A Roots Allotment site in Abbots Leigh near Bristol has officially sold out.

All 600 places have been snapped up, indicating a strong demand for local food production and outdoor activity.

This success underlines an increasing need for allotments to meet a national shortfall and long waiting lists.

According to Greenpeace, the number of people on council allotment waiting lists has nearly doubled in the last 12 years to over 157,000, with some areas facing a staggering 15 year wait.

Roots Allotments aim to bridge this gap by providing members with a complete package of education, tools, and resources needed to grow their own food.

The support provided includes courses, workshops, patch managers and all the required seeds and plants.

Roots allotments encompass a range of sizes to cater for varying demands.

Beyond Bristol and North Somerset, allotments have also been offered to local charities, food partnerships, community groups and schools.

(Image: Roots Allotments)

Member G, 29, said: "I’m incredibly happy that Roots identified a huge need for growing that local councils can’t provide, and have provided a solution themselves, and I can’t wait to get growing."

Lucy, 62, disappointed with long waits elsewhere, is also joining: "I’ve put my name on all of the waiting lists and they're impossible.

"The waiting list is so long, five years, 10 years - some of them had waiting lists of 200 people.

"I'll never get one.

"I'm 62, I'll be dead before I get an allotment."

She praised Roots, saying: "I chose Roots because I like what you're doing and I think it's really the way to go.

"You set them up.

"They've got their growing ground, which is no dig.

"You give them plants, you give them seeds.

"You give them compost every year.

"I mean, it's phenomenal."

Founder of Roots Allotments, Ed Morrison said: "This is a huge achievement and one that clearly shows the demand that is out there for people to grow their own food.

"We’re proud to provide a solution, along with all the help and support they may need."

In preparing the site for opening, Roots and its members have completed biodiversity boosting initiatives, including reinstating over 1,800 metres of native hedgerow and planting more than 30 mixed fruit trees.

Further plans are underway to plant an additional 400 trees.

For more details, visit www.rootsallotments.com.