My idea...

Two years ago, when I was living in a flat with no garden, I put a sign on our local notice board. It said - in politer language than this -

'I don't know anything about gardening, and I don't have my own garden, but I want to learn and I have a young strong back. If you know lots about gardening but can't lift compost the way you used to, I will swap you my labour for your knowledge. Please call me.'

And a local man did. And I helped him. And that's how I got my allotment.

And as of last week, I've given it up.

I have a real house and my own backyard now, and I didn't think it was fair to keep it knowing how many people are waiting for allotments out there. In some places, the waiting list has gone up to 40 years (or had, as of June last year): http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/jun/02/allotments-shortage-waiting-lists

But it gave me an idea. I've been kicking it around for a few months, and here it is:

1) There are a lot of people out there who want allotments.

2) There are a lot of people out there who have unused space in their backyards.

3) Some of (2) are old people who can't use the land themselves.

4) These people can be matched.

A lot - not all, but a lot - of old people are socially isolated. Handing over a chunk of backyard would give them a contact in the community, increased security from knowing someone would be around regularly, and - extra good - access to free, good quality food (that would be a share of the vegetables). The veg growers would get an obvious benefit: Access to the plot they've been waiting for so long.

I don't know how to kick this off, but I suspect it's got legs. And if anyone has a good contact among the senior citizens of the Cambridge community, please let me know.