Gardening can help alter attitudes

This is according to editor of Amateur Gardening magazine Tim Rumball, who believes that taking up the pastime can be of “immense personal benefit to the individual”.

He added that being creative rather than destructive and growing produce instead of consuming has a “fundamental effect on the attitude of people”.

A survey commissioned by Which? has indicated that almost one-quarter of a cross-section of the British public grows their own food.

It found that 59 per cent nurtured items due to the increased cost of groceries, while one in three did so in order to eat more healthily.

A further 22 per cent stated they had little alternative due to a lack of disposable income.

Despite this, Mr Rumball suggested the notion of being able to save money by growing produce is “a bit of a myth” and developing fruit and vegetable is a very time consuming task