UK: Growing the post-Brexit economy – in my allotment

Today, we may not be facing the trials and dangers of a world war. But with Brexit looming, there are warnings of sharp increases in food prices and shortages of fresh produce – much of which we import.

By Campbell Gunn
The Press and Journal
July 9, 2019

Excerpt:

Like many similar sites across Scotland, and the rest of the UK, our plots were established during the First World War because of food shortages. At the start of hostilities, Britain was importing 70% of its cereals and 70% of its cheese, as well as all of its sugar. A German U-boat blockade began in early 1917. From February to May that year, nearly a million and a half tons of merchant shipping was sunk by submarines. At one point, Britain had just six weeks of wheat supplies and four days of sugar remaining. The Government empowered local authorities to take over land in parks and other unused areas for growing vegetables and fruit. Over 40,000 allotments were established in Scotland alone. Vegetable beds were created in the grounds of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

At the end of the Great War, there was a widespread and ultimately successful campaign to keep the allotments as they had proved so popular, and they again proved their worth during the Depression and in the Second World War. Today, they are a common sight in most of our cities and towns. In most places, there are long waiting lists for a plot. The wait on our site has now stretched to 10 years, such is the demand. People aren’t giving them up easily.

I’ve discovered there’s a broad mix of people involved in the allotment game, ranging from the unemployed to middle-class families, from teenagers to pensioners. But everyone supports each other with advice, something which is particularly helpful for newbies like us. And we’re now also hooked on TV gardening programmes. Last week, I heard Monty Don explain that groups of three or more apples in a tree should be reduced to allow better growth in the others. Who knew that? I was straight down to the plot to tackle the apple trees.

Today, we may not be facing the trials and dangers of a world war. But with Brexit looming, there are warnings of sharp increases in food prices and shortages of fresh produce – much of which we import. I’m still not a fan of gardening, but working an allotment is a different matter. Thanks to our new-found hobby, I can tell Boris, Jeremy, or even Nigel to do their worst – we will survive.

Read the complete article here.