Experts brand allotment society's warning over greenhouses 'bizarre'

An allotment society has reportedly warned people to avoid glass greenhouses, branding them a "negative feature" that can cause injury.

A document published by The National Allotment Society warns of the dangers of glass panes shattering, running the risk of shards of glass injuring gardeners.

The document, titled '21st Century Allotments in New Developments' is described as: "Practical, design-led and policy-based guidance for planners and developers who are looking to include allotments in new developments", and is aimed at councils and planners.

In a section titled ''Designing-out' negative features', it includes a list of things that are "not recommended for inclusion in '21st Century Allotment Design', including glass in greenhouses, cold frames and cloches.

It explains: "Broken glass, especially when shattered and lurking in soil, causes innumerable injury to allotment gardeners, their visitors, domestic pets and wildlife. Safer alternatives are polytunnels and/or greenhouses and cold frames made with polycarbonate."

But The Telegraph reported that the advice has been branded "bizarre" by gardening experts, who pointed out that glass-made greenhouses have been used for decades without concern.

Prof Stefan Buczacki, the former chairman of Gardener's Question Time, told the newspaper the warnings were "extraordinary".

He said: "Glass is a much better, more efficient material for greenhouses because it heats up much quicker than polycarbonate. That is why big commercial growers still use glasshouses."

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Former Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins added: "I would prefer a glasshouse. They are more effective and polycarbonate is really expensive."

He said to stop using glass because of safety fears was a "bit much".

Phil Gomersall, the society's president, told the Telegraph that the society wanted allotments to be as safe as possible.

"One of the big issues when you go on sites is broken glass. I am still finding bits of glass after 20 years on my allotment," he said.

"You only have to be rooting around in the soil with bare hands and you can easily suffer cuts."