Grand Union Canal team looks for allotment land whilst it surrounds them
Cyclist Leela O’Deal was given her job by British Waterways of scouting out for places along London’s canals, including the Grand Union, which can be turned into allotments.
She said: “Even in central London we have plans for mooring unused barges filled with earth, for people to come along and manage them as allotments.
“My job is to help make more use of some derelict pieces of rough land as well. There are little patches even a few square metres that can grow vegetables, quite near very built-up areas.
“We’re appealing to people to get together, and offer to run these places.”
Ms O’Deal’s job was sparked after British Waterways agreed to help London Mayor Boris Johnson fulfill a target of finding 2012 new allotments in London by the year 2012. There is currently a huge waiting list for plots in areas such as Fulham allotments, in Bishop’s Road.
Chimney sweep Fenton Willis, who has a barge called St Florian and lives on west London’s waterways, revealed what rich land can lie behind banks of canalside scrub and grass.
“The wages of canal workers used to be at starvation level, and they grew their own food here to survive. This is just the sort of land that can be added to the idea of the floating gardens.
“Anything that makes our canals better known is brilliant. The more people know the more they’ll fight in the long term to keep this wonderful slice of history.”
Just think of all the gardens than back onto the Canal and towpaths that could be more productively used. If you either have such a garden and would like it turned over to fruit and vegetable production or would like to volunteer your services and helping in such growth, please sign up and post your emssage at http://find.gardenlend.co.uk