Urban Allotment Gardens in Europe

Although urban allotment gardening dates back to the nineteenth century, it has recently undergone a renaissance of interest and popularity. This is the result of greater concern over urban greenspace, food security and quality of life. This book presents a comprehensive, research-based overview of the various features, benefits and values associated with urban allotment gardening in Europe.

The book is based on a European COST Action project, which brings together researchers and practitioners from all over Europe for the first detailed exploration of the subject on a continent-wide scale. It assesses the policy, planning and design aspects, as well as the social and ecological benefits of urban allotment gardening. Through an examination of the wide range of different traditions and practices across Europe, it brings together the most recent research to discuss the latest evolutions of urban allotment gardening and to help raise awareness and fill knowledge gaps.

The book provides a multidisciplinary perspective, including insights from horticulture and soil science, ecology, sociology, urban geography, landscape, planning and design. The themes are underpinned by case studies from a number of European countries which supply a wide range of examples to illustrate different key issues.

Simon Bell is Professor of Landscape Architecture at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia, and Director of the OPENspace Research Centre, Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, University of Edinburgh, UK.

Runrid Fox-Kamper is an architect and Head of the research group 'Built Environment' at the ILS Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development, Aachen, Germany, and Chair of COST Action TU1201 Urban Allotment Gardens in European Cities.

Nazila Keshavarz is a landscape architect and a research fellow at ILS Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development, Aachen, Germany.

Mary Benson is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Maynooth University, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Silvio Caputo is Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture, University of Portsmouth, UK.

Susan Noori is a social research consultant and an affiliated researcher with Birmingham School of Architecture, Birmingham City University, UK.

Annette Voigt is Visiting Professor in the Department of Geography and Regional Studies at the University of Klagenfurt, Austria.