THE Swindon Mechanics Trust allotment is the sort of community effort we could all do with seeing a lot more of.

In recent years the tending of allotments has surged in popularity, reaching levels not seen in decades.

More and more of us are discovering that growing one’s own produce is hugely satisfying.

They are also discovering that ‘grow your own’ can be an attractive alternative to pumping money into huge corporations.

Home-grown food is often of far better quality than the standardised, mass-produced and sometimes bland fare offered by supermarkets, and is far cheaper.

If vegetables especially are stored correctly, several months’ supply can spring from a single packet of seeds, and summer fruit can be made into jams which cheer up the winter months.

One of the few things which puts people off allotment gardening is the fear that the plot they choose will turn out to be too large for them.

This is why the idea of a community allotment is such a good one. With a team of volunteers doing the work, nobody will ever feel overwhelmed.

They will also be able to enjoy all of the other joys of allotment gardening.

As community co-ordinator Hannah Parry said: “People are excited about growing their own food, being healthier and enjoying the fresh air.”

All that is needed now is for more volunteers to come along – there is room for as many as want to take part in the project, however much or little time they are able to spare.