AS PART of their Food Growing Strategy, South Ayrshire Council have increased the number of allotments available across South Ayrshire.

The local authority is also looking at expanding this number in the future.

Allotments have been proven as a great way to help improve your health and wellbeing, whilst also tackling food poverty and waste. There is now a total of six allotment facilities in South Ayrshire, offering a total of 338 allotment plots.

Allotment gardening is a relaxing, sociable and rewarding hobby. The reasonably-priced plots are a great way to get out in the fresh air and save money by growing your own fruit and vegetables.

Allotments contribute to many different agendas including healthy eating, sustainable food supply, healthy activity, educational purposes, reservoirs of biodiversity, fostering community links and green spaces.

If you are one of the growing number of people who is considering starting to grow fruit and vegetables there are a number of books that can be found at your local library to give a helping hand.

A council spokesperson said: “Our allotments encourage people to grow their own food, which promotes healthy eating, physical activity and reduces our carbon footprint; we’re currently looking to create new allotment sites in Girvan and Maybole.

“We’re also helping to set up community gardens to give even more people the opportunity to grow their own food. Introducing ‘edible borders’ where we remove existing shrubs and replace them with fruit bushes and vegetables is also an idea we’re exploring.

“We are also expanding our use of fruit trees which are planted along with ornamental trees. This work ties in with the Scottish Government’s ‘Good Food Nation’ initiative.”

A full list of the allotments can be found on the council’s website.