Page 38 - ALG Issue 4 2023

readers articles
Allotment Gardening For Those With Special Requirements
A little over 45 years ago at the start of my career supporting those with special needs, I have championed the importance of embracing those with special needs into every facet of community life.
A year into my retirement, I managed to secure a sizeable allotment in the small village of Houghton on the Hill, Leicestershire. The joy I get in not only tending the allotment but also interacting with other plotholders, is immense.
What struck me was the variety of plotholders that seem to mirror the make-up of society: people from all backgrounds and walks of life sharing the joy of allotment life. However, one aspect that troubled me was the lack of those with special needs participating in allotment life, not just on my own allotment but on others too.
The joy I get in not only tending the allotment but also interacting with other plotholders, is immense
As a strong advocate of embracing those with special needs in allotment life, it is widely accepted that gardening is one of the foremost activities that benefits those with special needs.
Although I am aware many allotment sites in the UK are adapting their allotments for those with mobility issues, I wanted to find out why some allotments sites were not attracting those with special needs.
It is fair to say that the most common issue was accessibility where sites were physically unsuitable due to layout. Other issues included the absence of toilet amenities (so important when allotments may be some distance from their homes), car parking, gradients
of pathways, absence of raised beds and finally lack of finance to make adjustments to sites.
38 Allotment and Leisure Gardener