Allotments in urban space – modern components of city greenery or communist relics? An analysis of the issue as exemplifi ed by Warsaw

Allotments have always been an important part of social life in Central and Eastern Europe. Already at the beginning of the 20th century in several European countries, such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and others, the authorities organized spaces on the margins of cities dedicated to family cultivation. They were intended for the working class. Among the main objectives of this measure there were two: to make it easier for the working class to produce their own food products to supplement their daily diet and to use the allotments for recreational purposes. The workers could not afford to spend holidays away from the city and did not have many days off to go out. They had to spend these few days off in their gardens. This system became very widespread. During the communist era the goals were the same. The communist authorities tried to provide a form of recreation for the workers. Numerous plot gardens were created. After the transformation, it turned out that, as a result of the expansion of urban development, these areas, located near the centre, were very well located. Developers and other investors began to take steps to take over the investments. The aim of the article is to show the confl ict over these spaces within the city. Today, the lands that occupy these allotments are the target of many political and economic pressures.