Allotments are small parcels of land rented to anyone who wants one (though there is a waiting list) for the purpose of growing fruit and vegetables, or in some cases flowers. Depending on your allotment association or local council animals may be kept there. You may or may not be allowed to build fences, sheds, greenhouses and other structures. A peppercorn rent is charged.
They were born of necessity caused by blockades during wars dating back to Napoleon through WW1 and WW2 where they have been held up as examples of English self-sufficiency and resourcefulness. But there is a darker purpose and they were used as a measure to prevent revolution following the theft of land from the working and agricultural classes by the ruling class during the enclosure acts and other nefarious pieces of class warfare from the 16th Century onwards.
They are normally 10 square rods, which is an old measure equating to approximately 100 feet by 30 feet, an area supposedly sufficient to feed a family of four.
Local councils have an obligation to provide allotments on demand, and they do this very poorly, having in most cases done nothing to meet the increased demand following public concerns about supermarket food and modern agricultural and food processing techniques.
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