Date published: 2025-08-11 | Category: Delivering for local residents
The importance of allotments in promoting a healthier lifestyle as well as supporting biodiversity has been highlighted by Bath & North East Somerset Council ahead of National Allotments Week which starts today (August 11).
Councillors visited Monksdale Road Allotments in Bath alongside representatives of Bath Allotments Association and local allotment holders to talk about how valuable allotments are in supporting nature and encouraging people to enjoy the great outdoors.
Monksdale Allotments is a vibrant site bringing together members of the community who support each other. The allotments have been successfully trialling offering smaller ‘starter plots’ which can be less daunting to people new to allotment gardening.
Bath Allotments Association is an independent not-for-profit organisation supporting allotment holders across Bath. To mark National Allotments Week it is holding a Growing Perennial and Unusual Vegetables event on August 16 from 11am to12.30pm at Foxhill Allotments and various sites in Bath will be developing on site wildlife habitats over the weekends.
The annual National Allotments Week run by the National Allotments Society this year has the theme ‘Allotments & Wellbeing’ and highlights the positive impacts allotments have on people’s physical and mental health, connections with their community and provision of healthy food.
The council supports allotment gardening across the area and manages 24 allotment sites across Bath. Parish councils and other local organisations are responsible for allotments in North East Somerset.
The council is also currently refreshing its Food Strategy to put healthy, sustainable and locally sourced food at the heart of communities and has begun to gather feedback from local partners. Residents will be invited to take part in a survey and in-person sessions later this year.
Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Bath and North East Somerset, said: “It was fascinating to visit the vibrant Monksdale Allotments to see regenerative and nature-positive gardening practices in action and hear from allotment holders about what matters to them.
“Allotments encourage people to get out into nature, to exercise and to grow healthy food and National Allotments Week is a time to reflect on how valuable allotments are in improving our mental wellbeing and socialisation. Taking home produce that you have grown yourself is also hugely rewarding. Some of the allotments we manage are popular and in high demand, but I’d encourage everyone to consider whether they could take up allotment gardening and reap the lifestyle benefits.”
Erica Draisey, Chair of Bath Allotments Association, said: “There has been a real surge in demand for allotments as people recognise the value of growing their own food, connecting with nature and being part of a community. It’s vital for these valuable green spaces to be protected and developed for future generations.”
CropDrop is a project coordinating the redistribution of allotment produce to community organisations in Bath & North East Somerset and has recently launched its newest group in Larkhall in Bath. CropDrop, (link to be added) 9 allotments across BANES are donating bountiful fresh produce weekly to affordable food projects.
Get Growing Trail has an event in Chew Magna and many in the wider Bristol area to explore green spaces and get involved with community growing.