How To Celebrate National Allotments Week
National Allotments Week (10-16 Aug) started 18 years ago as a way of raising awareness of allotments and the role they play in helping people to live healthier lifestyles, grow their own food, develop friendships and bolster communities.
The theme for National Allotments Week 2020 is ‘Growing food for health and wellbeing’. There are so many health benefits from growing, cooking and eating your own fresh produce.
Confirmed findings of health improvements as a result of gardening:
- Reduced blood pressure
- Improved mental health
- Lowered depression and anxiety
- Reduced stress
- Increased physical fitness
Growing your own produce doesn’t mean that you need to have half an acre of land at your disposal. Even if the only space you have available is a windowsill, you can still grow fresh herbs and chillies.
Perhaps you have a balcony? Give tomatoes or runner beans a go.
If you lucky enough to have more space available, the following are some of the easiest crops to get started with if you aren’t a seasoned grower!
- Salad leaves
- Radishes
- Potatoes
- Peas
- Spring onions
- Broad beans
- Onions
- Garlic
- Strawberries
- Beetroot
- Courgettes
- Carrots
With more fresh fruit and veg growing for you and your loved ones, you may be interested in our 7 inspiring ways to cook your 5-A-Day.
If you would be interested in taking your fresh produce growing to the next level, you can apply for an allotment space here. (Available in England and Wales only)
