Why cultivate an allotment?

• Relaxation/stress relief - what better way to unwind than to spend some time gardening, away from the stresses of modern city living?
• Fresh air and exercise - gardening is recommended as an excellent form of exercise for people of all ages and abilities.
• Fresh produce - home-grown crops are always far tastier than those bought in the shops, and at a fraction of the price.Why not grow your own 5 a day?
• Organic produce - there is real concern about the possibility of chemical residues in food. Cultivating your allotment organically can ensure that your vegetables are chemical free.
• GM-free food - be sure that the food you eat is free of genetically modified product!
• Community groups and allotments associations - allotments are a great way of meeting other like-minded people from right across the community. If you wish, you could get involved in your allotment association.
• Open spaces - along with our parks and open spaces, allotment sites form the "green lungs" of the city. By cultivating an allotment you will be helping to ensure their preservation well into the future.
• Wildlife - a working allotment can be a wildlife haven, with foxes, badgers, slow-worms, birds and a host of other wildlife living right in the middle of the city.
• Herbs, fruit and flowers - allotments are not just about straight rows of vegetables. Many tenants grow flowers, fruit, herbs and spices, to get the most out of their allotment.
• No garden? - for people without a garden at home, their allotment is their garden and many tenants fill their plot with plantings and features as if it was their own garden!
• Convenience - Bristol has over 4000 allotments in100 sites spread all over the city. So wherever you live in Bristol, an allotment site should not be far away.