This talk and all our lectures are FREE for Friends of the Botanical Gardens to attend. Members of the public are also welcome to join us on payment of £5 at the door on the day. Live talks are held in the Education Centre in the grounds of the Botanical Gardens - easily accessed via the Thompson Road Entrance.

Sheffield currently has over 3000 allotment plots, located at over 70 sites throughout the city and in this illustrated talk author and keen allotmenteer Margaret Boulton will cover the main aspects of allotment provision in Sheffield over 300 years.

Having studied Geology, Natural History and Archaeology at Sheffield University, Institute for Lifelong Learning, Margaret’s dissertation on ‘18th Century Gardens in Sheffield,’  led to further research leading to the publication of Margaret’s book : ‘A History of Allotments in Sheffield 1700 to the Present Day.’ It covers a period of intense industrialisation, two world wars, the unemployment of the 1930’s and the growth of the suburbs and encompasses the social and economic changes in the 20th century and the environmental concerns of the 21st century.

Margaret has been secretary for the Sheffield Federation of Allotments and for Sorby Natural History Society until recently.  Her background is from a farming family in Wiltshire and after retiring 12 years ago from a career in mental health in London and Sheffield, she now works as a guide at Haddon Hall, and enjoys looking after her garden and allotment.

Copies of the book will be available to buy at the talk at a discounted price