National Allotment Society announces ‘Grow to Learn’ theme for National Allotments Week 2026

The National Allotment Society (NAS) has today announced the exciting theme for National Allotments Week 2026, taking place from 10–16 August 2026.

The new theme, Grow to Learn – Lifelong lessons from the allotment, will celebrate the educational, personal development, and well-being benefits of allotment gardening for people of all ages.

The theme highlights how allotments function as living classrooms, where learning happens through hands-on experience, shared knowledge, and connection with the natural world. Alongside practical growing skills, allotment gardening nurtures wider life skills including patience, resilience, curiosity, problem-solving, and teamwork, and, of course, physical wellbeing and food security, too.

Through time spent on the plot, individuals learn to adapt to challenges, understand seasonal change, and develop confidence and wellbeing alongside their crops. These informal learning experiences often span generations, making allotments unique spaces for lifelong learning, community connection, and personal growth.

By focusing on Grow to Learn, the National Allotment Society aims to reframe allotments not just as places to grow food, but as dynamic learning environments that support personal growth, mental and physical wellbeing, and food security.

National Allotments Week 2026 will feature a national digital campaign sharing stories and reflections from allotment holders and ambassadors, highlighting the many ways allotments act as living classrooms and places of continual learning.

Further details about National Allotments Week 2026 activities, resources, and opportunities to get involved will be announced in due course.

National Allotments Week takes place from 10–16 August 2026.

The National Allotment Society (NAS) is the UK’s leading organisation representing more allotment holders and leisure gardeners. NAS provides advice, guidance, and advocacy to support people in growing their own food, improving their well-being, and connecting with their communities.

With a nationwide network of 130,000 members, volunteers, and ambassadors, NAS works to make allotments engaging, inclusive, and rewarding — supporting physical and mental well-being, social connection, and environmental awareness through the simple act of growing.

For more information, visit www.thenas.org.uk

Allotments help UK households save millions on food as cost-of-living pressures continue

The National Allotment Society says allotments continue to play a vital role in helping households cope with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, reinforcing food security at a time when food prices and household bills remain high.

Recent figures show UK inflation has risen again, with food prices a key driver of rising costs. Consumer confidence also remains historically low, underlining the sustained pressure many households are facing.

Against this backdrop, allotment holders across the UK report saving hundreds of pounds a year by growing their own fruit and vegetables, while also gaining access to fresh, seasonal produce that would otherwise be difficult to afford. Research in Brighton & Hove found that allotments in the city produce the equivalent of around £1.12 million in food annually, demonstrating the real financial value they bring to local communities. (Brighton & Hove Food Partnership)

“Allotments have long provided practical support for households, and the current economic climate is reinforcing that role,” John Irwin, interim President for the National Allotment Society told That's Food and Drink.

“For many people, growing food is the difference between coping and struggling. A small plot can produce a significant amount of food for relatively low ongoing costs.”

The Society says demand for allotments remains high, with waiting lists in many areas continuing to stretch for years, as people seek reliable ways to manage food costs and reduce reliance on expensive supermarket produce.

The Bank of England has warned inflationary pressures are likely to persist, meaning household budgets may remain under strain for some time. The National Allotment Society says this makes access to allotment space a vital form of long-term resilience for communities.

Beyond financial savings, allotments also provide wider benefits during periods of economic pressure, including improved mental health, gentle physical activity, and strong community support networks.

“When money is tight, the social value of allotments matters just as much as the food they produce,” John added. “They are places where people share skills, seeds and surplus crops, helping each other through challenging times.”

The National Allotment Society is calling on councils and policymakers to protect existing allotment land and invest in new sites, warning that access to growing space is becoming increasingly unequal despite sustained demand.

“Allotments are a low-cost, high-impact resource that already exists in communities,” said the Society. “Protecting and expanding them should be seen as a practical response to the cost of living crisis, not a luxury.”

For further information please visit www.thenas.org.uk

National Allotment Society Celebrates Britain’s Best Plots with GARDENA

The National Allotment Society (NAS) is proud to have partnered with GARDENA to sponsor and support the first-ever Top of the Plots competition, a nationwide celebration of the UK’s thriving grow-your-own community.

“Working alongside GARDENA to champion allotment holders and gardeners across the country has been a real privilege,” said Mike Farrell, Chairman of the National Allotment Society told That's Food and Drink.

“The standard of entries was truly inspiring — from long-established plots brimming with biodiversity to creative new growers transforming small spaces into productive, beautiful gardens.”

The NAS congratulates all the category winners, including overall winner Steve Mills from Barnet, North London, whose remarkable allotment, complete with a three-level fruit and flower tunnel, earned him the title of Plot of the Year 2025. 

Special recognition also goes to Roger Atkinson, Donna Harris, Victoria Holden, Rebecca Hale, and David Gallacher for their outstanding contributions to the nation’s gardening community.

“These winners reflect the very best of what allotments represent,” Farrell added. “They’re places of innovation, wellbeing, and togetherness. Through their hard work and creativity, they remind us why protecting and promoting allotments is more important than ever.”

Recent NAS research shows that:

91% of plot holders say their allotment has improved their mental health.

84% report eating more fresh produce since taking on their plot.

72% say their allotment has helped them feel more connected to their local community.

Despite rising costs and waiting lists, more than half of respondents described their allotment as their “happy place”.

These findings highlight the vital role allotments play in improving wellbeing, sustainability, and community resilience across the UK — values that the Top of the Plots competition proudly celebrates.

About the National Allotment Society

The National Allotment Society (NAS) is the UK’s leading voice for allotment holders. Founded in 1908, the NAS works to protect, promote, and support allotments nationwide. The Society provides advice, advocacy, and research to ensure that allotments remain accessible, sustainable, and beneficial for communities across the country.

https://thenas.org.uk