An Analysis of the Changes in the Structure of Allotment Gardens in Poland and of the Process of Regulating Legal Status

The space occupied by allotment gardens constitutes a special element of green infrastructure and it is important for the implementation of the idea of sustainable urban development. The areas occupied for this specific purpose are decreasing throughout Europe, in those countries where allotment gardens have a long tradition and their existence is regulated by law. The aim of this research is to analyze the data on the number and area of allotment gardens, their distribution across Poland and within the exemplary city, as well as to analyze the process of regulating the legal status of the land occupied by allotment gardens. The research defined the number and area of family allotment gardens in Poland, the range of the claims against family allotment gardens and types of entities filing these claims across the country. The performed research study found that the land occupied by family allotment gardens requires protection and regulation of its legal status, which is difficult to carry out due to various entities submitting claims to these areas resulting from their attractive location in cities. The publication proposes system solutions that guarantee protection of allotment gardens, maintenance of the status quo and preservation of their current boundaries.