AN idyllic scene of nectarine and peach orchards, with exotic herbs and spice plants thriving in the sunshine, is right on the doorstep of many Waltham Forest residents.

Allotment gardening in East London has come a long way from its traditional image of Arthur Fowler characters fleeing domestic strife to the safety of their sheds.

At the Higham Hill Common Allotments in Walthamstow, people of all ages and backgrounds grow and share their crops.

The plots have been recognised by botanists at Kew Gardens as the only place in the UK where certain plants grow. Rare insects have also been recorded by the resident ecologist, Brian Wurzel.

Children from nearby Whittingham Community Primary School learn from more experienced gardeners.

And work is being planned to make the site even more accessible to people with disabilities and mobility problems.

Colin Bowen, secretary of the allotments association, said: "We're a world away from the old-fashioned negative stereotypes of allotment gardeners.

"People love to come here and relax and enjoy the amazing health benefits of growing their own food. Gardening and creating your own plot is very therapeutic. It's good for people psychologically too."

In around four years, the number of tenants using the site has soared from 40 to just under 170.

Now there is a big waiting list of people wanting to rent plots, and one tenant even moved house from Haringey to Waltham Forest to be eligible.

Mr Bowen said: "We like to think of the site as a community resource. The work we have done with the children at the primary school is good and we have also worked with elderly people, there was a produce delivery scheme and we're adapting plots to have raised beds to make it easier for people to reach down to the plants."

As well as recognition from the local community, the allotments are building their reputation as a home for diverse and rare species.

A hybrid of a Jamaican plant known commonly as Callaloo is recognised as a unique variety by Kew Gardens botanists. Ecologists are also interested in learning more about rare wasps that feed on carrots and chamomile.

Plots that are now used to grow herbs, fig trees, sweet potatoes and a host of colourful and diverse crops and flowers date back to medieval times.

The site has been common land for over 100 years and is one of London's oldest allotments.

Mr Bowen said it is hoped that an application to get an allotment site in Newcastle given listed status will pave the way for the Walthamstow gardens to gain protection.

The association is chaired by Yvonne Denny, who is a keen gardener and hopes to take the site on to further success.

Ms Denny said: "I personally got a lot of health benefits from gardening and it's nice to be part of something that is making a difference to the community."