Southsea group support local residents as demand for allotments rise
A growing number of people are renting allotments in an attempt to eat healthily and stay within a budget.
A survey by the Association for Public Service Excellence recorded that almost 87% of local authorities are reporting an increased demand for allotments.
Southsea Green Association is working with Portsmouth Council to encourage local growing and to campaign for sustainability, recycling and reduction of waste. The group consists of gardeners with small plots and volunteers who use the garden to benefit the community.
Jenni Van Wijk, organiser at Southsea Green Group, said: “We aim to educate people around the benefits of growing their own food, how to do it, how to be more sustainable and show people the health benefits of spending time in the great outdoors.”
The association recently held an open day at Southsea Green Clarence Esplanade, to raise money for their local community garden.
Visitors had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful garden, meet volunteers, take part in a scavenger hunt and a raffle.
The group say at a time when there is a such an increase in demand for allotments, they are looking for more volunteers to help water, plant, weed and run events.
Van Wijk, said: “We’ve applied for lots of funding opportunities to help us reach more people and do the things that we have wanted to do for a while but haven’t had the resources to do. You don’t even have to be a volunteer.”
