Green-fingered campaigners came together at an allotment summit in Cardiff to discuss what changes need to be made in order to make more land available for people to grow their own food. The summit, organised by Plaid Cymru Welsh Assembly Member Leanne Wood, looked at how existing legislation could be strengthened and how planning guidance and rules could be changed in order to increase the amount of land available for allotments. Across the country, would-be growers have been refused land for allotment use and many have seen private sites sold off for development.

In Treherbert in the Rhondda, campaigners lost their fight to retain Haigside allotments following a long fight with the council against development on the land. In Narberth in Pembrokeshire, people have been campaigning since 1993 for the local authority to provide plots.

Speaking following the summit, Plaid Cymru 's sustainability spokesperson Leanne Wood commented: “The summit provided an opportunity for a variety of experts and those interested in food growing to come together following mounting concerns about a shortage of allotment plots. It was a very positive meeting; we found that there are a lot of things that can be done at a national and local level to encourage food growing projects, simply by strengthening the legislation that’s already in place. We looked at the potential of changes to planning guidance and ways to encourage developers to pay for the provision of allotments on any new housing developments. In order to ensure that the need for allotments is being dealt with properly, it was felt that every local authority should have an allotment officer in place. “The summit also identified the potential for food growers to link up with other voluntary sector organisations. It was felt, for example, that food growing could be used for therapeutic purposes for people with mental health problems, asylum seekers, and young offenders. There is widespread understanding of the benefits that can be gained from people growing food together.

“Today’s summit was a good start with many positive ideas put forward just the start. Following this, I will now be collating all the evidence and publishing a report which will include an action plan and recommendations to ensure everyone who wants to grow their own food, can.” Amber Wheeler, chair of Narberth Allotments, helped gardeners create private allotments after a 10 year campaign for council allotments did not succeed. The allotments opened in March this year and have provided 23 plots costing up to £120 a year to rent each. There are already five people on a waiting list. Ms Wheeler is concerned that the privately-owned allotments may not offer the solution needed: "It's not ideal and it's not a safe thing, we have got a 10 year lease but that could be terminated when the landowner wanted. We're providing the allotments but we haven't got the security." Calling for a different approach taken by councils to provide the land, Amber Wheeler added: "They need to think proactively and creatively to fulfil their obligation [to provide allotments]. There's so much demand and it will probably get worse.”