Scottish Parliament debates allotment provision

The Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society has pushed for Parliamentary time to be devoted to debating allotment provision and on December 17th, Jim Tolson MSP will move the motion detailed below.

We have contacted our MSP, Iain Smith, about this and received confirmation that he has added his support to the motion.

S3M-05087# Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): Allotments, Community Gardens and Grow-your-own Projects— That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society in its role supporting allotment holders and community gardens in Scotland, encouraging the development of new sites, enhancing biodiversity and preserving skills in gardening; acknowledges the valuable work carried out by other organisations in the promotion of community gardens and grow-your-own projects; recognises the links between green space, activity and good health and the social, financial, environmental and health benefits of gardening and growing one’s own food; highlights the need to protect and enhance green spaces, particularly in urban and deprived areas; notes that Crossford Community Council, in conjunction with Crossford Allotment Association and the Carnegie Trust, is investigating the provision of land for allotments, community gardens and social enterprise, and hopes that local authorities and other public bodies examine ways of transferring land to local communities to be used for such projects.