The call is out for gardeners of all ages, and experience, to get involved in the fourth annual Big Dig Day on Saturday 21st March 2015. The day will see thousands of people across the country, don their wellies and get stuck in at a local food growing garden. 

The Big Dig Day is run by the Big Dig network [2], at Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming and already 150 gardens across the length and breadth of the UK from Falkirk in the north to Totnes in the south have signed up to take part [3]. Last year over 1,500 volunteers got stuck in, with many going on to become regular growers with over 10,000 people getting involved since the project began in 2012.  

Clare Horrell from the Big Dig said “The Big Dig is a great way to take the first step to get involved in growing your own and discovering your local edible garden. Gardens can be found all around the country - on allotments, in parks and even on rooftops. It’s also a great way of getting fit, meeting new people and learning about and tasting healthy food”, Clare goes on to explain. 

Many of the gardens rely on volunteers to run the gardens so extra hands are always welcome and in many cases essential to the future of this rich network of food growers, which range from groups working with children, to projects in parks and growing spaces on roof tops and on a number of sites that were previously derelict and unloved. 

Helen Hinsley from the Growing Together project at Higham Hill Children’s Centre in London said “We lost count of the numbers of volunteers but had at least 60 people. It was a fantastic event and many people didn’t want to go home”. [4]

Edible Gardens wanting to participate or volunteers looking to take part in a local activity can visit the website www.bigdig.org.uk for more information how to get involved. 

ENDS
For more information please contact Clare Horrell on 0203 5596 777 or clare@sustainweb.org or go to www.bigdig.org.uk
 
Editorial Notes

1. The Big Dig is is a nationwide project which aims to support community gardens and help them recruit new volunteers. The Big Lottery’s Awards for All programme [6] is helping the project to engage new places, new gardens and new people this year, with additional funding in London via the Urban Food Routes programme. 

Follow The Big Dig on twitter @thebigdiguk #bigdig2015 or visit our website www.bigdig.org.uk 

2. Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity. Sustain represents around 100 national public interest organisations working at international, national, regional and local level. https://www.sustainweb.org/ 

3. Cities and towns involved include London, Birmingham, Belfast, Brighton, Bournemouth & Poole, Durham, Huddersfield, Liverpool, Totnes and York .

4. Interviews with volunteers and garden leaders are available on request

5. Big Dig Day 2015 events will be taking place on Saturday 21st March.

6. Awards for All is a Big Lottery Fund which aims to fund projects which address the issues, needs and aspirations of local communities and people. They fund a wide range of community projects aimed at developing skills, improving health, revitalizing the local environment and enabling people to become more active citizens. 
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/programmes/england/awards-for-all-england

26/02/2015