The National Allotment Society, otherwise known as NAS, is the leading organisation for the allotment community all over the country. They work with various organisations and the government to provide, promote and preserve allotments for all. The theme for this year's National Allotments Week (11th-17th August) is allotments and wellbeing.
Why not get involved with National Allotments Week, and discover the many benefits of joining in with this traditional pastime:
- Having an allotment can help you live a healthier lifestyle. An allotment allows you to choose what you grow and harvest, as well as organic ways of keeping your plants healthy. You can also grow varieties that you might not find in the shops.
- Meet new people and make new friends with fellow plot-holders. Sharing advice and experiences with other allotment owners while you work can be a real bonding activity.
- Save money on expensive supermarket fruit and vegetables.
- Getting outdoors within nature and plants is good for our mental health and wellbeing. Spending as little as 15 minutes a day out in the summer sunshine can build up our levels of vitamin D which is essential for healthy teeth and bones.
- The exercise that comes with gardening on an allotment can be great for your physical health. Get those joints moving and limbs stretching. Did you know that just 30 minutes of gardening on your allotment can burn around 150 calories, the same as doing low impact aerobics.
- Help your community to keep thriving as well as essential wildlife that may inhabit in and around allotments.
- Having your own plot of land to lay out however you like can really get your creativity flowing, not only will you feel a sense of achievement when you’ve grown your first vegetable but also provide a sense of enjoyment.
Happy gardening!
