Sir – In the last week the first of 30 new allotment holders were able to start work on their plots at Cripley Meadow Allotments.

New members of our sssociation, and those members who have been patiently waiting for a full-size plot, will now be able to enjoy the benefits of growing their food — something that’s good for both them and the planet. These 30 new plots have been restored with the help of an Awards for All grant and by the hard work of volunteer members, who over the last few years have already brought back into use 120 plots at Cripley Meadow. They are all on land that has been allotments since it was created for that purpose in the 1890s. Some became overgrown 25 years ago when gardening was less popular.

Many people walking along the Thames towpath between Osney and Binsey have stopped to look at these restored allotments taking shape, talked to our members, and appreciated that there will be productive allotments rather than buildings and we hope that some of them will want to join us.

Our association has also created, with the help of many volunteer hours and funding from the National Lottery, the Cripley Island Orchard where more than 80 fruit and nut trees, many of them rare local varieties that you will never find in shops, have been planted.

Allotment sites have a huge variety of wildlife living on them and make a major contribution to the local environment as well as to the health, well-being and happiness of their members.

Cripley Meadow, like many other sites across the city and county, welcomes visitors to our open days. So come and see what volunteers like us have been able to achieve and perhaps you might be inspired to pick up a fork and grow your own food in the fresh air of an allotment.

Alison Campbell, Treasurer, Cripley Meadow Allotment Association, Oxford