November 18, 2009
Motion to Scottish Parliament – Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society (SAGS)
At our recent land reform seminar (a note of the meeting is available here) one of the strongest voices for change came from the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society calling for more land to be made available for allotments and community gardens. On 17th December they have a motion being put forward in a debate in the Scottish Parliament. They’d appreciate your support.
On 17th December, the motion set out below will be debated in the Scottish Parliament. SAGS would urge you t o ask your MSP to support the motion and if possible attend the debate. The motion is getting good cross party support and is an excellent way to raise awareness.
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.