Allotments are often associated with vegetables, fruit and flowers. But spend enough time on one and you quickly realise they offer something much deeper.
For Sarah, nearly 26 years on her allotment has brought not only harvests, but friendships, family memories, lessons from nature and a lasting connection to the changing seasons. Here she reflects on what allotment life has meant to her and her family.
“For nearly 26 years, my allotment on Haver has been more than a patch of earth…..it’s been a sanctuary. My family and I have grown far more than vegetables and flowers. We’ve grown a way of life, rooted in patience, care and connection with nature.
There’s a certain magic in working the soil with your hands, watching seedlings unfurl under the sun, and harvesting something you’ve nurtured from the start.
We’re passionate about growing our own food, every variety of bean, earthy potatoes (we even found a potato named after our oldest daughter, Adora), raspberries, redcurrants, pumpkins, spicy chillies and juicy tomatoes, to name just a few, that taste of sunshine and rain.
But it’s not just for us. The flowers we plant aren’t only for picking, they are for the pollinators too; the bees, butterflies and all the tiny creatures that depend on these beautiful blooms. An allotment teaches you that you’re not working against nature, but alongside it, becoming part of its rhythm and helping it thrive.
For 15 years, my dad worked the allotment by my side. He brought stories, wisdom and a quiet strength to our days among the rows. Dad is no longer here, but his spirit lingers – in the worn pair of shoes still tucked in the shed, the old tools he inherited from his mother, and the fruit trees we planted together. I smile every time I see them and seeing all the pollinators enjoying them too!
Over the years, I’ve shared laughs, knowledge, the odd brew (and some very potent homemade cider from the apples on our trees) with some fantastic characters – fellow plot-holders with big hearts, endless stories and muddy boots. We’ve held friendly competitions for the longest bean, tallest sunflower, biggest strawberry and heaviest pumpkin, and together we’ve built a community space where we’ve celebrated with shared meals, including a traditional New Zealand Mฤori Hฤngฤซ cooked over heated stones buried in the ground.
The allotment has a wonderful way of bringing people together. It’s a place where neighbours become friends, knowledge is passed from one generation to the next, and everyone is willing to lend a hand. In a world that often feels rushed, the allotment reminds us to slow down, appreciate the seasons and enjoy the simple pleasures.
Spending time outdoors, surrounded by nature, is good for both body and mind. It offers peace, purpose and perspective. Whether you’re sowing seeds, pulling weeds, listening to birdsong, watching the bees buzzing round the lavender or simply sitting with a cup of tea after a day’s work, the allotment has a remarkable ability to lift your spirits and improve your wellbeing.
An allotment isn’t just a hobby. It’s a way of life that grounds you, heals you and keeps you learning. It provides fresh food, lasting friendships, treasured memories and a deep connection with the natural world. It truly does enrich one’s life.
There are many highs and lows (mainly bindweed and marestail!), the unexpected surprises and the sheer joy of living and growing with the seasons. It isn’t always easy, but by working with nature rather than against it, we’ve found that every challenge brings a lesson, every harvest brings gratitude, and every year brings new memories.”
Sarah’s story is a reminder that allotments are about far more than food production. They provide places for wildlife, opportunities to learn from nature, and spaces where people can connect with each other and the seasons.
Across Cheltenham, allotments continue to play an important role in supporting both people and nature – one plot at a time.
