Promoting wellbeing with your allotment
08/04/2025
Since lockdown, access to outdoor spaces has proven to be an important part of keeping a happy, healthy lifestyle which is why this year’s National Allotments Week is centred around ‘Allotments and Wellbeing’ .
In previous years, themes of Biodiversity, Living and Growing and Bugs, Bees and Broccoli have been explored through the National Allotment Society (NAS) celebrations of the plots across the country, but this year’s focus on wellbeing is more welcome than ever.
In celebration of National Allotment Week, many communities will run activities to promote their plots and bring their communities together. Here are some activities you could run for your next Allotment event:
- Vegetable competition: Who can grow the biggest potato? Healthy competition is fun for the whole family and will encourage plot holders to grow their own food.
- Flower show: Invite members of your community to enjoy the flowers plot holders have grown and inspire visitors to try growing them at home or even apply for a plot.
- Get creative: Hold an arts and crafts day where plant pots are painted or seasonal wreaths are made. Check out this video on making a wreath out of brussels sprouts and other seasonal veg!
We spoke to one of our customers about the impact that their allotment has on the wellness of their community. This is what we learned…
No Dig Community Allotment
The No Dig Community Allotment (NDCA) in Hull is dedicated to making their allotment a place where people and nature can thrive. By using Charles Dowding’s No Dig technique the soil is left as undisturbed as possible, meaning moisture and carbon are retained, improving drainage. Because of this, the ground is much richer in nutrients, allowing the community at the NDCA to grow their own fruit, veg and herbs.
The plot itself has a patch of untouched land where natural habitats can continue to develop and thrive. Wildflowers are left to grow and hedgerows and willows have been planted to naturally reduce flooding. To promote biodiversity further, the community have built hedgehog houses and dead hedges where birds can nest and insects can safely forage for food. Using pruned branches in this way reduces the need for bonfires or garden bin waste and creates a project that can be ongoing each time the allotment is ‘tidied’ up. This form of gardening also encourages wildlife and the plot itself has a patch of untouched land where wildflowers and willow flourish and reduce flooding. The community have built a hedgehog house and dead hedges to encourage biodiversity in the space and take the opportunity to learn about the plants and animals that this attracts.
Francesca, a member of the allotment, emphasized the mental and physical health benefits of access to the allotment has, noting that they are 'proactively looking to connect people with nature’, teaching the community how to be resourceful in food growth and make the most of the harvested produce. The community share recipes to make sure that no food is wasted and get together to make chutneys, cakes and even bath oils from lavender. Any surplus food is then donated to neighbours, friends and family as well as the local church or foodbank, depending on resources, and they regularly hold tea and cake meetings to encourage others to enjoy the allotment with them.
With the plot being a No Dig Space, heavy work is minimised meaning that people of all ages are able to get involved creating a diverse community. Francesca spoke about how the plot have applied to their local GP practice to be part of their social prescribing as they recognise how people ‘benefit from the outside space’ and the positive impact the community has on mental health by ‘reducing the feeling of isolation’. Their 2024 Newsletter describes how children got involved throughout the year, teaching the adults ‘to play Dobble’ and ‘making “meals” from mud and flowers’ showing how much fun the community have together.
The NDCA not only promotes sustainable gardening practices but also adopts a sense of community and resourcefulness, making sure that everyone benefits from the outside space and fresh produce. It is a community that embodies the National Allotments Week theme of Allotments and Wellbeing.
To learn more about the No Dig Community Allotment, please visit their Facebook page.
Further reading
After learning about the NDCA, there is no doubt that allotments promote the wellness of the community around them, but if you’re interested in more of the benefits and considerations needed when running one, take a look at these articles:
