even tried my hand at squash and pumpkin last year.

Small garden, easily big enough to provide 50% of our veggies throughout summer months. But couldn’t feed the two of us (DH is vegetarian) all year. Now I might have a go at cabbage this year.

Nobody is being prevented from spending all day on their allotment.

don't know about all allotments but ours has not had the water turned back on so useless with no water. We got an email saying something about only doing essential ground maintenance.
We sowed some seeds at home just before lockdown was looking forward to moving them to the allotment in the coming weeks.
Now I'm going to try grow them on the balcony will cucumbers,runners beans and tomatoes grow on a balcony?

They are allowed

I have put onions, garlic and strawberries in mine and will add potatoes this weekend as they will all largely take care of themselves. If I can get my leeks in later as well that would be fab. The more intensive stuff I will do in my garden (fortunate to have this option) just in case allotments get locked down.

Now I'm going to try grow them on the balcony will cucumbers,runners beans and tomatoes grow on a balcony?

They should. Lots of people grow on balconies. Good luck!

Ours are open. They have a timetable to keep users separated, so allotments next to each other aren’t in at the same time and there are instructions to clean gates etc.

Where is anyone finding any plants or compost or any other materials though??