Saturday, April 9, 2011

Families snap up allotments to join the 'grow your own' revolution

Every moment they can spare, you'll find Chris and Helen Wright down amongst the potatoes and runner beans.

Although they both hold full-time jobs, the couple have joined the "grow your own" revolution with their children Emily, nine, and Tom, seven.

Sickened by soaring supermarket prices and switched on to healthy eating, the family is just one of the many snapping up allotment plots across the East Riding.

At least 844 people in towns across the county have opted to grow their own fresh produce in allotments and waiting lists are approaching another 800.

"What we grow ourselves tastes so much better than what you buy in the supermarket," said Mr Wright, of Marsh Drive, Beverley.

"Shop prices are getting more and more expensive but we can feed our family for almost next to nothing.

"It's hard work but enjoyable and rewarding."

The popularity of tending allotments has been put down to the likes of celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who has championed the growth of organic fruit and vegetables.

A website he has launched to put would-be growers in touch with landowners with plots to spare currently has registered 21 people asking for plots and nine people offering land in East Yorkshire.

Around 100 new allotments have been just made available in Market Weighton, with more than half of these snapped up within days.

Furthermore, a number of parish councils are meeting soaring demand by halving existing ones when they become free.

The cost of allotments often depends on the size – a 300 square metre plot is �35 per year at East Riding Council-run sites.

Beverley has the highest demand for allotments, with 332 currently on its list.

East Riding Council has 232 applicants waiting for one of its 25 plots across its Keldgate, Lairgate and North Bar sites, with some having waited since 1998.

There are around 100 on the list for 200 plots at Beverley Town Council-run sites at Spark Mill, Kitchen Lane and Queensgate, who can expect to wait at least three years before a plot becomes free.

In an effort to reduce waiting times and meet the demand, the town council has halved its 230 sq metre plots, creating 22 extra over the last 18 months.

Allotment holder Steve Johnson said: "Halving the plots has been a great idea, not just to reduce the waiting list but to give those who are elderly or working full-time a more manageable plot."

Goole, Driffield and Hornsea Town Councils also adopt the practice of dividing plots.

The second highest demand for allotments is in Goole, which has seen a record number of applicants with a current list of 279. Just three years ago, many of the town council's 209 plots across 11 were vacant.

Bridlington has the third highest demand with 98 on its list.

Last week, Market Weighton Town Council began accepting applications for 95 plots in a 7.6 acre field in Holme Road Allotments which it bought last year.

Town mayor Councillor Peter Hemmerman said: "The news of the new allotments has been really well received. We'll have no problem filling them.

"More and more people are wanting to eat healthier food with fewer chemicals, and know to where there food is coming from.

"Modern houses are so small that many people don't have room to grow their own in their gardens.

To find put more, visit through www.landshare.net



Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503342/s/140bf46e/l/0L0Sthisishullandeastriding0O0Cnews0Cve0Ejoined0Egrow0Erevolution0Carticle0E34285770Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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