PURPLE-podded peas and blue potatoes are just some of the unusually coloured vegetables grown in the Manchester Museum allotment, as part of The Edible Gardens open day.
Allotments, parks and gardens in Manchester City Centre, Wythenshawe, Oldham, Bolton, Openshawe, Prestwich, Moss Side and Old Trafford are taking part.
Manchester Museum allotment is just one of the community food-growing gardens and allotments in Greater Manchester that will be opening their gates to the public on Saturday 15 September, in the largest open event of food-growing spaces ever seen in the UK. Over 20 local gardens are taking part throughout September, providing members of the public with a glimpse of the green spaces on their doorstep. Over 5,000 people are expected to participate in events and activities across the country as a result. It’s going to be a very green fingered gathering.
Incredible Edible at Philips Park
Helen Woodcock of the The Kindling Trust the co-ordinating body for Greater Manchester said: “It is really exciting that Greater Manchester is one of the six cities in the UK taking part in this national event. Gardening and community gardens have blossomed over the last decade, and growing your own food has never been more important. This event is about encouraging more people to join us, both at existing food growing projects and to get people inspired to set up their own.”
Allotments, parks and gardens in Manchester City Centre, Wythenshawe, Oldham, Bolton, Openshaw, Prestwich, Moss Side and Old Trafford are taking part. Participating gardens include the Green Fingers Community Garden based in St Mark's churchyard in the heart of the Charlestown estate (Blackely), Manchester Musuem Allotment, Hulme Community Garden Centre, the Walled Garden at Wythenshawe Park and Incredible Edible in Prestwich.
Hulme Community Garden Centre
Many of the participating community food gardens are putting on activities such as garden tours, talks, games and barbeques, as well as selling garden produce and homemade food.
The Edible Gardens Open Day is part of Big Dig's work to encourage more people to volunteer and is funded by the Cabinet Office’s Social Action Fund and co-ordinated by Sustain:the alliance for better food and farming. Greater Manchester is one of six UK locations taking part – the others being Brighton, Coventry, London, Middlesbrough and Sheffield.
For more information about the Big Dig please go to www.bigdig.org.uk.
Details of participating Greater Manchester growing spaces can be found on the The Big Dig website here.
