Rain is a welcome boost for Lytham allotmenteers

The recent rain is a welcome boost for growers at Lytham’s Mythop Road Allotment Association following a donation of 30 water butts.

The 200 litre water butts have been installed around the popular site to enable each of the 97 plots to benefit from them.

Iain Pilling, United Utilities' Area Engagement Lead for Lancashire said: “We are really keen to promote different methods of rainwater re-use and these water butts will be a big help in helping the allotment association reduce their water use.”

The long-established allotment site is fully occupied and managed by a range of keen growers from young families to octogenarians. Situated in between Mythop Road and Liggard Brook it is also a haven for local wildlife attracting birds, bats and hedgehogs.

Ian Brierley from the allotment association said: "We are doing what we can to try and encourage plot holders to reduce their use of tap water and hose pipes, the addition of water butts is a great way to support our plan to become more water efficient.

“For our next steps, we are looking at getting some large water tanks installed to increase use of rainwater water over tap water."

During the last two years United Utilities has donated more than 1,600 water butts and smart water butts of varying sizes to customers, community groups, schools and allotments to help them become more water efficient. Water butts can also and reduce the risk of surface water flooding as they ‘slow the flow’ and divert water away from the sewer system.