After our report last month of the Royal Borough's first 'allotment', it appears the Chelsea allotment scene is really taking off. Posh greengrocer Harrods is building an allotment on its roof and will be selling the produce in its food hall. Of course, a cynic might say this is evidence that locally-sourced food becoming a fad for the well-off...
A report in yesterday's Guardian may reinforce that idea. John Vidal detailed that vegetable seed sales have risen by some 31% this year and that householders are also investing in twice as many seedlings and young edible plants. The article goes on to talk about how young professionals are keeping bees and 'allotment sites are teeming with upwardly mobile types' - is this a description that rings true? Are sites full of earnest young couples sporting of Marc Jacobs wellies and matching Cath Kidson gloves and 'garden kneelers'? After seaside towns and Premiership football, are allotments the latest territory for middle-class spread and the class friction that accompanies? Any good stories of cloche class warfare from the front twine? Is it, possibly, a bit rich for the Observer to be asking this question?! Over to you...
