THE sound of happy gardeners tilling the soil and reaping the fruits of their harvest on local allotments may soon be heard in Buckland Monachorum if the suggestion of some local residents is taken up.

The parish council received a request from a Crapstone resident, speaking on behalf of four other residents, for an area of land for allotment gardens. The council is now considering the request, but needs to assess the demand.

Parish clerk Elaine Simkins said the definition of an allotment garden was 'a parcel of land not exceeding one quarter of an acre which is wholly or mainly cultivated by the occupier for the production of vegetables or fruit crops for consumption by himself or his family'. It could not be used for the purposes of trade or business. The keeping of livestock, poultry or bees was a possibility.

'Under Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1922 a local council is required to provide allotment gardens for personal cultivation where it is of the opinion that a demand exists in the parish.' she said.

Anyone interested in the idea of allotment gardening in the area is asked to contact the parish clerk on 01822 859260.