Tesco going self-sufficient? What's the catch?

So, Tesco seems to be turning to the good life with its plans to offer allotment spaces next to some of its Dobbies Garden Centre outlets, in addition to selling live chickens and egg-laying hens.

With the recession lumbering on, everyone's favourite retailer is hoping that it can capitalise on a rise in popularity of self-sufficiency as allotment waiting lists grow and seed sales rocket.

Fair enough, I thought when I first heard the news – the more people with access to growing land, the better. Yet with Tesco, there's always some kind of issue lurking in the background.

With impeccable timing, it has now emerged that the company want to tarmac over nine allotments in Hadleigh, Suffolk to grant access to one of its superstores.

Unsurprisingly, this has lead to accusations of hypocrisy. But a spokeswoman for allotment society NSALG went further, saying that it might have a another hidden agenda.

"Previous applications from Tesco have usually involved plans to develop allotment land,” she said. "Perhaps they are trying create a good impression against future destructive applications elsewhere."

Whether or not this true, Tesco's behaviour doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. Then again they don't need to – I try not to shop there whenever possible. And although a whole new audience might be introduced to sustainable living through these allotments, I'd still rather another company was behind it all.

Have a great weekend.

Edwin