A campaign to use public land for community gardening launched in Islington on Thursday.
Right to Grow, an initiative to turn unused green spaces into gardens which feed the community, has been adopted in Islington.
The project, developed by Incredible Edible, hopes to address unequal food access. It would require local authorities to allow community gardening on public land through free leases.
Katherine Lowe, Islington Campaign Lead, said the group sought to increase access to fresh and healthy food in the borough, making it less reliant on supply chains of expensive imported food which could be disrupted by climate change, wars and pandemics.
“It’s about community engagement and getting people empowered to feed each other,” she said.
In January, the Islington Climate Centre along with Octopus Community Network and Islington Food Partnership held a People’s Assembly on Food, discussing concerns over food insecurity.
Islington has a 43 per cent child poverty rate and has seen an uptick in foodbank usage in recent years.
Food grown through the project will go to volunteers, lunch clubs and community kitchens. The group is also planning to grow seedlings to help other community gardens get up and running.
Right to Grow has already seen success in Tower Hamlets, but the Islington branch face a bigger challenge. With only 3.6 metres of green space per person, Islington is the least green borough in London.
“There is space,” said Katherine. “Hospitals, buildings with open roofs – we want to show people that in quite small spaces you can still grow a lot.”
In the coming months, the group plans to take walks around the borough to find public land. It is working on a motion to put to the council.
“The next step is public involvement,” said Katherine. “We’re always looking for young people who want to get involved in a local political campaign.”
