WOULD you like an allotment?

Have you ever dreamed of one but don’t know where they are or how to get on a list?

Transition Town Wellington (TTW) found that it was really hard to find the details of your nearest site, so we worked on producing a comprehensive list of all the allotments in Taunton Deane, to make them easier to find.

This can be found on our website - ttw.org.uk/allotments - so you can now get your name on a waiting list.

Allotments are so great for the environment, increasing our food security in the face of climate change and an ever increasingly fragile food supply.

Eating organic, locally-grown produce is one of the best things you can do to cut your carbon footprint, as it reduces our reliance on industrial farming.

There’s zero food miles, zero plastic packaging, plus with the mental and physical health rewards, the enhanced feeling of community as we learn and share from other allotment holders, so many of us would benefit from spending some of our time growing our own.

With all these benefits, we need more land turned to allotments, so there can be enough plots to go around, close enough to where people live.

Our councils and government can really help, but they are not going to provide space for allotments, or see them as a high priority, if they think people aren’t interested in them!

So, please answer our survey if you would like an allotment - www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5NF52FY. It will only take about 3-4 minutes and is anonymous, (please do this now - it’s closing on October 6!).

We are using the survey to influence SWT Council’s new allotment strategy.

The last one, written in 2009, was pretty good, and some new sites have been included in new housing estates.

But we have the chance to make it better, and ensure new sites function how they are intended.

The council isn’t the only method of getting a new allotment site. If a group of people get together, the NSALG will help you form an allotment association and set up a new site!

So what are we waiting for? Let’s start an allotment revolution!

HELEN GILLINGHAM Transition Town Wellington