Etheline represents town in the greenest big lunch yet
TAMWORTH was represented as Dame Prue Leith hosted eco-minded community organisers to launch the greenest Big Lunch yet at a garden project in the heart of London.
Last year Prue invited the nation to come together in celebration from a Coronation Big Lunch held in Westminster Abbey. She is back this year to support Eden Project’s charity initiative to invite people to share friendship, food and fun, adding a green twist to events for the positive environmental impact it could have.
The event wasn’t just environmentally ‘green’ – the whole theme of the launch event was green, with Dame Prue and guests wearing green outfits, sharing lunch together in a beautiful green space, decked out with green decorations and even eating a Big Lunch made up entirely of delicious green food – including a centrepiece green cake.
Guests included Etheline Deer, 72, who runs Belgrave Community Allotment in Tamworth, where she holds an annual Big Lunch.
Established eight years ago, Etheline has helped to transform a disused green space in a deprived community into a welcoming place for people to learn more about horticulture, plant and harvest fresh food and enjoy some social time and fresh air.
The allotment’s doors are wide open to the whole community and over time, close partnerships have been established. Staff at the Belgrave fire and police station next door regularly pop over, the nearby Memory Café uses the space to support people struggling with dementia, local corporates come to help out, vegetables are donated to food groups and children from nearby schools grow herbs, onions, carrots, strawberries and much more at weekly sessions of a Ground to Table project.
This year, Etheline is planning a Big
Lunch on June 1, with seeds for everything from potatoes, carrots and peas to salad, spring onions and tomatoes already planted to yield some homegrown produce for residents to enjoy on the day.
Etheline said: “I was delighted to be invited to join Dame Prue Leith and other inspiring people from other communities at this very special Big Lunch.
“As well as sharing food, ideas and stories with the other guests, I brought some very special decoration to the Big Green Lunch table - flowers and foliage grown and harvested at our own allotment!”
Inviting UK communities to come together for the greenest Big Lunch yet, ambassador Dame Prue Leith said: “The Big Lunch is the perfect opportunity to get people together in our neighbourhoods over a bite to eat. It puts a bit of wellie into doing something positive in our communities, so I’m doubly delighted that this year The Big Lunch will help us to boost our eco impact too.
“Trying a tasty veggie recipe, adding a nature activity or hosting a fundraiser offer some different things you can do – so get creative and use this years’ Big Lunch to start sharing, swapping and reusing more!
“Getting together is so much fun and it’s easy to do, so I would encourage everyone to join in on 1-2 June! Go green and get something started at the TheBigLunch.com!”
Since it started in 2009, an average of 7 million people take part in The Big Lunch each year. It’s an idea from the Eden Project made possible thanks to the National Lottery.
Lindsey Brummitt, Eden Project’s programme director, said: “The Big Lunch has always been about sharing and this year we want to dial that message up to make this year’s Big Lunch the greenest yet.
“Every year we invite millions of people UK-wide to come together in their communities to share friendship, food and fun and our research shows the positive difference taking part has – people feel less lonely, enjoy a greater sense of belonging and millions of pounds is raised for good causes.
“With climate change registering as one of the top concerns people across the UK share, we want to show how fun it is to make little changes that are good for people and the planet at the greenest Big Lunch on 1-2 June so join in and get your free pack at TheBigLunch.com.”
“I was delighted to be invited to join Dame Prue Leith and other inspiring people from other communities at this very special Big Lunch.”