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Potsdam (dpa / bb) - Numerous allotment garden associations in Brandenburg recorded increased demand last year, also due to the Corona crisis.
"Hobby in the fresh air, space for children to play, we are privileged, so to speak," says Fred Schenk, chairman of the state association of gardening friends in Brandenburg.
The association has over 62,000 allotment gardeners in a total of 1238 associations and 32 member associations.
Above all, the first lockdown in spring 2020 led to a real "run" on the plots, reports Schenk.
"There are currently 61,665 parcels leased, 115 more than a year ago," reports Fred Schenk.
Young families in particular have discovered gardening for themselves.
In many places there are no longer any free parcels, or if they do, they are taken out very quickly.
For example at the Kreisverband der Garten- und Siedlerfreunde Potsdam, where there are currently 6,200 parcels in 125 allotment gardens.
"There are very few unused parcels and only where there are legal disputes," says the managing director of the district association, Christian Peschel.
But allotment gardens are also in demand in regions outside of Berlin's bacon belt.
According to Schenk, the Uckermark has seen a significant increase.
There, with currently 4482 parcels, 80 more are leased than at the beginning of 2020.
"There are also many Berliners who regularly ask about gardens," reports Jenny Jahnke, managing director of the Uckermärkischer Kreisverband der Gartenfreunde.
However, there are still plenty of gardens in the region, especially in Schwedt, that are waiting for new tenants.
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In addition to the high demand and the scarce supply in the Berlin area, inexpensive leases also attract more distant regions.
In the Uckermark, they are only around eight cents per square meter per year.
"There are already differences in leases between Neuruppin and Wittstock," explains Wolfgang Schönfeld from Garden Friends in Wittstock (Ostprignitz-Ruppin).
The basis for the leases is the Federal Allotment Garden Act, which is intended to prevent usury.
The national average is the annual rent per square meter at 12.5 cents, reports Schenk.
According to Wolfgang Schönfeld, there are currently no more free parcels in Wittstock.
Some associations even kept waiting lists, others would only accept local tenants.
The demand from the Berlin area has increased.
However, the increase in new young allotment gardeners also harbors potential for conflict with long-established residents.
“Not everyone wants to plant something, some are just looking for a place to grill and relax,” Schönfeld observed.
The allotment garden law prescribes "gardening", however.
Schönfeld therefore assumes that some of the new allotment gardeners will not or will not survive the first year as tenants.
In his opinion, goodwill is important in dealing with one another between generations.
Because basically the clubs hoped for new impulses and modernization through the growth.
“We have some catching up to do with digitization in particular,” says Fred Schenk.
The corona crisis made that clear.
Young tenants could well contribute their knowledge here.
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In addition, the generation change is generally important for allotment gardens in Brandenburg.
"Many association boards are outdated, but cannot find a successor," explains Schenk.
The younger generation can take on responsibility here.
The current high demand means that the aging threshold has just been fought off, says the chairman of the regional association.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210313-99-804676 / 2
Regional Association of Gardening Friends