3.6 C
West Bridgford
Monday, February 10, 2025

Roots brings 350 community allotments to Ruddington

Roots is a provider of shared spaces for local food production, has partnered with a local landowner in Ruddington to create vibrant allotment gardens for the community.

The new allotments are set to open this summer with 350 plots, providing members with the education, equipment, and tools to cultivate their own food.

Roots will supply all the necessary tools, seeds, plants, and education making the allotment more accessible for members whether it’s by foot, bicycle, or public transport.

No sheds or other structures will be permitted on the site and Roots and its members will follow the no-dig technique to build soil health on the field.

Growers will be supported in producing nutrient-dense food without the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, or herbicides.

- Advertisement -

Roots will collaborate with the local community members to boost the site’s biodiversity by as much as 100 per cent. This will include planting fruit and nut tree orchard, native hedgerows, creating insect habitats, and transforming arable land into wildflower meadows.

Roots Allotments team welcomes growers to Nottingham.jpg
Roots Allotments team welcomes growers to Ruddington.

This community initiative follows similar successful Roots projects in Leeds, Croydon, Stourbridge and Bath. With this new site, Roots now operates seven allotments nationwide, addressing the rising demand for allotments and easing the pressure on council waiting lists.

The site will provide nutritiously-dense and chemical-free food to local families. This is more important than ever given that data from The Food Foundation charity has shown that in January 60 per cent of food-insecure households said they could not afford to buy as much fruit as they usually do. And 44 per cent said they were buying fewer vegetables than normal.

The number of people waiting for a council allotment has nearly doubled over the past 12 years to more than 157,000.

Waiting times have also significantly increased, with waits of up to 15 years in some areas. Nottinghamshire faces similar challenges, with average waiting times being more than two years due to considerable demand. Making opening sites like these more important than ever for local communities.

To support the launch, Roots has just recruited a new patch manager who will be the champion of the growing community and will support their members and visitors in growing fantastic local produce.

Christian Samuel, one of the founders of Roots Allotments, said: “For me, this project is particularly special as Nottingham is where I was born. I’m going back to my roots, so to speak, and giving back to the community where I was born is incredibly fulfilling. The overwhelming initial interest has been heartening.

“We are really pleased to offer local residents the chance to grow their own nutritious, chemical-free fruits and vegetables, whether someone is an experienced grower or a complete novice, our growing communities are welcome to all.

“Equally important is the opportunity to spend time outdoors, connect with the community, and engage with nature.

“Access to council allotments has become extremely limited, particularly in cities like Nottingham, due to increasing financial pressures on councils.”

In addition to providing allotment patches, Roots partners with local schools, charities, and initiatives to enhance education, access to surplus produce, and provide opportunities for work across its growing communities.

To pre-register for Nottingham allotments click here: https://www.rootsallotments.com/coming-to-nottingham-soon

Follow The Wire on TikTok, Facebook, X, Instagram. Send your story to newsdesk@westbridgfordwire.com or on 0115 772 0418

Categories:
 

 

Latest