News

Foraging in May – Discover Edible Wild Plants and Their Benefits

May brings nature’s vibrant burst of life, offering a rich bounty of wild, edible plants. From the delicate hawthorn flowers to the flavourful red clover, this month provides a diverse range of flavours and textures perfect for foraging. Here's your guide to some of the best wild plants to seek out in May, along with their health benefits:

May Gardening Checklist

May brings warmer weather and growth in full swing. Sow and plant key crops, protect from late frosts, and watch for pests. Read on for more tips!

10 Simple Budget Tips Every Allotment Gardener Can Use

Looking to cut costs on your allotment? These 10 easy tips will help you garden smarter without breaking the bank.

Small Plots, Big Impact: How Allotments Help Save the Environment

Allotments are vital urban green spaces that support biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions, and manage rainwater. However, allotment land has decreased by 65% over the past 50 years, with the greatest losses in deprived areas. Protecting these spaces is essential for climate resilience and preserving wildlife.

April Foraging

April is a great time for foraging, with wild plants like cow parsley, garlic mustard, and wild garlic offering fresh, nutritious flavours. These plants are packed with vitamins and minerals, perfect for soups, butters, and more.

Your April Allotment Checklist

April brings longer days and warmth, but beware of late frosts. Prepare soil, plant key crops, and protect young plants. Read on for more tips!

Growing Vegetables in Scotland

Scotland’s cool climate may be challenging, but many vegetables thrive here. With the right techniques, Scottish gardeners can enjoy fresh, homegrown produce year-round.

Best Crops for First-Time Allotmenteers

Starting your first allotment is an exciting journey, and choosing the right crops can make all the difference. For beginners, it’s best to focus on plants that are easy to grow, low-maintenance, and productive. Here are some of the best crops to get you started

Top Ten Tips for Beginning an Allotment

Taking on an allotment is exciting but can feel overwhelming, especially with an overgrown plot. This guide covers the essentials, from choosing and clearing a plot to planting and maintenance.

March Foraging

As spring arrives, wild plants and mushrooms begin to thrive, offering a wealth of foraging opportunities. Here’s a guide to popular foraged plants and mushrooms, with ideas for their culinary and medicinal uses.

Your March Gardening Checklist

March marks the start of spring, making it the perfect time to sow seeds, plant vegetables, and prepare your garden. Focus on tasks like planting strawberries, protecting fruit trees from frost, and starting greenhouse crops.

12 Reasons Home-Grown Food is the Better Option

Home-grown food means complete control over quality, freshness, and sustainability. Discover why growing your own is the best choice for your health, wallet, and the planet.

Your February Gardening Checklist

Make the most of February by tidying up, planning crops, and starting early sowings under cover. Sow broad beans, cauliflowers, and hardy annuals, lift root vegetables, and prep for spring. Get ready for a productive season ahead!

From Soil to Soul How Allotments Boost Well-being and Community

Allotments have long been cherished as a space for growing food, enjoying fresh air, and cultivating a connection with nature. However, their value extends far beyond just being a patch of land for gardening.

Winter Wellness

As the days grow colder and shorter, it’s tempting to retreat indoors and hibernate until spring. However, what if stepping outside could be the key to feeling better, both mentally and physically?

Waste Not Want Not with These Tasty Christmas Leftover Ideas

Christmas leaves plenty of leftovers, from turkey to peelings. With a bit of creativity, you can turn them into delicious treats. Here are some ideas to make the most of your festive scraps

Helping Wildlife and Your Allotment Thrive This Winter

Winter is a great time to help local wildlife thrive while benefiting your allotment. By supporting wildlife, you can improve pollination, reduce pests, and create a healthier environment for your crops

Starting Your Organic Allotment

A Guide by The National Allotment Society

Five steps to Hot Composting

Speed up your composting and kill pests and weeds

Embracing butterflies and moths in your allotment

An article by The Butterfly Conservation supporting our National Allotments Week theme - Biodiversity

Building Biodiversity into our Allotments

NAS ambassador Zoe Claymore's guide to embrace biodiversity on the allotment

National Allotments Week 2024

National Allotments Week 2024; 12 to 18th August 2024 #NationalAllotmentsWeek24

Membership Fee Increases

NAS membership fees increases in January 2025

Show-off celery

David Allison explains how to grow celery for show

No dig on allotments

No dig pioneer Charles Dowding explains the fundamentals of no dig

Seasonal composting

How to keep your compost bin snug and speed up composting

Asian hornet watch

Learn how to identify Asian hornets and how to report sightings

Cauliflower power

5 amazing cauliflowers to grow that are worth the effort

Design a children's allotment

Tips and tricks for creating a children's area on your allotment

Plot your allotment on the map

Help to make allotment data the best it can be.

Winter warmers

Spice up your meal times with delicious recipes from Erin

Water - what you need to know

All you need to know about the water supply fittings regulations 1999

New NAS Ambassador

Meet multi-award-winning garden designer Zoe Claymore

Spiky allotment friends

Tips for helping hedgehogs and wildlife on your allotment

Welcome to the latest news and articles from The National Allotment Society