Green thumbs up for London
20 Jul 2009
London’s food growing scheme, Capital Growth, has received the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Commendation, collected by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, and Rosie Boycott, Chair of London Food earlier this month.
Capital Growth aims to create 2012 new community food-growing spaces by 2012. The scheme helps Londoners access land and create successful food growing spaces, offering practical support to communities and neighbourhoods.
Around one third of London’s total area is green space or water in addition to a large amount of roof space. Working with local authorities, housing associations and other landowners, Capital Growth makes under-used land available to growers, allowing people to gain access to good, healthy and affordable food.
The scheme was prompted by rising concerns about food prices, the environment and food miles along with an increasing interest in food growing. Managed by the environmental charity, Sustain, Capital Growth has now nearly 100 new spaces being cultivated, including at canal banks, schools, roofs, private gardens and parks.
On the same day as receiving the RHS commendation, the latest Capital Growth plot was opened outside London’s City Hall, echoing the move towards vegetable growing in iconic spots such as the White House garden.‘I am chuffed to bits that Capital Growth is being commended by the Royal Horticultural Society, the Mayor said, ‘This recognition is testimony to the sterling work and creativity being shown by hundreds of people across London to grow cheap and cheerful fruit and veg in all manner of places.’
Source: eGov Monitor
www.egovmonitor.com/node/26321
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