Allotments

Ben Chapman
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the environmental effects which may arise from the maintenance of allotments.

Jonathan Shaw
[holding answer 17 September 2008]: Although allotments will always be mainly used for growing food, they have other values that are now gaining greater recognition. As well as being places for healthy exercise, allotments are also an increasingly important resource for wildlife. Many of the plants and animals that struggle to survive on intensively managed farmland find a refuge on allotment sites. Natural England published the 'Wildlife on allotments' document in 2007.