Should allotments be full of flowers too?
In your January issue I was disappointed to read the implied criticism in a letter about an allotment given over to flowers. There is too much discord in the world without it spreading into allotments, which are sanctuaries. For some plot holders, it may be their only outside space and they crave beauty as well as produce. Fruit and veg nourish our body, while flowers nourish our soul, not to mention our pollinators.
Joyce Gordon-Puddifoot, Buckinghamshire
In January, Monty touched on what should be allowed to grow on allotments. I have been growing plants for over 80 years – when I started, allotments were used just to produce food, because there were no supermarkets or greengrocers in rural areas. The inclusion of vegetables in the diet remains as vital today as it was then, and they have to be grown somewhere. The real question is what is best for the future of mankind and the planet? Should our food be grown in large factorytype units and require many air miles to reach us, losing some of its quality and taste? Or is it better to grow locally on an allotment, where the quality will be superb and growers get exercise and the satisfaction of knowing their food has not been treated with chemicals. I therefore think that some non-edibles on an allotment should be allowed, but all allotments MUST grow some produce to eat too.
Bob Musgrave, Somerset