Many householders would like to be able to grow their own fruit and vegetables, but their gardens are too small or non-existent. In the Industrial Revolution and before the advent of state welfare benefits, it was often necessary for survival to be allowed to cultivate a small piece of land and keep a few hens and even a pig.

In 1908, the government took the first steps to encouraging local councils to earmark land for this purpose. After WW1 more legislation was passed, as returning servicemen exacerbated the problem. There were 1,500,000 allotments in that peak period. This has reduced to around 330,000 in modern times, with 40 or 50 per site.

Nevertheless, demand continues to exceed supply. Waiting lists number more than 200 in some cases. Indeed, it can be impossible to find the relevant information on council websites. An alternative is to find a piece of land yourself and ask the council to consider taking it on. With the standard allotment size being 55 x 5.5 yards, one acre can accommodate twelve plots, along with pathways and communal areas, such as a chemical toilet. Rent must be paid and it is good practice to have an Association to better deal with management issues.

(Image: Jonathan Billinger at geograph.org.uk / CC BY-SA 2.0)

The River Severn is Britain’s longest river and one of the most turbulent, with a tidal range of 40ft. and flow of up to 8 knots. It forms a natural barrier between the southern parts of Wales and England but many bridges have been built over it, the two most successful being the Severn Bridge and the Second Severn Crossing (re-named The Prince of Wales Bridge in 2018).

The Severn Bridge was built in 1961-66 at a cost of £8,000,000, partly to tackle road congestion in the Gloucester area from traffic rounding the river. The Bridge cut sixty miles off the journey and was a vital part of the new M4 motorway. It had tolls on the English side, payable in both directions, initially set at 2/6d (12.5p). Occasionally the Bridge would be closed because of high winds, snow or ice.

The Second Severn Crossing was built at a cost of £330,000,000 in 1992-96 with wind resistance and extra lanes, again to cope with increased traffic. The M4 was diverted onto it and the Severn Bridge became part of the M48. The tolls were in the England-to-Wales direction only and were eventually abolished on both bridges in December 2018.

(Top image of the cable-stayed Second Severn Crossing: Sarah Charlesworth at geograph.org.uk / CC BY-SA 2.0)