Allotments plan for wasteland to help pupils learn about food

MORE than 20 acres of unloved London land will be transformed into allotments to teach children about growing food after the plan won government funding.

Hounslow council’s grow for the future scheme has been awarded £165,000 from the Government’s shared prosperity fund. It means unused and unloved council land that is being targeted for fly-tipping or is inaccessible to the public will be transformed into new allotments, community gardens and orchards.

The scheme was designed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, by allowing more residents to grow their own food, and to provide green space for children to learn about fruit and vegetables, as well as to tackle the enormous demand for allotments since the pandemic.

It is planned that each new site will be paired with a school so it can be used to help children learn where food comes from, the importance of good nutrition, and how to live healthy lives. It is hoped that the food grown by the schools can be donated to children and their families who are going hungry.

Salman Shaheen, responsible for parks and leisure at Hounslow council, said: “We will take wasteland that has been empty for years and put it to use equipping our children, and adults, with life skills and educating them on biodiversity, sustainability and healthy living.

“I am delighted that the government and the GLA have given their backing to this unique new programme.”

Hounslow expects to be able to create 500 new spaces for growing food. It plans to complete four new sites per year, with the first ready this summer.

The council also has plans to search for private land that could be leased as allotments in the same way.