Getting an allotment
Growing fruit, veg and flowers on a plot is a fantastic way to give wildlife a place to feed and live – and a great way to get wildlife working for you too! Keeping an allotment will get you outside, keeping fit and working with nature, and you’ll literally get to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
What is an allotment and how do I rent one?
- Allotments are plots of land loaned to people to grow fruit, vegetables and other plants.
- Renting an allotment won’t break the bank – many local councils let them for as little as £20 a year. Sometimes they can be rented privately.
- If the rules allow, you could make your plot extra wildlife-friendly by creating a pond.
- Plant wildlife-friendly flowers alongside your veg to give helpful bugs like ladybirds and lacewings good reason to visit – they’ll keep the aphids under control.
What to grow for wildlife
- Whatever you choose to grow on an allotment, you can minimise harm to wildlife and maintain natural balance on your plot by using organic methods.
- Piling up the compost is a great source of food and shelter for local wildlife and helps your fruit and veg grow big and tasty too. Hedgehogs sometimes use composts heaps to shelter in and if you like cabbages, you’ll be glad of the slug control.
- Soft fruit bushes are fantastic for birds such as blackbirds and thrushes, though they may be stripped of raspberries and currants before you have time to harvest them yourself! Some allotment associations don't allow these fruits to be grown.
- Companion planting can keep pests off your crops. Plant marigolds next to tomatoes and aphids will stay away as they don’t like the smell. Bees and butterflies will enjoy the flowers, too.
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