Growing food in the city Cats charity
A NEW interactive map shows places in Edinburgh where food is, or could be grown by local communities. This last year has drawn increased attention to food poverty faced by many people.
The Edinburgh Food Growing and Projects Map has lots of detail of community growing projects, allotments and community gardens for people who want to become involved.
The aim of the Food Growing Strategy is to offer more opportunity to people for growing food locally, and in particular to look at setting up an indoor local food market and distribution hub.
Cllr George Gordon,
City of Edinburgh Sustainability Champion and Chair of Edible Edinburgh, said: "I am delighted to publish the first food growing strategy for The City of Edinburgh
Council. We have faced difficult times over the last year when the importance of food to our physical health and our emotional and mental wellbeing have been evident for all to see.
"By working closely with the Poverty Commission, Growing Locally seeks to address food insecurity in the city and improve people’s access to fresh food, as well as supporting and promoting food growing across the city.
"It also celebrates the role that food plays in our lives – from bringing people and communities together, to improving biodiversity and mitigating against the effects of climate change by providing access to locally produced, low carbon food.
"Along with the map, the strategy brings together our proposed approach to encouraging more local production, more sustainable management of food growing and perhaps most importantly of all, an ongoing discussion as a city about what a diverse and vibrant food economy looks like, so that the benefits of local food growing can be realised by as many of our citizens
THE CATS Protection charity shop on Dalry Road has reopened and has introduced safety measures to keep everyone safe, such as sanitising gel, and a reduction in customers allowed in the shop.
Area Retail Manager Ian Trotter said: “We can’t wait to welcome back customers after such a long time but the safety of our staff, volunteers and customers is our highest priority and previously introduced safety measures will continue to be observed to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. It is great to know that we will once again be able to support the work of our network of volunteers in helping cats and kittens in need.”
Cats Protection is a national network of around 230 volunteerrun branches, 37 centres and 109 shops, helping around 200,000 cats and kittens every year.