Landshare

The new television series of River Cottage is scheduled to start on Thursday 12 November on Channel 4. Watch out for a new Landshare story as Hugh meets some people who have found an extra benefit to landsharing.

Also, a new major landowner announcement coming soon!

"So, what should you do if you want to grow fruit or vegetables but have no garden, and the allotment waiting list goes twice around the block? A garden-or land-sharing scheme may be the answer."

I agree!

Read full post for links.

"The whole concept of Landshare is revolutionary"

Hear more about Sir Julian Rose's participation and also of Councillor Sarah Frances Bevan, Vice Chairman, Bath and North East Somerset Council on BBC iPlayer, link in full post.

As reported in The Times today, the Archbishop of Canterbury has urged more people to grow their own fruit and veg and for more land to be made available to enable them to do so, as part of the fight to reduce the UK carbon footprint.

Perhaps this could be the start for more church land to be made available?

If you have a local event where you would like to publicise Landshare or if you would like to stick up a poster in your window in support, there are now posters and leaflets available here that you can download and print.

So you have already found your way to the Landshare website, but what other sites are out there that are worth a look?

The Sunday Times have announced their recommendations, read full post for link.

The Glasgow City Council is trying to turf off a community growing group who transformed derelict council land into a growing space.

Despite having more than 500 supporters, including MSPs Bob Doris and Patrick Harvie, authors Alasdair Gray and Louise Welsh, and criminology expert, Dr Laura Piacentini, who said last month that it would be "folly" to evict the gardeners from the area, the council has taken two of the members to court. It instead wants to be able to sell the land for property development despite their legal duty to provide allotments and the Convention Of Scottish Local Authorities report that urges local authorities to acquire, manage and develop more land for allotments.

Read press updates in full post and comment whether you agree with the council.

It seems that there is a debate beginning amongst certain councils as to whether elderly people who are unable to grow as many veg as they used to should be kicked off their allotments.

Anyone interested in entering the discussion?

"When we signed up for Landshare, we thought we'd maybe be lucky to get someone's council-house back garden to tend. To get 100 square feet is every grower's dream."

Read full post for more about Landshare in Scotland.

Ok so it's not surprising, but a recent study carried out on behalf of the Food Standards Agency has confirmed that people who grow their own fruit and veg have better nutrition than those who don't.

Everton FC is to make land available within its football grounds for Landsharers to get growing. You will soon be able to apply here for your chance to be involved.

If you live in the Green Belt, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is seeking your views - including whether more land should be made available for growing food and for community allotment use.

The Women's Institute is the latest to plan a series of measures to help save the honey bees. Plus, look out for the Big Buzz campaign

The waiting list for council allotments is now running at 40 years in some areas of the country, as reported in today's press.

Read full post to see all the Landshare videos.

Landshare is supported by a number of organisations, who in turn can provide additional advice and information.

Read full post for their details/ see below.

Links to recent stories in the press - this blog post is updated regularly

The North West Evening Mail has reported of the local support for Landshare.

The Brighton and Hove Food Partnership have identified ways that the Sustainable Communities Act could help require councils to provide more growing spaces.