Allotments, those odd patchworks of vegetable beds, rickety sheds and beanpole constructions seem to have been eternally populated with old blokes in flat caps. However allotments are now more popular than they have been since World War II with younger people getting seriously into growing fruit and vegetables on their own patch of earth. Robin's tonicFather of two Robin Shelton was suffering from depression but discovered a cure for the blues by growing his greens - and he wrote a book all about it. This week's Inside Out visits Robin Shelton on his allotment in Twyford in the spring.  | | Robin Shelton |
Robin speaks candidly in the film about coming to terms with depression and a period in his life where, as his younger son Dylan says, all he wanted to do was hide under a duvet. The allotment taught him how "things want to live, they want to survive." "I actually had depression …it’s almost like seeing life through frosted glass…you can see on the other side and how you want to behave but you can’t" says Robin. Much of the book features the advice on life and on gardening from Twyford old timers Ted and Les. Ted is the grandfather of the allotment. Legend has it, the best gardener in Twyford. His advice to Robin, which also appears as a theme in Robin's book, is 'ditch the pills , gardening is nature's prozac'!" Robin thinks it’s about independence and regaining control on a small part of life. But he's not unaware of changes in his mood. "I still get periods of being unpleasantly unhappy – but it’s fewer and far between…it’s just the way I am, ignore it". "Watering peas in June – there’s nothing better. It’s a brilliant experience – fantastic…" The next generationSouthampton has 1,600 plots at 28 sites dotted around the city. Sue Ashdown, Southampton City Council's Allotments Officer has noticed a change in the numbers and types of people applying for the city's plots. "We're getting a lot more interest now from families and younger people - there's definitely a lot more younger women out there on the allotments."  | | Sue Ashdown |
The thought of doing a 'Tom and Barbara' and aiming for the Good Life of self-sufficiency may seem a nice idea, but back-breaking toil may put off a lot of people from picking up a spade: "It is a big commitment, particularly when you start off and if the plot isn't in good condition", explained Sue, "But there's always people on sites willing to help and offer advice so it's not as daunting a task as you would think it would be." So the recipe for a successful allotment seems to be putting in a few hours work each week, choosing relatively simple types of vegetables to grow like runner beans and potatoes, investing in a good gardening book, getting a few mates to help out with the digging and you can't really go wrong. 28-year-old Claire Moriarty took on a plot on Coxford Allotment in Shirley in Southampton, despite being a gardening novice: "Because people are into organic and homegrown food now, people my age are really getting into the allotment thing. I'm hoping it'll be cheaper than buying food in the supermarket and also the big attraction is being able to hand out home-grown vegetables to friends. "I'm getting an amazing about of help from my allotment neighbours - it's a real community and they've been really kind giving me all kinds of stuff, loads of advice - they're a really helpful bunch." Because of the increased popularity, there are waiting lists on some of Southampton's smaller inner city sites but larger sites on the western side of the city have plots waiting to be cultivated. While some councils have sold off allotment land to building developers, Sue Ashdown insists the Southampton plots are not under threat: "We're looking to maximise plot holders, rather than disposing of sites, and we're looking at ways to encourage greater take-up on sites with vacancies." Despite the prospect of digging, shoveling manure, and weeding, the end rewards are worth it, according to Claire Moriarty: "I love it so much more than I ever thought I would - just pottering or being outside, there's just something really, really appealing about it." | 
