How Green Are You? from Channel4.com

National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners

1930 – present

NSALG has been flying the flag for the British allotment movement for more than 100 years. The society is responsible for preserving many of the open green spaces within our urban landscapes and it encourages healthy lifestyles as well.

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Wander around your own neighbourhood and you might be surprised to find an allotment quite close by. There are 330,000 allotment holders in the UK. Although the percentage of women and young people is rising amongst the allotment classes, so far only 20% of holders are women and the majority of all holders are over 50.

The allotment movement was at its peak in the 1950s. With the advent of the leisure industry and more affordable activities for all, numbers of allotmentees started to decline in the 1960s. In recent times, a growing awareness of green issues and healthy living is encouraging some of us to return to the veg patch.

The society plays a major role in protecting, promoting and preserving allotments for future generations. They are the first point of call for anyone who wants to set up or protect an allotment site. In addition, they monitor allotment law and other relevant legislation, lobby for the provision of new sites and contribute to the official consultation process that precedes allotment disposal.

NSALG in its present form dates back to 1930, although it can trace its roots to 1901 and the Agricultural Society. One of its major achievements has been to campaign for and influence allotment law. It is largely down to the society's lobbying activities that England and Wales are obliged by law to provide allotments for interested groups of residents.