London has lost more than 1,500 allotment plots over the past decade according to a report published by the London Assembly today.
The report, A Lot to Lose: London’s disappearing allotments, follows an investigation by the London Assembly’s Environment Committee led by Peter Hulme Cross AM which shows the loss of allotments is occurring at three levels – the number of site, the number of plots, and the area of land used for allotments.
Launching the report Mr Hulme Cross said "all over London, where the pressure for land is intense, allotments are losing ground in our urban landscape."
Hulme Cross highlighted the campaign by the "the close-knit community at the 100-year-old Manor Gardens site in Newham" who he says are "currently fighting plans to bulldoze their allotments to make way for the Olympics development."
"It is essential that action is taken to protect the capital’s allotments, and I believe the recommendations in this report outline the first steps towards their sustainable future."
According to the report a growing interest in organic food has led to ancreased level in interest in allotment gardening, particularly among women and young families.
The full report is available at www.london.gov.uk/assembly
