In the midst of urban landscapes and bustling cities, green spaces offer a breath of fresh air and a connection to nature. However, not all communities in the UK have equal access to these invaluable resources. Recent findings from Friends of the Earth reveal a stark reality: a significant portion of England’s population lacks access to quality local green spaces, with nearly 10 million people residing in neighbourhoods deprived of these essential amenities. And the inequality is stark: According to the same study, “almost 40% of people of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds (BAME) live in England’s most green space-deprived neighbourhoods” while the University of Sheffield found that the most deprived areas have seen eight times more allotment closures than the wealthiest areas.
Community gardens play a vital role in addressing this disparity by providing accessible green spaces where people can come together, cultivate plants, and foster a sense of belonging. These communal patches of land offer numerous benefits to individuals and communities alike, serving as vibrant hubs for social interaction, environmental stewardship, and food production.
One form of community gardening deeply rooted in British culture is the allotment. Historically, allotments have served as spaces where individuals can grow their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers, promoting self-sufficiency and healthy living. However, the threat of land development looms large, with allotment land shrinking by a staggering 65 percent since the mid-1900s, according to a study by the University of Sheffield. The Guardian also found that the waiting list for allotments almost doubled in the last 12 years with an average waiting time for a plot being three years, although the most extreme cases can lead up to a 15 year wait.
Read full blog here. This blog was originally written and published for the Environmental Law Foundation.
Renee Karunungan 