Edible Bankside food growing project wins new backing

Bankside Open Spaces Trust's Edible Bankside project began in 2010 with funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

Now the United St Saviour's Charity has given BOST nearly £60,000 over the next two years to pay for part time staff and materials so that BOST can provide community gardening workshops, advice, and problem solving to local food growing groups across Bankside.

"Our investment in food growing projects in North Southwark will help inspire local residents to learn new skills together and encourage them in the enjoyment of good eating," said Camilla McGibbon, chair of the grants committee at United St Saviour's Charity.

Tim Wood, chair of Bankside Open Spaces Trust, said: 'We are delighted to begin this funding partnership with United St Saviour's Charity, and are very grateful for the local support.

"BOST has built this project on fifteen years of work to improve local lives and wellbeing through greening, park improvement and growing tomatoes.

"United St Saviour's Charity have a little more experience as they have been supporting local people since the first grant from Henry VIII in 1541!

"I look forward to the next two years and hope we can gain continue to grow communities and cabbages on local estates, while gaining further partners to spread the project to other communities."

Edible Bankside will be operating initially on estates including Webber Row, Beeston, Symington, Redman Green, Sumner Street, Pattison House, and Tabard Gardens Estate.

All residents are invited to an organic gardening workshop at the Diversity Garden on Saturday 17 May (10am-12 noon).