Allotments and community food-growing gardens in Greater Manchester will open their gates to the public during September 2012, in the largest open event of food-growing spaces ever seen in the UK. Local gardeners and growers are gearing up for The Edible Gardens Open Day, which takes place on Saturday 15th September, providing members of the public with a glimpse of the green spaces on their doorstep.
Many of the participating community food gardens will be putting on activities such as garden tours, talks, games and barbeques, as well as selling garden produce and home made food.
A churchyard in Charlestown, and the Harpers Lane allotment site in Bolton are just two of the food-growing gardens in Greater Manchester that have already signed up.
And on the 29th August 2012 The Kindling Trust are running a short session on: How to Run a Community Garden Open Day in Manchester City Centre for those wanting to join in.
Funded by the Cabinet Office’s Social Action Fund and co-ordinated by Sustain:the alliance for better food and farming, Greater Manchester is one of six UK locations taking part – the others being Brighton, Coventry, London, Middlesbrough and Sheffield.
Clare Horrell from The Big Dig, said: “The Edible Open Gardens events will be the first time many of these gardens have been opened to the public. Gardens have been created in some unusual spaces. What they all have in common is that they are run by local people who give up their free time to grow fantastic, tasty fruit and vegetables right in the middle of their communities. We want the public to come and visit, taste what is growing and be inspired to get involved themselves so that food growing sites become a part of every urban community.”
Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society said: "The Social Action Fund is designed to help bring people together through innovative projects that can make a real difference in local communities. The Big Dig is doing just that - enabling community groups to transform unused spaces in cities across England for everyone to share and enjoy. Edible Gardens Open Day will give people a chance to sample the incredible range of projects and hopefully be inspired to get involved themselves."
If you like to join the day please get in touch ASAP via Helen@kindling or register your garden at: www.bigdig.org.uk