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The Allotment: Its past, Present and Future : RHC Conference – University of Reading

Allotments make a vital contribution to contemporary life, providing good food, physical exercise and mental well-being, benefiting the environment, bringing communities together and acting as 'green lungs' in our congested cities. Yet never before have allotments been so threatened, by luxury housing, supermarkets, industrial estates and any number of other socially questionable developments. A conference organized by the Rural History Centre, University of Reading on Saturday 31st May, 2003 is for everyone with an interest in allotments, whether you have one or not. It will reveal how rich the history of allotments is – we will be asking what the origin of allotments was, why they had such a high political profile in the nineteenth century, and how they have retained their relevance throughout the immense social changes since that time. We will also be looking at the culture of contemporary allotments - can they be seen as an art form in themselves? The conference will include contributions from people who have been involved in campaigns to protect, improve and promote allotments, both locally and nationally. Throughout, we will be looking at how understanding the past and present of allotments can help us to ensure that they continue to flourish in the twenty-first century and, let us hope, long after. ENDS For further information, please contact the Museum of English Rural Life on 0118 378 8660, rhc@reading.ac.uk or please contact Sue Rayner or Carol Derham on 0118 931 8004/5 Fax 0118 931 8924; e-mail s.j.rayner@reading.ac.uk c.a.derham@reading.ac.uk