Rotary Club introduce first vertical allotment

Vertical growbags

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

Things are looking up for Britain's space-strapped gardeners following yesterday's (14 July) launch of the first vertical 'allotments'.

Until now, people without gardens have been forced to rely on traditional allotments to grow their own fruit and veg. But, as allotment waiting lists hit an all-time high, there has been a growing need to find a suitable, and affordable, alternative.

Now, an enterprising group has found their own solution after designing a series of space saving 'urban planters'.

Among the most popular is the Vertical Vegetable Growbag, a polythene 'tube' that can be used to grow beans, strawberries, herbs, tomatoes, and a variety of other crops.

Unlike traditional growbags or flower pots Urban Planters can be hung from a free-standing frame, or strung to a wire, wall or tree.

Their conical shape prevents evaporation and means the crops they contain need little water - ideal for warm, arid climates.

What's more, the bags are reusable for two or three seasons and cost less than £2.

The bags, on sale now, are the brainchild of the Rochdale Rotary Club (RRC), whose 40 members looked at ways to benefit the local and international communities.

Their not-for-profit scheme now looks set to take the UK by storm.

Spokesman David Acton said: ''The Urban Planters were designed with one thing in mind - saving space and water.

''They are, essentially, vertical allotments that require nothing more than a frame or wall to hang them from.

''It's our hope that they will alleviate the problem of allotment shortages, while helping city residents, or those without gardens, to grow their own fruit and vegetables.''

The RCC developed the idea following a members' meeting in 2007 and alongside Rochdale Council Horticulturalists and a Rochdale-based textile company, a prototype was created later that year.

The RCC tested the product over the course of a year in a trial. The experiment proved a success and now, two years after conception, the group's dream of 'urban farming' looks set to roll out across the UK.

More than 1,500 Growbags have been distributed to schools, the elderly and disabled, and to other worthy causes both in the UK and overseas.

Mr. Acton added: ''In many parts of the world there is a lack of free flowing water, or fertile land is extremely expensive.

''Our products aim to tackle these problems without exploiting people who are in need - which is why we supply it for free for many people.''
The RCC recently scooped the National Rotary Environment Award for their creations.

The Vertical Vegetable Growbag is available now from www.urbanfarmplanters.co.uk priced £1.85. All profits are poured back into the project.