Go green before growing grey

 Hundreds of people could go grey before going green due to a chronic shortage of allotments in Rossendale

 That’s why the Rossendale Climate Change Group (RCCG) is calling on people to campaign for more allotments to enable them to enjoy a growing hobby. Growing your own, whether it’s in an allotment or a garden keeps you fit, saves money and, if you do it with other people, really enhances community spirit.

 In 2008, Rossendale Council’s 71 allotment plots were full with 107 hopefuls on the waiting list. In light of this, RCCG urges interested local residents to consider alternatives ranging from setting up their own site like Dale View Allotment Society, to helping elderly residents manage gardens by sharing the work and the produce grown. Dale View Allotment Society turned an old school demolition site into a thriving 12 plot community, by combining the acquisition of council land and grants with masses of enthusiasm and hard work. Another option is to join landshare (see useful contacts) where land owners offer their land to be cultivated to the mutual benefit of both parties. 

 Join the national campaign for more allotments:

 http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/more-allotments/

 or write to your local MP (see who they are in ‘useful contacts’)

 Useful contacts and further information

 Rossendale Climate Change group – http://rccg.info 

 http://landshare.channel4.com/

 http://www.rossendale.gov.uk/pid/510 - Application form for council allotments

 For advice on setting up a new site contact Pat Standen of Dale View Allotment Society; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

 Karen Coburn