See a wartime allotment

Scottish agricultural students will showcase 50 different vegetables within a commemorative First World War allotment project at the Royal Highland Show.

The collaborative project, on display within the show’s countryside area, was carried out by members of SRUC’s Oatridge campus and their agriculture and horticulture lecturers, as well as representatives from Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (Sasa) and the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society.

“This year’s display finds its roots in the important role that food production played to counteract restrictions caused by the war in 1917, when the German navy sank 230 ships bringing food and supplies to Britain,” said a college spokesman.

“At the end of 1917 people began to fear the country was beginning to run out of food. Panic buying led to shortages and so in January 1918 the Ministry of food decided to introduce rationing.”

It was during this time both the Women’s Land Army and the Preston Committee were established.

The Land Army provided voluntary labour with Land girls replacing servicemen who had left farms to fight in the campaign, while the Preston Committee secured 700 plots for allotments in the town’s parks and other public land to grow food.

To illustrate the historical background for this project, the SRUC’s agricultural staff and students constructed hayricks.

Horticultural staff and students then cultivated a wide range of food crops grown during that period, including Scotland’s oldest vegetable – Shetland cabbage (kale).

“We believe this is a unique opportunity to see this historic vegetable in cultivation and we are extremely grateful to Sasa for providing the seed of the nine different types on display,” said SRUC horticulture lecturer George Gilchrist.

“I would like to thank everyone involved with the project and especially the Royal Highland Society for inviting us to take part.”

The allotment can be seen within the Countryside Cottage garden, throughout the duration of the Royal Highland Show.

SRUC students have created a commemorative allotment project within the Royal Highland Show’s Countryside Area.