The Origins of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners

Since the inception of allotments, plot holders have been represented by a number of organisations, which have helped to promote the movement, lobbied on its behalf and provided advice on all aspects of allotments to governments, other societies and individuals.  Many of the organisations have lived through various incarnations, not least of which is the current National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners.

The earliest society of which we have any knowledge is the Labourer’s Friend Society, which was incorporated in 1831 and was a field leader in promoting awareness of the early rural allotment movement, although it was by no means the only allotment organisation.  The Society produced a monthly magazine, initially called Facts and Illustrations, which later became the Labourer’s Friend Magazine.  The magazine gave advice on all matters related to allotments, including how to set out a site, cultivation techniques and other matters such as tenancy agreements, much in the same way that the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners does today. 

In April 1901, the Agricultural Organization Society was founded.  It described itself as an organization, which had been formed to give advice and assistance for the formation of properly registered Co-operative Societies.  In order to operate as a registered co-operative at that time, a society had to be incorporated under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893.  Registration for allotment societies was, and indeed is, still necessary in order for a society to hold a land lease.  There were, of course, advantages to becoming registered.  Landlords and local authorities acting as landlords would be more willing to let land for use as allotments because the lessor could be reasonably assured that the land would be well-cultivated and the rent paid.  Furthermore, the landlords would be relieved of the trouble and expense of managing small parcels of land cultivated by a large body of men.

In its first incarnation, the Agricultural Organization Society appears to have been fairly short-lived because a later report describes it as having been reconstituted again in September 1912, although no further details are given.  It was originally run as a voluntary organisation for farmers, small holders and those with allotments, but by 1917, it received money from the Development Fund and the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.

In 1917, the Agricultural Organization Society boasted an eminent Board of Governors, including the well-known agriculturalists and reformers, the Earl of Shaftesbury and Lord Bledisloe.  Bledisloe presented an allotments trophy for ‘progress in organisation.’

Other notable persons on the board were Lady Denman, who became Director of the Women’s Land Army during WWII and Francis Acland MP, a Liberal politician, who became Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries 1915-1916.  Acland championed the cause of the allotment holder throughout his parliamentary career.  He was a tireless member of the Society of Friends Allotment Committee, which was formed to help the unemployed miners obtain allotments and all necessary supplies during the economic depression of the 1930s.  Acland also publicised the movement by giving a series of radio talks about allotments and gardening.  In 1917-18, the Agricultural Organization Society appointed Acland to preside over its allotments section.  It appears that the Agricultural Organization Society was a cause célèbre of its day, with many of the great and good working on behalf of the allotment holder.

In 1924, the Agricultural Organization Society decided that in view of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Farmer’s Union taking over duties previously performed by the Society, it would close down the farming part of its interest.  At the same time, its funding was halted ‘for reasons of national economy.’ It did, however, continue with its allotments and small holdings sections and at the same time changed its name to the Allotments Organization Society and Small Holders Limited.  The new organisation was registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies’ Acts and by holding a single five-shilling share, allotment societies were permitted to use the Society’s model rules, which they could then use to register their society, thus allowing it to hold its own land lease. 

In 1917 or 1918, the National Union of Allotment Holders (NUAH), was constituted.  In 1930, the National Allotments Society was formed through the amalgamation of the Allotments Organization Society and Small Holders Limited and the National Union of Allotment Holders.  In 1947, the National Allotments Society changed its name to the National Allotments and Garden Society, and sometime thereafter, it changed its name again.  Today, it is known as the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (http://www.nsalg.org.uk/).

last time modified: Nov. 23, 2011, 5:32 p.m.