As the capital prepares to host the 2012 Games this summer, Londoners are being invited to get their hands on an Olympic-inspired cash giveaway by growing their own food.

The Capital Growth scheme, which aims to create 2,012 gorwing spaces in London by the end of 2012,  is launching its biggest food-growing competition ever, Grow for Gold. If you get into the starting blocks now, with support and advice from the Capital Growth gardening experts, you can grow yourself a healthy salad by the time the world’s elite athletes begin their battle for medals.

To inspire people to get their hands dirty, the Grow For Gold competition is offering £100, £200, £400, £800 and £1500  prizes to get five groups across the starting line. Those who register their growing space before Friday 17th February not only stand a chance of winning one of these cash incentives, but could be one of 100 Grow for Gold groups to receive training, vouchers and other support.

The Grow for Gold competition will be judged later this year and prizes will be awarded to the best gardens in five different categories, community engagement, enterprise, education, supporting wildlife and overall winner for most inspiring garden. Grow for Gold is open to anyone who wants to set up a new food growing project.

The Mayor, Boris Johnson, said: ‘ This competition is the perfect opportunity to discover your green fingers and, with the support of our Capital Growth gurus,  you can produce your own medal-winning fresh fruit and veg as the starting pistol is fired on this summer's Games.’

Sarah Williams of Capital Growth, said: ‘With almost 1500 Capital Growth spaces and over 40,000 Londoners tending them, now we’re entering the final straight, we’re well on course to meet our target for 2,012 new growing spaces by the end of the year.’

Community food growing spaces supported by Capital Growth are dotted right across the capital. By growing food they have greened and improved local neighbourhoods and brought people in estates, schools and local communities together. Capital Growth is supported by Team London and it is a great way to volunteer your time to improve the local environment.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• There are already 1500 Capital Growth spaces with over 40,000 volunteers tending them and the Mayor is on the final sprint to meet his target for 2012 growing spaces by the end of 2012.
• The categories in the Grow For Gold competition will be:

1. The people’s food garden sponsored by East End Homes, this award is for community food growing spaces which have demonstrated excellent community engagement.
2. The enterprise food garden, sponsored by The Seed Pantry, is an award for community spaces that grow and sell their own produce or have other enterprising elements.
3. The bee friendly food garden, will award spaces that encourage wildlife.
4. The learning food garden, sponsored by Victoriana nursery, will award food growing spaces that have been used for educational purposes.
5. The inspiring food garden sponsored by Bulldog Tools, will award creative and exciting community food growing spaces.

• Boosting the amount of locally grown food in London has a range of health and environmental benefits, such as improving access to nutritious, low cost food in urban areas and helping to increase flood protection. It also reduces food miles and cuts carbon emissions. There is rising interest in self-grown food and inner London boroughs have waiting lists for allotments that can be decades long.

For media enquiries please call Hilary Merrett, Nicola Dillon or Elizabeth Lee at the Mayor’s Press Office on 020 7983 4755/4066/4928. Numbers not for publication.