Since the economic downturn hit, we have all been encouraged to grow our own food.

But that is easier said than done in Brighton and Hove.

There are currently 2,000 green-fingered wannabes on the waiting list for an allotment plot in the city.

Waiting lists for 19 of the 36 allotment sites have even closed due to over subscription.

The huge waiting list has prompted Gary Johnson to launch a campaign for more plots.

Mr Johnson, 38, who has a plot at Whitehawk Hill, said: “The waiting list is more than 2,000 for a plot and at the moment there are about 180 vacant plots.

“There are old sites that have been out of use for the past ten years and the council could open them up again.”

Mr Johnson put the rise in demand to the fact that people could save money by growing their own.

He said: “There has been a big Government drive in the past five years to get people to grow their own for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

“There has also been a rise in gardening programmes on TV.”

The petition is calling for more plots but Mr Johnson knows it comes down to money.

He said: “The problem is a lack of money but the only real costs are fencing and a water supply.

“But I appreciate that there is not a lot of revenue in allotments.”

Councillor Pete West, Cabinet member for environment at Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “Allotments are very popular in the city and at present demand exceeds the supply we have, with about two people waiting for every three plots already let.

“We are trying to address this and encourage residents’ enthusiasm for food growing.

“When a large style plot becomes available we halve it to create two manageable, yet good-sized plots which is helping to double the quantity of plot stock.

“We are also about to develop a new allotments strategy for the city with allotmenteers, which will look at the possibility of new sites, bringing disused plots back into use.”

The wait for an allotment at St Marks in Manor Road stretches back to January 2002 while 353 are on the waiting list for Weald Avenue.

Mr Johnson has started an online petition, which you can sign at present.brighton.gov.uk

Do you think that more allotment places should be found?