Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society is the national representative, support and advocacy body for allotments, allotmenteers and community growing in Scotland.
We are an Incorporated Scottish Charity. Our charitable aims include the promotion of allotments and community growing and health spaces in every community, the support of allotmenteers, and the promotion of health in Scotland's people through the benefits of growing activity.
Membership of SAGS is open to individuals with an interest in allotments and community growing, and to allotment groups and federations of allotment groups across Scotland.
The charity is administered by a Board of Trustees, who are elected by the members.
We are an Incorporated Scottish Charity. Our charitable aims include the promotion of allotments and community growing and health spaces in every community, the support of allotmenteers, and the promotion of health in Scotland's people through the benefits of growing activity.
Membership of SAGS is open to individuals with an interest in allotments and community growing, and to allotment groups and federations of allotment groups across Scotland.
The charity is administered by a Board of Trustees, who are elected by the members.
Scottish Allotments & Gardens Society started life as the Scottish National Union of Allotment Holders in 1917. The union was founded to represent plotholders on hurriedly created new allotments around the country. Back then, the country was facing a severe food shortage during the First World War. A great deal of our food was imported and the German U Boats and naval blockades meant mass food shortages.
A new crisis unfolded during the great depression in 1932 that prompted the creation of the Scottish Allotments Scheme for the Unemployed. The Union was concerned that unemployed people were giving up their plots as they could not afford to keep them. At the time the Union’s total funds amounted to £18 but they still wanted to do what they could to help.
The Scheme found plots but also provided seeds, seed potatoes, manure and tools. It was funded through donations. To give you an idea of the scale of the operation, in 1932 –
We became the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society sometime later, and have recently taken the step to increase our professionalism and capacity by becoming a SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation). Being a registered Scottish charity provides a statutory basis for our governance and allows access to funding available only to charities. It gives our members a clear structure to influence and participate in the work of their representative body.
A new crisis unfolded during the great depression in 1932 that prompted the creation of the Scottish Allotments Scheme for the Unemployed. The Union was concerned that unemployed people were giving up their plots as they could not afford to keep them. At the time the Union’s total funds amounted to £18 but they still wanted to do what they could to help.
The Scheme found plots but also provided seeds, seed potatoes, manure and tools. It was funded through donations. To give you an idea of the scale of the operation, in 1932 –
- Over 2,000 people were helped by the scheme;
- Three quarters of them had plots for the first time.
- The scheme distributed almost 3,000 tools, 18,000 packets of seeds, 16 tons of manure and 30 tons of seed potatoes.
We became the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society sometime later, and have recently taken the step to increase our professionalism and capacity by becoming a SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation). Being a registered Scottish charity provides a statutory basis for our governance and allows access to funding available only to charities. It gives our members a clear structure to influence and participate in the work of their representative body.