Social Farms & Gardens NI and Local Council officers from each of the 11 Local Councils have co-designed this proposed Benchmark Standard for Community Growing and Allotment Provision in NI. In addition, the report recommends actions to support the sector to flourish. The research, over the past 18 months, involved organising workshops with expert input, discussion groups, interviews and policy information network meetings examining the amount of land designated for community growing and the varying processes and barriers across Northern Ireland for the release of public land for community growing.
Community gardens, allotments and growing projects have proved their value to their local communities - the source of fresh local affordable food, a space for our precious pollinators and wildlife, a place to enhance physical and mental well-being and build strong resilient communities that are contributing to climate action and sustainable development goals. They play an important role in place shaping promoting people’s health, happiness and well-being.
In order for this developing sector to thrive Local Councils and public landowners need to ensure the energy, excitement and enthusiasm of communities, that want to grow, is harnessed rather than depleted by disproportionate procedures for food growing on public land. The release of public land in a deliberative and supportive manner is the significant action that will ensure there is an abundance of food growing projects in our communities in the future.
Social Farms & Gardens NI - Patricia Wallace, Manager; Miriam Turley, Growing Resilience Officer and Lead
Report Researcher; Conor O’Kane Growing Resilience Officer, North West