Allotments - facts and figures

Nationally there are somewhere in the region of 300,000 current plot-holders, compared with a 1943 all-time high of 1,400,000, all resolved to dig, rather than bomb, Adolph Hitler into submission.

For the record a standard allotment measures 325 sq yards; 10 perch in old money.

1). The Small Holdings and Allotments Act of 1908, section 23, states that ‘if… there is a demand for allotments... the council shall provide a sufficient number of allotments to persons...resident in the borough district or parish and desiring the same'. In determining demand an authority must take into consideration a representation in writing by any six registered parliamentary electors or ratepayers'.

You can get the whole story in turgid ‘ministry-speak’ at:

www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmenvtra/560/56016.htm

Or a reader-friendly version at:

www.allotment.org.uk/articles/Allotment-History.php

Lastly, check out: National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardener Ltd at www.nsalg.org.uk

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