DistantNews
'Gardening is like magic' - Call for more allotment spaces as demand increases
🇮🇪 Ireland /Good News

'Gardening is like magic' - Call for more allotment spaces as demand increases

From RTÉ News · (8h ago) English Positive tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A group representing allotment growers is calling for a significant increase in plots nationwide due to soaring demand, with some areas facing waiting lists of over ten years.
  • The Department of Heritage is preparing to release new guidelines for councils to aid in planning for allotments.
  • Allotments are praised for their community benefits, cost savings on groceries, and positive environmental impact, serving as sanctuaries for people and wildlife.

RTÉ News highlights a growing movement in Ireland advocating for more allotment spaces, driven by a surge in public interest in gardening and sustainable living. The article paints a picture of vibrant community hubs like the Dublin City Council allotments in Raheny, where every plot is occupied and waiting lists stretch for a decade, underscoring a clear and unmet demand.

Gardening is like magic.

— Maria MagdelenaAn allotment holder at Dublin City Council allotments in Raheny, describing her experience.

Maria Magdelena's sentiment, "Gardening is like magic," captures the transformative power of cultivating one's own food, offering both a connection to nature and significant cost savings. This personal benefit is amplified by the communal aspect, as Steve Rawson, chairperson of the Raheny facility, notes the "massive" interest and the decade-long wait he personally endured. The article contrasts the current scarcity with a historical peak in the 1940s, when government initiatives spurred by food security concerns led to around 40,000 plots.

If you manage to grow what you eat, it will give you quite a few meals and it will cost you almost nothing.

— Maria MagdelenaExplaining the cost-saving benefits of growing one's own vegetables.

Dónal McCormack of Community Gardens Ireland articulates a bold vision: 10,000 new allotments and community gardens by the end of the decade. He emphasizes their multifaceted benefits—fostering community cohesion, providing personal sustenance, and creating vital green sanctuaries for both people and wildlife. The recent enactment of legislation placing an onus on local authorities to plan for allotments is a positive step, yet campaigners stress that the current provision, estimated at around 2,500 plots, falls far short of the need, especially when compared to countries like Denmark with a similar population but double the number of plots. From an Irish perspective, this demand reflects a deeper societal shift towards localism, self-sufficiency, and environmental consciousness, values that resonate strongly in communities seeking connection and resilience.

The interest in demand for allotments right across Dublin, but particularly here at the moment, is absolutely massive.

— Steve RawsonThe chairperson of the Raheny allotment facility describes the high demand.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by RTÉ News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog