Annual Scottish Allotments Conference 2010: Thinking Outside The Plot

Day 1: Friday June 18 2010 at the Parish Halls, 266 George St, Glasgow

Day2: Saturday June 19 2010 at Victoria Halls Dunblane 

Interest in allotments, community and therapeutic gardens and orchards, meanwhile and guerrilla gardening (‘community cultivation’) is growing rapidly in Scotland. Since COSLA published ‘Allotments in Scotland: Guidance notes for Scottish Councils’ in 2008, over 80 new allotment associations have formed across Scotland, five Councils have allotment strategies and many more are consulting with local people. Community cultivation is about more than spades and vegetables – it is about growing healthy and sustainable communities.  Community groups, Third Sector agencies and politicians are increasingly aware of the benefits that these activities can bring to health, well being, adaptation to climate change, education and biodiversity agendas. This Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society (SAGS) conference aims to raise awareness of these benefits at a senior level within the Public Sector.

This year, SAGS are experimenting with a conference run over two days, in two distinct venues.  The first day, Friday June 18th, will be held in Glasgow at the Parish Halls, hosted by Glasgow City Council. This session concentrates on the strategic issues related to the development, protection and funding of allotment sites. This session should be of interest to senior decision makers interested in finding out how support for allotments can help to meet goals in the areas of sustainability, public wellbeing, community regeneration... and how to implement this support in a practical way. 

The second day, Saturday June 19th will be held in the Victoria Halls Dunblane with MSP's to give the view from parliament, experienced speakers to talk about practical matters and the popular workshop sessions. This will be followed by the SAGS AGM. 

More information including the programme and booking form for both days of the conference are available at www.sags.org.uk.