Are Allotments Still About Growing Food?

Allotments didn’t begin as a hobby. They were first established in the late 18th and early 19th centuries as a response to hardship. As common land disappeared through enclosure, many farm labourers and rural families were left without access to land of their own. Small plots were set aside so people could grow food, supplement low wages, and avoid hunger.

From the beginning, allotments were about more than crops. They were about resilience. Dignity. And giving people some control in uncertain times.

Over the years, their role has shifted again and again - through industrialisation, war, food shortages, and social change. Each time, allotments adapted to meet the needs of the moment.

Which brings us to now.

A new plot holder said to us recently that her children can’t get enough of the allotment.

She’s only had the plot a couple of weeks, but they’re already down there most days - muddy, busy, and completely absorbed. Digging, poking about, asking questions, finding things. Properly enjoying it.

And it got us thinking. Because while growing food has always been part of allotment life, it’s never been the whole story - and that’s becoming clearer now.

What We Say… and What Actually Happens

Traditionally, allotments have been understood as being about food production. That was the dominant focus. Rows of vegetables. Full plots. Knowledge passed down through families. A sense of pride in what you could grow and how much of it you could produce.

And for many people, that still matters enormously. Growing a lot of food remains the main joy of having a plot - and always will be.

But if we’re honest, that’s not the only reason people are here now.

When a bag of potatoes costs very little at the supermarket, most people aren’t taking on a plot purely to save money or maximise food production.

Instead, we see something more varied.

People coming down after work, often tired, doing what they can.
People pottering, slowly improving things bit by bit.
Parents bringing children just to get them outdoors.
People sitting with a brew, planning, thinking, being still for a while.

Some grow enough onions to last all year.
Some grow very little.
Most fall somewhere in between.

And all of that is happening side by side.

So What Are Allotments For Now?

That’s the real question.

Because more and more, what we see at Walton is that allotments are being used for more than just food.

They’re places to switch off.
To step away from screens.
To do something practical with your hands.

For some, it’s about learning - often through trial and error.
For others, it’s about routine and purpose.
For many, it’s simply having a bit of space when everything else feels busy.

And for families, it’s somewhere children can be outside without it being organised, timetabled, or structured.

That might not look like productivity in the traditional sense - but it is use. And it is value.

The Tension We Don’t Always Talk About

While the way people use allotments is changing, expectations haven’t always kept pace.

Plots are still often judged by how productive they look.
How tidy they are.
How much is being grown.

And those things do matter - to a point.

Allotments are working spaces. They need to be safe, manageable, and actively maintained. That’s part of keeping the site fair for everyone, and it’s part of our responsibility as a Society.

At the same time, it raises a question.

If someone is using their plot regularly, caring for it, and getting real benefit from it - but not growing perfect rows of vegetables - are they doing it “wrong”?

Finding the Balance (Especially at Inspection Time)

At Walton, we see both sides of this - particularly at inspection time. We want plots to be cultivated and cared for. That’s essential. But we also see the benefits that don’t show up on a harvest list.

People building confidence.
People meeting others.
People finding breathing space in their week.

That matters too.

Our role during inspections isn’t to judge how good your carrots are, or whether you dig or don’t dig. We don’t see what’s happening underground, and we’re not marking anyone on growing technique.

What we’re looking for is what’s set out in the tenancy agreement and our obligations to the landowner:

• that the plot is being actively cultivated

• that it isn’t overrun or neglected

• that it’s safe and manageable

• and that it’s being used in line with the agreement

That’s what we’re accountable for.

Inspections aren’t about catching people out. They’re about stewardship - making sure the site continues to work well, now and into the future.

So… What Does “Good” Look Like?

There probably isn’t one single answer.

For some, it’s a full plot and a strong harvest.
For others, it’s steady progress and learning as they go.
For others still, it’s simply showing up, getting outside, and doing what they can.

Uniformity might look tidy - but diversity is what keeps a site alive.

Perhaps that’s where things are shifting.
Not away from growing - but towards a broader understanding of what allotments are for, alongside a clear and fair idea of what’s expected.

In the End

Growing food will always be part of allotment life. That won’t change. But it may no longer be the only measure of what a “good” allotment looks like. Because for many people, what they’re really getting from their plot isn’t just food.

It’s time.
Space.
And a reason to keep showing up.

Happy growing.