By using organic methods whilst maintaining your allotment, you can help to reduce harm to the local wildlife and ensure the natural balance on your plot is maintained.

The use of a compost heap can be beneficial both for your crops and is also wildlife friendly. The benefit to the soil and hence the crops are well documented, but they can also provide shelter for wildlife including insects and other small animals, such as hedgehogs.

Whilst it can be annoying, fruit bushes are fantastic for birdlife. Thrushes and blackbirds enjoy the crop, but they may well harvest all your berries before you get chance to enjoy them yourself. It is important to remember that there are a number of allotment associations who do not allow such fruits crops.

In order to maintain the natural balance and minimise the effects of pests, many allotment goers use a technique known as companion planting. A classic example of such includes planting marigolds near your tomatoes. The scent produced by the flowers discourages pests including greenfly and blackfly. In contrast bees and butterflies will love the marigolds, as they will benefit from the flowers nectar.