In researching allotment provision, I have come across an oft-quoted report on the issue, commissioned by the 'Ministry of Natural Resources' and published in 1969.
The Thorpe Report recommends that seven plots are made available per 1,000 residents.
Earlier, I highlighted the level of provision locally:
"there are 311 council managed plots and 635 self managed plots available to the 277,421 residents of Sefton Borough Council."
This equates to 3.41 plots per 1,000 residents.
If the recommended number of plots were provided, this would result in an additional 996 allotments for local residents:
=[[7 / 1000] * 277,421] - 635 - 311]
=996
(The current waiting list for council managed plots only is 505.)
From this, I deduce that it is not simply the case that demand in unmanageable; in fact, provision in Sefton is inadequate.
Hopefully, these figures will back up my call for a new site, to be located in Seaforth!
Thursday 27 August 2009
Thursday 20 August 2009
Re: Strategic Allotment Review
[****]
Landscape Management and Development
Leisure Services
Magdalen House
30 Trinity Road
Bootle
L20 3NJ
20th August 2009
Dear [****],
I have recently been in touch with Councillor [****], regarding allotment provision in the Seaforth area.
I don't know if you recall, but we shared e-mail correspondence earlier in the year. At the time, you mentioned that a small plot of council-owned land on Sandy Road might be considered as a site for additional allotments.
However, you also pointed out that it would not be cost-effective to convert such a small site.
Councillor [****] said that you were soon to begin a strategic allotment review, and that as part of this process you would be consulting with individuals on the waiting list(s) for council-managed sites.
Rather than clog up the Crosby waiting list for a position that I would sadly be unable to fill (should the opportunity ever arise), I hope that you will include me in the review having written a letter instead.
I would also be very interested in an update - if there is one - on the Sandy Road site.
As such, I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you, and kind regards,
[SIGNED]
Landscape Management and Development
Leisure Services
Magdalen House
30 Trinity Road
Bootle
L20 3NJ
20th August 2009
Dear [****],
I have recently been in touch with Councillor [****], regarding allotment provision in the Seaforth area.
I don't know if you recall, but we shared e-mail correspondence earlier in the year. At the time, you mentioned that a small plot of council-owned land on Sandy Road might be considered as a site for additional allotments.
However, you also pointed out that it would not be cost-effective to convert such a small site.
Councillor [****] said that you were soon to begin a strategic allotment review, and that as part of this process you would be consulting with individuals on the waiting list(s) for council-managed sites.
Rather than clog up the Crosby waiting list for a position that I would sadly be unable to fill (should the opportunity ever arise), I hope that you will include me in the review having written a letter instead.
I would also be very interested in an update - if there is one - on the Sandy Road site.
As such, I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you, and kind regards,
[SIGNED]
Tuesday 18 August 2009
Review: Future of Food (BBC2)
The 'Future of Food', as forecast by George Alagiah (of BBC newsreading fame), is grim indeed.
"With food riots on three continents recently, and unprecedented competition for food due to population growth and changing diets, the series alerts viewers to a looming problem and looks for solutions."
Watch on BBC iPlayer (until Monday 7th September),
'Gorgeous' George Alagiah was no doubt chosen in order to soften the blow somewhat... This is the opinion of Indy reviewer Brian Viner, who writes:
"Alagiah presented... with a twinkle in his dark eyes and a half-smile playing on his lips, which gave this viewer at least cause for gratitude."
He was not the only thankful viewer, though even Alagiah's cheer appeared to falter at times. The content was frightening (and peppered with statistics chronically lacking in context); the tone was doom-laden.
The following factors were identified as crucial:
Of most interest to me, however, was a snippet of an interview with a Cuban farmer, featured towards the end of the program.
Cuba suffered a major 'oil shock' after the collapse of the Soviet Union (and the cheap, subsidised oil that is the bounty of communism); so much so, that Cuban society was forced to radically readjust in a very short period of time.
Agriculture was at the forefront of this 'revolution', and farmers developed new intensive methods that broke with traditional oil-dependancy. These methods are much more efficient, in terms of 'energy yield per unit area' - but require much more human labour.
Whilst such a model is unlikely to be successful in the West on a commercial scale (as it is not efficient in the capitalist sense), I think this is the perfect argument for massive expansion of the allotment network:
"With food riots on three continents recently, and unprecedented competition for food due to population growth and changing diets, the series alerts viewers to a looming problem and looks for solutions."
Watch on BBC iPlayer (until Monday 7th September),
'Gorgeous' George Alagiah was no doubt chosen in order to soften the blow somewhat... This is the opinion of Indy reviewer Brian Viner, who writes:
"Alagiah presented... with a twinkle in his dark eyes and a half-smile playing on his lips, which gave this viewer at least cause for gratitude."
He was not the only thankful viewer, though even Alagiah's cheer appeared to falter at times. The content was frightening (and peppered with statistics chronically lacking in context); the tone was doom-laden.
The following factors were identified as crucial:
- Ecological devastation (in part caused by global warming),
- Exhaustion of water supplies and other natural resources,
- Globalisation, leading to increased reliance on imports,
- Over-reliance on oil to enhance production,
- Worldwide dietary deficiencies - obesity and starvation,
Of most interest to me, however, was a snippet of an interview with a Cuban farmer, featured towards the end of the program.
Cuba suffered a major 'oil shock' after the collapse of the Soviet Union (and the cheap, subsidised oil that is the bounty of communism); so much so, that Cuban society was forced to radically readjust in a very short period of time.
Agriculture was at the forefront of this 'revolution', and farmers developed new intensive methods that broke with traditional oil-dependancy. These methods are much more efficient, in terms of 'energy yield per unit area' - but require much more human labour.
Whilst such a model is unlikely to be successful in the West on a commercial scale (as it is not efficient in the capitalist sense), I think this is the perfect argument for massive expansion of the allotment network:
- Decreased reliance on oil, water and other natural resources,
- Ecological renewal / biodiversity,
- Improved (and varied) diet & exercise regime,
- Localism / sustainability,
Sunday 16 August 2009
Allotment review
In Southport, Lib Dem councillor John Gibson has been campaigning for improved allotment provision in Sefton. In a question to cabinet member for Leisure & Tourism Ronnie Fearn, Mr Gibson stated:
"There is a significant demand for allotments in Hightown, Crosby, Thornton and other areas of Sefton which is not being adequately met..."
(Of course, these "other areas" include Seaforth!)
In response, Ronnie Fearn "undertook to make sure that the points... raised would be included in the [upcoming allotment] review." The findings of this review are apparently due to be published in a month or so.
I am very much looking forward to it!
"There is a significant demand for allotments in Hightown, Crosby, Thornton and other areas of Sefton which is not being adequately met..."
(Of course, these "other areas" include Seaforth!)
In response, Ronnie Fearn "undertook to make sure that the points... raised would be included in the [upcoming allotment] review." The findings of this review are apparently due to be published in a month or so.
I am very much looking forward to it!
Review: Grow Your Own (BBC2)
On Friday, I watched 'Grow Your Own', described (by its creators) as a "down-to-earth comedy drama inspired by true stories".
Watch on BBC iPlayer (until Friday 21st August),
Read the 'Radio Times' review,
It was predictable stuff: take a popular theme (allotments), add a quaint setting and mix in 21st century political correctness (race relations), dash with Liverpool schmaltz (You'll Never Fork Alone) - and the result is safe, vaguely watchable Friday night viewing.
The heavyweight cast was a surprise.
But in order to witness Omid Djalili working the soil in 2009, and to achieve the ideal of "garden-shed socialism" portrayed in the program (the sheds were painted red for a reason!), it is necessary to join the 505-strong waiting list for an allotment...
I would like to see more discussion of this issue in the mainstream media.
Watch on BBC iPlayer (until Friday 21st August),
Read the 'Radio Times' review,
It was predictable stuff: take a popular theme (allotments), add a quaint setting and mix in 21st century political correctness (race relations), dash with Liverpool schmaltz (You'll Never Fork Alone) - and the result is safe, vaguely watchable Friday night viewing.
The heavyweight cast was a surprise.
But in order to witness Omid Djalili working the soil in 2009, and to achieve the ideal of "garden-shed socialism" portrayed in the program (the sheds were painted red for a reason!), it is necessary to join the 505-strong waiting list for an allotment...
I would like to see more discussion of this issue in the mainstream media.
Saturday 15 August 2009
The issue: availability
According to a Freedom of Information request submitted in February 2009, there are 311 council managed plots and 635 self managed plots available to the 277,421 residents of Sefton Borough Council.
- There are 505 people on waiting lists for council managed sites,
- There is no reliable data for the number of people on waiting lists for self managed sites,
Green shoots...
I moved to Seaforth, near Liverpool, about a year ago, to be with my partner.
We're both keen growers; our front and back yards are green and verdant. They are also somewhat crowded - we had stacks of seeds unsown this year - so we've been looking into allotment availability locally.
She's been on a waiting list for two years, but with little prospect of procuring a plot any time soon, and with local (and national) interest feverish, I've been looking into alternatives.
Currently, there are no council-managed sites in Seaforth.
But there is council-owned land that would be suitable, just five minutes down the road.
This blog catalogues our efforts - and, hopefully, the efforts of like-minded Seaforth residents - to secure a new site on which to indulge our passion for growing!
(Anyone interested in this project can e-mail us at seaforthallotments@googlemail.com)
We're both keen growers; our front and back yards are green and verdant. They are also somewhat crowded - we had stacks of seeds unsown this year - so we've been looking into allotment availability locally.
She's been on a waiting list for two years, but with little prospect of procuring a plot any time soon, and with local (and national) interest feverish, I've been looking into alternatives.
Currently, there are no council-managed sites in Seaforth.
But there is council-owned land that would be suitable, just five minutes down the road.
This blog catalogues our efforts - and, hopefully, the efforts of like-minded Seaforth residents - to secure a new site on which to indulge our passion for growing!
(Anyone interested in this project can e-mail us at seaforthallotments@googlemail.com)
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