GREEN-FINGERED Abdul Logde is to star in a TV series looking at how the centuries old tradition of allotments has adapted to the 21st century.

The 40-year-old, who came to Blackburn from Tanzania as a child, and his family will be at the centre of a video diary running over the summer on the BBC’s Gardeners World.

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This weekend TV crews were filming at Queen’s Park Allotments to examine how the traditional smallholdings are adapting the urban multi-ethnic environment of East Lancashire in 2015.

Mr Lodge, his wife Fatima, their daughters, his mother Asma and elder brother Mohammed spent evenings and weekends on their allotment growing not just the traditional fruit and vegetables but also Asian herbs.

When not working the soil, they swap gardening tips with the 24 other allotment holders at the smallholdings established after the Second World War.

The tradition dates back to Anglo-Saxon times but took off in the industrial North-West in the 19th century with councils put under a legal obligation to provide green space for the smallholdings in 1908.

Series producer Chloe Rawlings said: “We wanted to do a video diary about how allotments have adapted to a modern urban and multi-ethnic environment.

“We looked at various places and Queens Park Allotments and Abdul and his family were ideal.

“We are planning three segments before the series ends in October with the first going out over Easter.”

Youth worker Mr Lodge, from Knuzden, said one of his aims was to get his daughters Fatima, 11, and Maira, five, involved.

He said: “I wanted something that would involve the whole family and be relaxing.

“My daughters have really got involved. It’s lovely watching them enjoy seeing things grow.

“I’m really glad I took the allotment four years ago and have really enjoyed it.

“Everyone has been really welcoming and we all swap hints and tips.

“Even my mother Asma gets involved giving us advice.”

Queen’s Park Allotment Society secretary Gordon Green said: “We are delighted Gardeners World is coming.

“They wanted to look at urban allotments in a predominantly Asian area.

“Abdul is a real part of our society and we would love to see more people from our South Asian community join our society and bring a bit of variety.”