• Final call to be part of the world’s largest urban food-growing network

• The chance to win £1000, 70 fruit trees and £100’s of tools  

• Five new London Gardens given Grow for Gold award

Today Capital Growth launched a competition to find London’s 2012th food-growing garden, following a four year long campaign to encourage groups of Londoners to get together and grow their own and after 5 gardens were crowned London's most inspirational new gardens.  The 2012 competition is the final chance for groups to get involved in this ground-breaking achievement.

The project, which is a partnership between London Food Link, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food Programme has already helped an astounding 1950 groups, who have joined the Capital Growth network to get help such as funding, tools, seeds and training.

The Mayor, Boris Johnson, said: 'Capital Growth is set to deliver an inspirational legacy in our Olympic year. Tens of thousands of Londoners, many of them volunteering in their spare time, have helped us to create the world's largest urban food-growing network. This has brought about a raft of social and environmental benefits that has improved our city for everyone living or working here.'

Speaking about the campaign Rosie Boycott, the Mayor’s food advisor, explained “Through  the campaign we have witness the amazing ways that Londoners rise to the challenge of limited space, by growing food on roofs, barges, in disused playgrounds, outside offices and in people’s back gardens. What has been even more amazing are the  things that happen in them as a result – whether that be meeting neighbours, making green spaces feel safer or just producing the freshest and tastiest food and we can’t wait to find London’s 2012th edible garden.”

People already growing food or who want to start a project can register before 5 th  December for a chance to win everything they need for their edible garden including £1000, a mini - orchard from Gardening Express,  Bulldog tools  and state of the art raised beds donated by Wood Blocx.   In addition the winner will also receive the accolade of becoming growing space 2012 and will be visited by a special guest to help get their garden started. Gardening Express have also donated a further 60 fruit trees for the first entrants. 

This latest competition follows the announcement of a number of  awards being given to new inspirational gardens across London , including Abbey Gardens  in Newham , a beautiful and productive garden bringing local residents together in a previously derelict site “Abbey Gardens is a breath-taking place that shows what can be achieved when the community works together  in just a few years .  Anyone wanting to be inspired should take a visit or look at our website for a number of other ideas to get them started,” explained Sarah Williams, part of the Capital Growth team.    Other winning gardens included Chisenhale Primary School, in Tower Hamlets and Lambeth Poly, who are growing food to sell from a poly-tunnel in Tulse Hill.

Groups registering will also receive advice, training and other help with their projects into 2013. To register visit www.capitalgrowth.org before the 5 December 2012 or get in touch for more information.

ENDS

For information and images please contact sarah Williams on Sarah@sustainweb.org or 0203 5596 777

www.capitalgrowth.org  www.twitter.com/capital_growth

Notes

1. Capital Growth is one of the largest Urban food-growing network’s in the world and has attracted interest from across the globe.
2. Capital Growth was launched in 2008 to provide practical and financial help to Londoners wanting to set up or expand food growing spaces. The scheme is funded by the Mayor of London and by the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food scheme, a £57.5 million funding programme. Capital Growth is coordinated by London Food Link, part of the charity, Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming. For further information go to www.capitalgrowth.org.
3. Groups of five people or more, with permission to use a piece of land can register to win £1000 in vouchers, 10 fruit trees, seeds and tools.  Three Runners up will receive five fruit trees, seeds, hand tools and £100 voucher and 50 entrants will receive fruit trees and £25 voucher.
4. The Mayor sees Capital Growth as a key part of his Team London initiative to encourage Londoners to get engaged with volunteering in their communities, to improve lives through programmes that will reduce crime, increase opportunities for youth and improve quality of life by cleaning and greening London and building stronger neighbourhoods. www.london.gov.uk/teamlondon.
5. Gardening Express is an online company selling a wide range of edible and ornamental plants. www.gardeningexpress.co.uk
6. Bulldog Tools having been making tools since 1870 and continue to produce their tools from a forge in the UK www.bulldogtools.co.uk
7. WoodBlocX is a self-assembly system for creating raised beds and garden features that’s as simple to use as the children’s toy Lego and has recently received backing from Dragons’ Den’s Peter Jones. http://www.woodblocx.co.uk/
8. The Grow for Gold winners and runners up are listed below. 

The Bee Friendly food garden, sponsored by the Organic Gardening catalogue
This category highlights the importance of creating a community food growing space for London’s wildlife, including insects, birds, and even bats. Edible plants need to be pollinated by insects so that they produce fruits and vegetables.

1st place Fairlie Grow, Tower Hamlets, won £200 worth of Bulldog tools and a £250 voucher for the Organic Gardening catalogue.
2nd place Cordwainer garden, Hackney, won £50 worth of Bulldog tools and a £150 voucher for the Organic Gardening catalogue.
3rd place Bee Urban, Lambeth, won £100 voucher for the Organic Gardening catalogue.

The Learning food garden, sponsored by Victoriana Nursery
This category highlights the benefits of growing food in an educational setting. Through food growing children learn to live healthy and sustainable lives with a highly engaging experience.

1st place Chisenhale Primary School, Tower Hamlets, won £200 worth of Bulldog tools and a £250 voucher for the Victoriana Nursery.
2nd place Low Hall Nursery and Childrens centre, Waltham Forest, won £50 worth of Bulldog tools and a £150 voucher for the Victoriana Nursery.
3rd place Horniman Primary School, Lewisham, won £100 voucher for the Victoriana Nursery.

The People’s food garden, sponsored by East End Homes
This category focuses on community engagement, an essential part of community food growing. It helps ensure a community food growing space is productive and well maintained, brings neighbours together and makes food growing even more fun!

1st place Crystal Palace Transition Town, Lambeth, won £200 worth of Bulldog tools and £250 from East End Homes
2nd place Lordship North Edible Garden, Hackney, won £50 worth of Bulldog tools and £150 from East End Homes
3rd place Edible Golden Lane 358 City of London £100 from East End Homes

The Inspiring food garden, sponsored by Bulldog Tools
This category emphasizes the benefits of growing food together, encouraging communities to develop pride in their neighbourhood, and eat tastier and healthier food.

1st place Abbey Gardens, Newham, won £200 worth of Bulldog tools, a £250 voucher for the Organic Gardening catalogue and a £250 cooking course at the Cookery School.
2nd place Castle Climbing Centre, Hackney, won £50 worth of Bulldog tools and a £150
voucher for the Organic Gardening catalogue.
3rd place Food from the Sky, Haringey, won £100 voucher for the Organic Gardening catalogue

The Enterprise food garden, sponsored by the Seed Pantry
This category highlights the importance of raising money by selling produce to ensure the sustainability of a community food growing space. Grow-to-sell activities keep the garden alive and provide that little extra to maintain a food-growing space for the next food growing season.

1st place Lambeth Poly, Lambeth, won £200 worth of Bulldog tools and £250 in seeds & plugs from the Seed Pantry.
2nd place Canning Town, Newham, won £50 worth of Bulldog tools and £150 in seeds & plugs from the Seed Pantry.
3rd place Bee interested in Portobello Road, Kensington & Chelsea, won £100 in seeds & plugs from the Seed Pantry.

07/11/2012