Before.

Today we put spades into the ground in Kingsdown, in an area of large high rise flats that have huge tracts of land around them, much of which is ripe for growing food on.

After. Planted with fruit bushes, beans peas, sunflower, marigold and nastutiums!!

George Ferguson surveying the garden!

We collaborated on this with The People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, and picked a piece of ground that was unloved, had been covered in weeds and rubbish but was right next to the entrance to one of the blocks. We spoke with members of the community who, on the whole were really positive and welcomed what we were trying to do. The important message is this is not a group of people growing food for themselves, or trying to take ownership of anything. It is a group of people empowering communities to get growing by showing them what can be done, and the food is for everyone.

It was great that George Ferguson came along and was so supportive, but actually the really wonderful part of the day was that residents are excited about what is going on and have offered help and enthusiasm and a promise to keep things watered.