Baby-grow allotment boosted by Connaught volunteers
October 19th 2009
Last Friday saw volunteers from Connaught get their boots on, roll their sleeves up and start clearing land alongside the Grand Union Canal that British Waterways has gifted to the Charity of William Hobbayne as part of the Mayor of London’s Capital Growth scheme.
Over 2,000 sq m of land alongside the Grand Union Canal in Hanwell, West London, has to be cleared of thick brambles, trees and undergrowth before the Charity can bring budding first-time allotment holders onto the site to get growing. The land in Hanwell, which will host 18 ‘baby-grow’ starter plots, has been gifted on a lease to the community-focussed charity as part of British Waterways’ commitment to the Capital Growth and Landshare Schemes. These schemes are tackling the national shortage of available growing spaces.
Connaught’s team of volunteers spent Friday and the weekend slashing away at the undergrowth to help create new growing plots, improve the canal scene and support the Charity of William Hobbayne in their efforts to get more local people involved in green-fingered activities.
On Friday the team was joined by Richard Haddon, managing director of Connaught’s environmental division plus Robin Evans, chief executive of British Waterways, Jon Guest, customer operations manager, Simon Bamford, general manager [all of British Waterways] and Felicity McClintock, the volunteer co-ordinator for British Waterways.
Gary Scott, the contract manager and team leader at Connaught said: “Our people work right across London clearing vegetation for British Waterways and it is great to know that our efforts are going to make a real difference to the local people. The team really enjoys giving something back to the communities in which we live and work. It is even better when the boss lends a hand as well!”
Simon Bamford, General Manager, British Waterways London said: “The work undertaken by the Connaught volunteers has been a major boost for the scheme. It’s saved hours of work and expense for the Charity and means that local people will be able to get on with their preparations for the new growing season far earlier than anticipated. Volunteers, whether they are large corporate groups, or small community based teams, are essential to the continued success of the waterways and their work is appreciated and valued by all at British Waterways.”
When the scheme began in September, Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “It is fantastic that British Waterways are adding more canal side plots to our Capital Growth scheme to help local people to grow their own fresh food. Not only will the area soon be bursting with all manner of edible goodies, it will help to make the waterway even more attractive for local people to enjoy.”
British Waterways is involved with a number of schemes across London, working with community groups and charities to identify land, and even boats that can be converted for community growing initiatives. Projects are also being rolled out nationwide across the waterways, including a bee-hive scheme on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in the North West and a linear vegetable patch along the towpath of the Calder & Hebble Navigation in Yorkshire.
Capital Growth was launched last year by the Mayor of London and Rosie Boycott, to boost grow your own in the capital by creating 2,012 community food growing spaces by 2012. The scheme, managed by the environment charity, Sustain, now has nearly 150 spaces being cultivated across the capital in a diverse range of places including canal banks, schools, roofs, private gardens open to the community and parks. The programme was awarded a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Commendation this year for its success in getting communities growing.