How are allotment gardens managed? A comparative study of usage and development in contemporary urban space in Germany and Poland

Abstract This article aims to analyse the development and use of allotment gardens (AGs) and plots in Westphalia and Lippe (Germany) and Wielkopolska (Poland) to assess what functions are feasible in their current stage, thus, contributing to an ongoing discussion on the role of AGs in contemporary urban space. The analysis considered ecosystem services, green infrastructure and urban agriculture. Characteristic features of AGs were identified by means of a survey of plot-holders, in-depth interviews with representatives of allotment associations, and exploratory walks. The management and use of AGs differs in both regions in terms of accessibility, common areas, impact on the landscape and plots development. AGs in Westphalia and Lippe are accessible and developed in a way which meets needs of external users. They fit harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. However, AGs in Wielkopolska are not as accessible, prioritise internal users, and do not always blend in with their surroundings. In Westphalia and Lippe, in addition to recreational and edible plant-growing plots, there are also educational and integration ones, while in Wielkopolska main categories of plots were more numerous and varied; from recreational with a predominance of ornamental plants to fully-cultivated. However, the considerable freedom that Polish plot-holders enjoy gives rise to the gradual marginalisation of edible-plant growing.