Grow your own in North Herts!

Allotments throughout North Herts have remained open during the coronavirus lockdown and provided residents with much-needed outdoor exercise, home-grown produce and a valuable respite from the stresses of lockdown.

NHDC manages a number of allotment sites in Hitchin and Letchworth. Currently we have a small number of plots available to rent in Letchworth. For more information, please see our allotment webpages.

We spoke to Paul Dee, secretary of Hitchin Allotment Association, about the rise in interest in allotments.

Hitchin Allotment Association started off as an outreach project called Hitchin Youth Allotment in 2016, with the initial hope that there might be half a dozen young people involved, but the scheme quickly became and now has over 250 participants each year.

The organisers have linked up with The Priory School in Hitchin and have groups which come down from organisations such as the Guides and Brownies. The groups undertake a programme of visits and come along to experience the whole growing season, which begins in spring with sowing seeds.

Commenting on the success of the project Paul said: “There’s a real appetite for allotments generally. In Hitchin for the last couple of years every allotment plot has been taken. Very occasionally if one is given up it is rented out very quickly.

There has also been a change in the demographic of those taking up allotments, What we’ve noticed this year is that it is young families that have taken them over.

It was previously more middle-aged or newly retired people, but now they are much younger or single people, perhaps in a flat or with limited outdoor space.

It is also noticeable that in 2020 the standard of allotments has improved as people have been working from home, or on furlough and they are on them more regularly.

Reflecting on a number of unexpected benefits to the lockdown, Paul said: “The main thing that has been nice has been the community aspect. Older people might find heavier work such as digging over harder and there are lots of examples of other allotment holders chipping in to help out and at least a couple of examples of key workers with plots who have been very busy and others have got together and given it a bit of a makeover while they have been at work.”

If people want to get involved before they get an allotment, or don’t want the commitment of their own allotment, volunteering with the youth project, Hitchin Youth Allotment, is a great alternative and can be arranged to fit the time people have available. No skills required as training given. There is more information on the website or email: paulndee22@hotmail.co.uk.