How to Feed Your Family from an Allotment

A Practical Way to Reduce Food Bills

Today, that role remains just as important. Rising food prices mean many households are feeling the impact at the supermarket checkout.

Through our work with plot holders across the country, the National
Allotment Society regularly hears from members who save hundreds of pounds each year by growing their own fruit and vegetables.

Research by the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership shows just  how valuable  allotments can be at a local level. Their analysis found that allotments in Brighton and Hove collectively produce the equivalent of
around £1.12 million worth of food every year.

For many families, an allotment provides a steady supply of fresh produce throughout the growing season — something that can make a real difference to household budgets.

The Real Savings of Growing Your Own Food

Allotments are not just productive in a local sense — they make a measurable contribution to food production on a national scale. According to official statistics, allotments and community growing spaces in Great Britain produced an estimated 116 million kilograms of fruit and vegetables in 2021 , with a combined annual value of roughly £274 million in England , plus millions more in Scotland and Wales, highlighting their economic and nutritional contribution to communities.

Research also shows that small‑scale food growers in urban areas can be as productive per square metre as conventional farms , with pilot studies in Brighton and Hove recording harvests of around 1 kg of produce 
per square metre , well within the output range of many commercial operations.

At the household level, studies from the University of Sheffield found that growers who produce their own fruit and veg — whether on allotments or in gardens — can meet around half of their annual vegetable needs and 20 % of their fruit needs , while eating significantly more fresh produce and wasting far less.

These figures demonstrate the real potential for allotments to boost food security, reduce reliance on supermarket produce, and make the most of limited land for food production.

A Valuable Community Resource

Beyond food production, allotments provide wider benefits including physical activity, improved wellbeing, and opportunities to connect with others in the community.

However, their role in local food resilience should not be overlooked. As economic pressures continue, access to growing space becomes increasingly important.

That is why the National Allotment Society continues to advocate for the protection and expansion of allotment sites across the UK. These spaces are a long-standing, low-cost resource that helps communities produce fresh food close to home.

In challenging times, the ability to grow even a portion of your own food can make a meaningful difference. Allotments have supported households for generations — and they continue to provide a practical way for families to strengthen their food security today.