Contemporary state and perspectives of garden allotments in agglommerations of Czechia

5 ABSTRACT The research on garden colonies in Czechia follows an ongoing focus of the Department of Social Geography and Regional Development (Faculty of Science, Charles University) on specific forms of recreation in Czechia, specifically on projects concerning individual short-term recreation and secondary housing. The goal of this diploma thesis is to provide a comprehensive image of gardening in selected model regions of the Czech Republic, offer possible outlook, compare and evaluate current state and changes in functional use of garden colonies and analyze causes of their transformation. To accomplish this goal, we analyzed results of questionnaires and terrain investigations conducted in the individual model regions. One of the most important items of the study was the analysis of changes in functional use of the gardening colonies. We also evaluated selected characteristics of the gardening colonies and compared results from individual model regions. The conclusion of this analysis and evaluation is that in addition to the continuing production function of gardens and their substantial social-economic function, gardens also serve as a place for both psychic and stamina regeneration and a place of recreation. The gardens are also being transformed to objects of secondary housing or permanent..