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Healthy & Sustainable Food in London www.capitalgrowth.org
Healthy & Sustainable Food in London
www.capitalgrowth.org
What’s the Big Idea?
• 2012 new community food growing spaces
• 10 000 people engaged
• 1000 directed to training
• Edible category in London in Bloom
• Influence policy
Space No 49: Christ C of E Primary SchoolSpace No 358: Edible Golden Lane
Capital Growth so far…
• 600 projects given support to date
• Approx 20 000 people involved
• £200,000 in small grants
• Working with major landowners– 12 councils
– 6 housing associations/ ALMOs
– TfL
Space no 33: Lets Go Lets Grow!Space no. 68: Cranbrook Community Garden
Benefits for projects
Individual projects apply online to receive:‐
• General and specific advice
• London‐wide network of growing spaces
• Access to land advice
• Training, events and signposting
• Part of something bigger!
Benefits for organisations
Agree a joint target and receive:‐• Partnership approach to developing projects• Access to opportunities• Lease/ templates• Publicity – website• Part of growing network
Space no. 53: Styles House “give peas a chance”
What next for Capital Growth?
• Advocate for urban growers– Policy, planning, developments, enterprise
• More partnerships– H.A’s, CABE, landowners
• More support– Discounts, training, selling produce, local networks,
• Advice– Site visits, factsheets, advice line
Space No 49: Christ C of E Primary School358: Edible Golden LaneSpace No 23: greEn16
What next for HA’s/LA’s?
‐ Speak to your managers and communities
‐ Identify the potential in terms of land/communities
‐ Fit with your priorities
‐ Contact Capital Growth Team‐ Sign up
‐ Ideas, support and contacts
What next for projects?
• Funding – Capital Growth small grants
• Discounts and freebies
• Training & Events
• Volunteers – individual and corporate
• Expertise, information and ideas
Space No 551: Parkside growing plot
And don’t forget…
• Capital Growth and Sustain
• Master Gardeners & Garden Organic
• Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens
• CABE
• Groundwork
• Each other!!!
Capital Growth at Feast on the Bridge
Edible Estates CompetitionSupporting food growing on housing estates
Plants and People
Collect and Create
Best Estate Garden
Edible Estates Competition Plants and People Category
Edible Estates Competition Collect and Create Category
Edible Estates Competition Best Estate Garden Category
Decent Homes, Decent Spaces, Decent Food
Edible Estates ConferenceGrowing food, building communities19th October 2010
Peter Neal, Head of Public Space
The Value of Public Space
Urban Green Nation: Building the green space evidence baseCommunity Green
using local spaces to tackle inequality and improve health
Danny Woo Community Garden, Seattle
Concrete to Coriander, Birmingham
Chic Sheds – Groundwork Lancashire
Leisure Gardens, Nærum, Copenhagen
Leisure Gardens, Nærum, Copenhagen
Allotments, Amageræflled, Copenhagen
Venne Lyst Leisure Gardens, Copenhagen
Venne Lyst Leisure Gardens, Copenhagen
Venne Lyst Leisure Gardens, Copenhagen
Hulme Community Garden Centre, Manchester
Hulme Community Garden Centre, Manchester
DOTT Middlesbrough Urban Farming Project
DOTT Middlesbrough Urban Farming Project
Identifies 10 key priorities for change Commit to quality Involve residents Know the big picture Make best use of funding Design for people Support training and skills Maintain high standards Make places feel safe Promote healthy lives Prepare for climate change
Above all, it’s about creating great places where people want to live!
Decent homes need decent spacesAction plan
Decent homes need decent spacesAction plan
Toffee Park, Islington
aiming to bring excellence to the design and management of public spaces in our towns and cities
Identifies 10 key priorities for change Commit to quality Involve residents Know the big picture Make best use of funding Design for people Support training and skills Maintain high standards Make places feel safe Promote healthy lives Prepare for climate change
Above all, it’s about creating great places where people want to live!
Decent homes need decent spacesAction plan
Decent homes need decent spacesAction plan
All over the country community groups are becoming involved in improving public spaces and often they are acting as the client
Stages of a public space project:
1. Prepare2. Design 3. Construct4. Use
It’s our spaceoutlines the key stages of a project..
…and provides key questions & checklist of stages.
Typical roles Project leader Project manager Steering group Design champion Design consultant
Other partners – local authority; voluntary sector e.g. Wildlife Trust, Groundwork Trust, Civic Trust…
Prepare – Who to involve?
A practical toolkit to help plan public space improvements
Spaceshaper adoptees – Riverside, Places for People, Tower Hamlet Homes, Peabody… and more
To find out more www.cabe.org.uk/[email protected]
Spaceshaper
Well used spaces feel safe
Clear sight lines
Clear definition of private and public space
Absence of disrepair and neglect e.g. graffiti, litter etc
•Good maintenance and management are essential to feelings of safety and well being!
Design issues to consider - safety and security
Brunswick Estate
Cars prevent the use of a space especially when the area is designed like a highway
estates need to put people first
encourage reduced speed by small Interventions, such as different surface materials and planting
Cars and parking
Wenlake Estate - after
Wenlake Estate - before
Grass and planting are attractive for all ages
design for mixed use to encourage intergenerational activity
soil, mud and water enable informal play opportunities
increases safety by stimulating more activity in open spaces
Landscaping and food growing
Brunswick Estate - before
Brunswick Estate - after
Helps define an area and gives space a purpose e.g. walk, access to other facilities
provide opportunities for play
equal access for all
Access and play
Putting it all together – the bigger picture
Gambier Estate - before
Gambier Estate - after
CABE Space – resources
Research and evidence
Guidance on best practice and standards
Direct technical support and advice on public space projects
Skills development and training
www.cabe.org.uk/public-spacewww.parksmatch.org.uk
Michael Michael DownieDownie
Assistant Director, Community InvestmentAssistant Director, Community Investment
Metropolitan Housing PartnershipRegistered Social Landlord (RSL) with 40,000 properties across London, the East Midlands and the East of England.
MHT LondonOwn and manage 18,000 properties across London
Community Investment projects focussed across 4 Core boroughs: Lambeth, Haringey, Enfield, Brent
Where are we now?Where are we now?
• Working on 8 sites developing 51 growing spaces
• Identifying and receiving grants to progress these projects
• Getting residents together to manage the growing spaces
• Providing ongoing support
• Establishing partnership with local organisations to support each group
Incorporates our four Community Investment themes:-
-Developing Young People-Sports, Health & Wellbeing-Social Inclusion-Employment & Training
Why did MHT sign up to Capital Growth?Why did MHT sign up to Capital Growth?
What have food growing projects achieved for MHT local communitiWhat have food growing projects achieved for MHT local communities?es?
Stimulates interest and understanding in growing and eating own produce
Creates a venue for differing cultural groups to meet up with a common interest
Encourages residents to share their produce with each other
Increased residents’ self esteem and confidence
What impact is What impact is MHTMHT’’ss involvement in supporting food growing projects having on localinvolvement in supporting food growing projects having on localcommunities?communities?
Reduction in ASB in some areas
Disused and no go areas have been transformed into places where people meet and talk
Local organisations and individuals are linking up to provide support
Residents forming social enterprises
Empowering residents to share their knowledge
Residents report feeling a greater sense of belonging, improved social cohesion
Plans for the futurePlans for the future
Identify and create training programmes to meet the needs of each growing group
Continue to identify growing sites across London
Develop our partnerships with other local organisations to support this initiative
Belinda Porich – Head of London regionNational Housing Federation
Housing associations, their residents and food growing
Whose pumpkins?
Parkside growing plot - Islington
• Circle 33 HA• 47 residents involved• Raised beds for
accessibility• Reduced ASB in area• Funded by Edible
Islington• Supported by
Groundwork
Parkside, Islington – Circle 33
Circle 33 tenants’ spuds!
Bethune Rd, Stoke Newington
• Family Mosaic HA• Resident led –
Melinda & Ray!• Improvements at back
of housing block• Self funded
Bethune Rd, Stoke Newington - Ray
Amhurst Park, Stoke Newington
• Family Mosaic• Rob and his Italian
food!• Plans to expand
Gorton Estate, Manchester
• Affinity Sutton Group• A new allotment site
on previously derelict land
Ringcross Estate - Islington
• Hyde Housing Group• Waste ground behind
community centre• Open garden in
September with free beans!
Before….
Before…
After…
After….
Hyde tenants’ tomatoes!
Hyde tenants’ pumpkin!
The Business Case
• Localism – HA’s place within the
new agenda– A new focus on LA’s
• Safeguarding assets– Pride in place– Less ASB
• Community cohesion– Anchoring communities
Whose pumpkins?....Mine!
We are committed to:•Treating our customers with respect, courtesy and friendliness•Providing equal and easy access to our services•Improving our speed of response to enquiries•Integrating good customer service into all areas of our work and reviewing this regularly•Enabling our customers to provide feedback easily.
We are always looking for ways to improve our service by listening to our customers and monitoring performance. This charter is our promise to customers regarding the excellent levels of service that you can expect from the Federation.
Our Aiming for Excellence booklet can be downloaded from www.housing.org.uk
We support and promote the work that housing associations do andcampaign for better housing and neighbourhoods. The Federation is committed to providing a professional and responsive service to all customers.
Customer service charter
