Unearth London’s hidden edible gardens – your chance to join the Big Dig

From planting seedlings to garden treasure hunts, there’s a chance for everyone to get involved, meet their neighbours and enjoy the tranquillity of urban growing as part of the #BigDig2018.

Growing food is such a great way for people to get healthy and reconnect with their food,” commented Claire Pritchard, the new Chair of the London Mayor’s Food Board, “so I am delighted that the Big Dig continues to offer Londoners the perfect way to get stuck in to their local community garden”.

The 7^th annual Big Dig day is organised by Capital Growth and gardens from 20 London boroughs are taking part, many of them hidden away from the hustle of London. They can be found on rooftops, parks, schools and all can be found on Capital Growth’s online map.

The Big Dig has helped thousands of people connect with their local garden and gives Londoners a chance to get active and grow food. It’s also the perfect time for those running the gardens to gather people from their community and prepare for the season ahead.

“Volunteering in gardens has changed my relationship with London. It's a constant reminder of the city's diversity and that we don't have to go far to experience different lifestyles. Remembering that such beautiful tranquil spaces exist so close by helps when you're stuck on a crowded train or tired after a long day.” Camilla, volunteer with The Castle Garden and London Grown.

Capital Growth gardens are found all over the city and those open on the Big Dig day stretch from North Finchley to Sydenham and Ealing to Dagenham. They include allotment sites, community gardens as well as quirkier spaces such as the infamous Skip Garden in Kings Cross, a rooftop in Battersea and the beautiful Castle Climbing Centre Garden, set in the grounds of the old Waterworks building in Hackney.

“Taking place on the same weekend as Earth Day, we are excited to be running our seventh Big Dig day to get hundreds more people growing their own food. This is one the highlights of our calendar as we know it gets Londoners growing food together, many for the first time.” says Chris Speirs, Project Coordinator of Capital Growth.

Capital Growth will be running online competitions ahead of the day on social media to win books, vouchers and more. Plus everyone taking part on the day will receive a special discount on workshops in this season’s urban growing training programme.  

Find your closest participating garden, or register your garden to take part on our interactive map at www.bigdig.org.uk/london/

The Big Dig is a part of Capital Growth, a network of over 2,800 food growing gardens across London helping with advice to get started, finding and training volunteers and grow wildlife-friendly food.

ENDS

For more information please contact Chris Speirs at chris.speirs@sustainweb.org or 0203 5596 777 or visit www.capitalgrowth.org/bigdig/

@capital_growth #BigDig2018

Editorial Notes

1. Capital Growth is a network of over 2,800 food growing gardens and farms around London. Membership is free and available to anyone growing food in community projects, schools, allotments or at home. www.capitalgrowth.org
2. Capital Growth is part of the food and farming charity, Sustain. Capital Growth initiated the Big Dig day in London in 2012 and is supported by The Mayor of London and The City Bridge Trust.
3. Photos and interviews with volunteers and garden leaders are available on request.
4. Competition details will be found on @capital_growth
5. Everyone participating on the day will receive 25% off Capital Growth training, if booked by the end of April.
6. A map of gardens can be found here www.bigdig.org.uk/london/ and includes: 

Barking and Dagenham

• Gale Street Organic Gardeners' Association, Dagenham
• Linkway Plantastic Prescription Gardens, Dagenham,

Barnet

• Whetstone Allotments

Brent

• Harlesden Town Gardens      

Camden

• Cecil Sharp House Permaculture Garden, Camden
• Kings Cross Skip Garden, Kings Cross 
• The Regent's Park Allotment Garden, Regent’s Park
• Urban Growth, Camden

Croydon

• Westow Park Herb & Wildlife Garden

Ealing

• MindFood - Growing Wellbeing         

Enfield

• Broomfield Community Orchard         
• Bush Hill Park Community Garden
• London Grown) (Queensland Avenue Gardens)      

Greenwich

• Cardwell School Allotment    
• Christchurch School Community Garden     
• The Maryon Park Community Food Growing Garden, Charlton

Hackney

• Cordwainer Gardens, Hackney
• Robin Hood Community Garden, Hackney
• The Castle Climbing Centre, Green Lanes

Hammersmith and Fulham

• Phoenix Farm And Learning Zone, Shepherds Bush

Haringey

• Edible Landscapes London, Finsbury Park
• The Meadow Orchard Project, Crouch End

ambeth

• Pop Farm at Pop Brixton

Lewisham

• Albany Garden, The Albany, Deptford
• Sydenham Garden Food Growing Space, De Frene Road
• The Springbank Rd Community Garden, Hither Green
• Wild Cat Wilderness, Catford 
•  

Merton

• Phipps Bridge Community Garden

Redbridge

• Audacious Veg           
• GROW Community Garden, Loughton

Richmond

• Greenfingers, Trafalgar Infant School. Twickenham

Tower Hamlets

• Cranbrook Community Food Garden, Globe Town

Waltham Forest

• Bakers Arms Arches Garden, Walthamstow
• Church Lane Community Garden, Leytonstone
• Greenway Avenue Community Play Garden, Walthamstow
• Mission Grove Garden Club and Wildlife Garden, School, Walthamstow    

Wandsworth

• Doddington Community Roof Garden, Battersea Park Rd
• Early Years Garden, Broadwater Road