Sign Up For The Big Dig
London’s set for biggest ever day of community food volunteering
The call is out for Londoners of all ages and experience, to get involved in the Big Dig Day on Saturday 21st March 2015. The day will see thousands of Londoners and many more people across the country don their wellies and get stuck in at a local food growing garden.
The Big Dig Day is the flagship community event of Capital Growth London’s network of over 2 000 food growing gardens located on roofs, in parks and tucked away in hidden corners between houses, by canals and on urban farms. In its fourth year the Big Dig is also run nationally and has helped recruit over 10 000 volunteers to take part in community gardening in the UK.
With over a month to go before the Big Dig day, over 90 gardens have already signed up in the capital – preparing London for its biggest day of community food growing yet. Eloise Dey, from Capital Growth commented
“London is home to such an incredible range and number of community food growing gardens reflecting its diverse communities and the Big Dig day provides a great way to get involved with your local food growing space”
For residents of Putney, Roehampton & Wandsworth the nearest event is at Growhampton; a sustainability project at The University of Roehampton.
Growhampton has created an edible campus where we grow organic vegetables and provide volunteering and training opportunities to students and community on how to grow their own food.
| What's happening at Growhampton: We will develop 2 new growing spaces, both will be potted/container gardens. We will prepare the ground and dig a garden edge and backfill with woodchip to level the ground. We'll blend potting compost and fill ~60 containers with soil ready for plan refreshmentsparkingdisabled toilettoilets When: 21/03/2015 Time: 10am-3pm Where: University of Roehampton, Froebel College, Roehampton Lane SW15 5PJ How to get there: From Hammersmith take the 72 bus to Queen Mary's Hospital stop. From Barnes overground either walk 10 mins or also take the 72 bus. Parking also on site, enter Roehampton Uni through Froebel gate (cnr Roe and Clarence Lanes) and park in carpark 9 (P9) Want to volunteer? » click to volunteer at this garden |
or those running these edible gardens the Big Dig helps them to get ready for the new season, welcoming in new and experienced growers to help dig, sow seeds and build raised beds. “Last year we launched our farm on the day” explains Anthea Masey of Loughborough farm in south London “30 people came to help us get the farm up and running – it was amazing! This year we’re back on board and hoping for similar success. Holding a Big Dig day is a fantastic way to get the word out there.”
Capital Growth is supported by the Mayor of London and this year’s Big Dig day has been funded by Urban Food Routes , as part of its promotion of food growing in London. Rosie Boycott, Chair of the London Food Board says:
“Capital Growth is helping more Londoners than ever to grow food, eat more healthily and meet people. The Big Dig is a great way for people to get roll up their sleeves and get involved in their local community.”
February 25, 2015