New allotment spaces are opening up in Hackney for residents who are on benefits.

A new scheme by Reclaimed London will be using space by Regent’s Canal to get poorer members of the community into gardening.

Those receiving ESA, JSA, income support, universal credit, child tax credits, pension credit or asylum support will be eligible for the plots.

Jeff Barber represents allotment users in East London and said ‘It’s a brilliant initiative, particularly for those that are poorer and need access to healthy food’.

Waiting lists for allotments can number in their hundreds in North London; Hackney Allotments closed their list in 2008 and have shown no signs of re-opening it.

The lack of allotment space sharply contrasts the number of parks Hackney boasts – 58 in total – which is the biggest number in any inner city borough.

Some local residents are concerned that the path is already too narrow by the canal. Others think that the vegetable patches might be damaged by miscreants.

Reclaimed London are set to ‘reclaim’ even more green spaces and aim to also open up allotments in Islington later this year.

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