Sparked by the isolation and uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, the increase in demand for allotments has seen rural and urban communities building a better connection with nature. In a digitalised society, people have gradually lost touch with the natural world. However, in recent years, a growing number of individuals around the UK have put down their phones and popped on a pair of gardening gloves.

These last few years has seen a trend of social and economic insecurity, resulting in the increased demand for an allotment space, as people search for a source of financial stability. Through record-high inflation, which often came at the cost of society’s physical and mental wellbeing, the 330,000 plots within the UK are beginning to be recognised as an opportunity to produce a continual supply of great-value fruit and vegetables.

A study from the University of Sheffield last year revealed that households that grew their own produce, typically ate 70% more fruit and vegetables than the national average. This staggering statistic proves that by taking an active role in the process of growing and harvesting produce, people are naturally able to establish a healthier diet. Incorporating a significantly larger amount of home-grown fruit and veg into your meals does not result in any extreme financial repercussions.

As well as providing a positive impact on physical health, creating a prosperous personal haven, a space to become immersed in nature, can also offer a therapeutic environment for mental rejuvenation. By building on the nurturing environment of a thriving allotment, gardeners can temporarily escape the world by seeking solace in the calming atmosphere of their plot.

However, maintaining a plot of land isn’t without its tribulations. Ali Bell, a Dorchester local and allotment renter, reveals that it can be “a continuous struggle with the weather, the weeds, and the watering.” Speaking to the avid gardeners of Dorchester has highlighted the dedication that is demanded in order to thrive in a sustainable world, but the reward of a successful harvest makes it all worthwhile.

Despite her own troubles throughout her experience as a gardener, whether it’s fending off stubborn slugs or shooing pigeons, Bell admits that “to have the green space to grow your own makes the few success stories taste all the sweeter.”

So why don’t you step into your wellington boots and reap the benefits of investing in a green-fingered future?