THERE is no greater satisfaction than eating the fruits and vegetables of your own labour. So says allotment holder Jim Clarke.

To mark National Allot-ment Week, which lasts until Friday, the Westcliff Land Cultivation Society held its annual show where allotment holders like Jim can share the benefits of growing your own with the rest of us.

The ever growing popularity of allotments can be attributed to a number of things says Jim, who is chairman of the society and manager of the Trading Shed, a shop on the site of the allotments in Springfield Drive, Westcliff.

Jim says: "There is a heightened awareness of the dangers of child obesity and the need to change lifestyles. You can't get any better way than involving yourself in good physical outdoor exercise and allotments give you that.

"For the first time in a long time we are fully occupied and have a waiting list.

"The hobby has been growily steadily for a couple of years, but this year interest has accelerated. Celebrity chefs and gardeners have played their part."

The society, which has more than 200 members, held its annual show on Sunday with growers competing for prizes as well as selling their produce of flowers, fruit and vegetables.

The allotments were opened for the day and people welcomed in for refreshments with local musicians playing.

Jim said: "We hold a raffle and auction off the prize winning produce, with all profits going to Fair Havens Hospice. We usually raise about £250. It is nothing sophisticated, just a good, friendly, community event where the kids go off hunting for bumblebees and butterflies."

Those who think allotments and gardening are the sole preserve of retired folk, should think again.

Such are their appeal across the generations, local schools Chase High School and Lancaster Special School even have plots to get their pupils involved.

Jim, 71, said: "It's all about bringing people back in touch with nature. Longevity goes with exercise. We have one plot holder who is 86 and has had a plot since the 1940s. The male/female split is also pretty even.

"The younger people tend to like growing more exotic produce that older growers used to shun, like fennel and pak choi.We have many nations here from Holland, Finland, Africa and New Zealand and they all interact with each other. Growing unites people, it doesn't matter where you are from if you all have a problem with potatoes or tomatoes."

There is a bumper harvest of potatoes this year because of all the rain, while tomatoes are suffering with blight. Runner beans, blackberries, raspberries and sweetcorn are all thriving.

Jim has held his allotment since 1993.

"I have an affinity with the land, I think it's in my genes. I used to work on the allotment just at weekends, but now it's a large part of my life and I manage the shop, I'm here around five days a week.

"There is great satisfaction when you prepare the ground, sow the seeds and reap the rewards of your labour.

"I believe more people using the allotments means fewer people queuing for the hospital across the road."

To find out more about renting an allotment call Jon Limbert Southend Council's allotments officer on 01702 215625 or e-mail jonlimbert@southend.gov.uk