Page 44 - ALG Issue 4 2022

readers articles Custodians of the soil
We rent our allotment plots, and as custodians of the soil we pass our plots on to future generations of allotment holders. My partner and I have rented an allotment plot for 34 years, and over those years the loss of insect pollinators has increased. This year there’s been a noticeable eerie silence.
Both the IPCC (Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change) and the UK environment agency have warned of a catastrophic loss of biodiversity. Our number one priority for the National Allotment Society with a national declared ‘Climate and Biodiversity Emergency’, ought to be to write a policy banning all pesticide, herbicide, and insecticides. A zero tolerance to these chemicals is the only way forward to prevent a further catastrophic depletion of biodiversity.
These toxic chemicals destroy the living organisms within the soil and reduce the abundance of worms. In Prof Dave Goulson’s book ‘Silent Earth’ (2021), he explains how the catastrophic decline of insect pollinators has created a domino effect resulting in the reduction of a 60% loss of those birds that rely on insects in their diet. Sadly, the RSPB have many of our favourite birds on the list of threatened extinction.
We need every allotment plotholder in England (which is an estimated 330,000 plots) to individually and collectively stop using these toxic chemicals. A massive team effort would create phenomenal change. While we await a ban, we could in the meantime create a movement where collectively allotment sites could sign up to declaring themselves ‘Pesticide Free.’
There are a few simple positive steps we can take to reverse the collapse of biodiversity. One of which is to garden organically. We can buy seeds which have the soil association logo, which are organically certified. They may appear expensive compared to cheap seeds bought in supermarkets and garden centres, but just setting one plant
aside each year for seed saving would save lots of money year after year. This would work effectively, if collectively,
on allotment sites each plotholder agreed to save different seeds so a huge diverse range of seeds could be saved, and seed swapped.
I often wonder what previous generations would think of us being so reliant on shop bought seeds and compost. The multi-nationals who dominate the commercial seed market are not transparent about what man- made chemicals are contained within
I often wonder what previous generations would think of us being so reliant on shop bought seeds and compost
their products. Prof Goulson’s team of researchers analysed plants bought from garden centres labelled bee- friendly and they discovered 97% of them contained pesticides.
The National Allotment Society has
the influence to lead the way to implementing change. They could ask each plotholder to set aside 10% of their plot to create a wildlife area of plants that are hugely beneficial to insect pollinators such as rosemary, lavender, catmint, marjoram, thyme, verbena, poppies, borage, comfrey and phacelia. A tiny pond on each plot would encourage frogs and newts. Setting aside strips of wildflower patches on allotment sites would also help increase biodiversity. ‘No Mow May’ on grass paths would help enable solitary bees, honeybees and hoverflies access to an early food source such as dandelions.
We need to make these changes NOW! As custodians of these small plots of rented land, we need to adopt organic gardening methods, nurture the soil and enable nature to thrive so we can proudly look the next generation in the eye and say ‘We did our best in restoring biodiversity’.
Sarah Sheard @allotmentcollective
Daniel Powell’s Little Garden
Bishop’s Castle Allotment Society has an attractive wildlife garden created by eight-year-old Daniel Powell.
It has two small ponds, flower beds and a selection of stone features. As well as attracting wildlife such as frogs, toads, mice and voles, insects, and other invertebrates, the garden is also home to man-made gnomes, lizards, and bees, making it look colourful with interesting corners and features at every turn.
Daniel’s parents regularly garden on their allotment, whilst Daniel keeps himself occupied by tending his own garden. Daniel even designed and created his own little boat for one of his ponds. We are now calling him ‘Monty Dan’.
44 Allotment and Leisure Gardener