Allotments were once thought of as preserves of retired men in flat caps. As National Allotments Week comes to an end, Sian Alexander looks at the changing face of a very British pastime

They fed workers during the Industrial Revolution and kept fresh food on the tables of rationing-hit families during the Second World War.

But over the decades allotments became the preserve of die-hard gardeners as supermarkets offered cheaper and plentiful fruit and vegetables.

Now with growing concerns over how and where our food is grown, allotments have become the trendy must-have for green shoppers.

The promise of organic fruit and vegetables, fresh from the earth for just a few pence, has drawn a new following.

Across Hull and the East Riding, allotment-holders are now picking the last of their soft fruit and getting ready to dig over their plots for winter.

Many believe they are doing their bit for the environment too, protecting green spaces in encroaching towns and cities.

And of course, there is no better exercise than "double-digging" a muddy vegetable plot to prepare it for the next year's crop.

Doris Gagen, 76, of Clarondale, east Hull, has shared a plot with Penny Ellenton, for four years.

"Ours is very different to the traditional allotment," said Doris.

"We grow fruit, vegetables, flowers and herbs all together in a potager, or kitchen garden, rather than in neat rows.

"We also have a wildlife garden, with a 15ft pond where we encourage frogs and insects."

Doris became involved in allotments through her friend Penny, after long complaining about the decreasing amount of green space in Hull.

They spent four months digging over a disused plot at Bude Road allotments in east Hull, gradually turning it into a wildlife meadow.

They also dug their pride and joy - the pond, which now teems with life. Doris said: "We couldn't get hold of a mechanical digger, so we did it ourselves. And we're both pensioners.

"People say I look younger than I am, so it must keep me fit."

Doris and Penny, like the thousands of allotment tenants across East Yorkshire, are passionate about their plots and spend hours each week weeding, digging and pruning. Doris said: "I think allotments are becoming popular again because people are more aware of how and where their food is produced. Our plot gives us fresh food all year round and any spare goes to friends and family."

And it's not just retired people who are enjoying the fruits of their labour.

Tracey Neal, 35, took on half a plot at Champion's Allotment in Bransholme two years ago.

She feels it is important to teach her children Elizabeth, 12, and Matthew, 10, about healthy food.

She said: "I became interested in organic food because of the health benefits for my children.

"I was worried that, unlike when I was a kid, children don't know what vegetables are.

"I saw a stall about allotments at the Stuart Harrison Carnival, where they had freshly-grown peas in pods like I had as a child.

"The first year we had the plot we just dug it over, which was hard work, but this year we have put in potatoes and cabbages.

"I'm no expert and we're all learning a bit at a time, but I think it is important to have allotments."

Digging and weeding might be the normal type of activities found on an allotment.

But Bransholme youngsters are being given the chance to add something extra to a plot this weekend.

They are taking part in a Funky Fence event on the Champion's Allotment community project, designed to produce graffiti art panels for the site.

The two-day event, which starts today, is also helping to mark National Allotments Week.

Steve Tuck, co-ordinator at the Champion's Allotment in Noddle Hill Way, said: "People of all ages love coming together to the allotment to take part in all sorts of activities and reap the benefits of growing fresh vegetables.

"Allotment gardening can provide many benefits, including outdoor exercise, growing your own fruit and vegetables, learning about the growing year and learning about raised beds.

"In addition, allotments provide habitats for wildlife and at Champion's we have planted species to attract the locally rare Brimstone butterfly."

Sam Linton, of Bransholme Community Enterprises, which runs the allotment, said: "Champion's has gone from strength to strength over the past two years."

Armed with creative flair and cans of spray paint, youngsters are using graffiti art to brighten up a Bransholme allotment.

Young people from schools across the area have been taking part in the summer Kids programme.

The Funky Fences project at the Champion's Allotment in Noddle Hill Way is teaching children how to create graffiti designs on fence boards and build bird boxes.

They hope the graffiti art they create for the perimeter of the allotment will brighten it up and help attract families and young people to the area.

Bransholme Enterprises runs the site and opened it up as a community facility.

Bransholme Community Arts Enterprise (BCAE) joined forces with the organisation to involve youngsters with the allotment's development during the summer holidays.

Chris McKnight, youth arts worker at BCAE, said: "It's a joint venture.

"The graffiti boards have an environmental theme and the children have had some really good ideas.

"They are taking the theme on board and making it their own."

Steve Tuck, Champion's Allotment co-ordinator, hopes more families and young people will get involved with the allotment.

He said: "Families can have a plot for free and we want to recruit people into the project.

"Kids look forward to coming to the allotment."

Winifred Holtby School pupil, Kieran Cudbertson, 12, said he was delighted to be involved in the project.

He said: "I have always wanted to do wild designs because they are interesting.

"I'm glad I have had the opportunity to do it.

"Once the graffiti boards and poles are up it will be a really nice place."

Fellow pupil Corin Needham, 12, said: "It's really good here.

"There is a lot of wildlife and we can help the animals by building bird boxes."

Samuel Place, 10, said: "There are lots of things to do at the allotment and we can do lots of planting."

The children are aged between nine and 16. Youngsters from the Kids charity, which helps children with disabilities to get the most out of life, also enjoyed taking part.

Emma Joyce, Kids play worker in charge, said: "It gives the children a chance to make decisions about their social time and involvement in what they want to do.

"They can mix with other children and take part in activities they wouldn't normally do at home."

Children can find out what it is like to grow their own vegetables at a series of workshops held throughout the summer holidays.

The workshops are being held at the Champions Allotments in Noddle Hill Way, Bransholme, north Hull.

It is being organised by Bransholme Enterprises, a not-for-profit organisation that works with young people to help enhance the Bransholme community.

Jayne Patrick, spokesperson for the organisation said: "Youngsters of any age are welcome to come along and find out how vegetables grow in the ground.

"They can also create plant pot designs and paint plant pots, select flower and vegetable plants for potting, and learn about the importance of watering crops.

"They can put their artistic skills to use to plan designs and paint a fruit and vegetable-themed graffiti wall.

"Other activities over the summer include bird box building and seed planting.

"Organic gardening methods are now the main techniques used and plot holders are assisted in gaining access to a range of seeds, tools and expertise via an allotments co-ordinator."

Open days promoting the benefits at Champion's Allotments have included hedgerow planting, bird box building and seed planting.

Bugs on a Bransholme allotment are to get the chance to share in the national limelight as part of National Insect Week.

A bug hunt is being organised on the Champion Allotments, Noddle Hill Way, on Saturday, June 24 2006, when experts will be on hand to identify a range of insects and other invertebrates found at the site.

Bug hunters can turn up between 11am and 4pm.

Children aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult brave enough to face all those creepy crawlies.

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