City quest urged for land to host allotments

CALLS have been made for a city-wide review to identify land to promote a scheme in York aimed at creating community allotments and vegetable patches.

York Council is being urged to carry out an audit of land thatis available for growing food throughout the city.

A scheme was announced this summer to create the city's first public vegetable patch to give passers-by access to a free supply of fresh food.

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Coun Andy D'Agorne has now called for the council to draw up a new strategy to help promote the Edible York project by working with community groups and parish councils.

He said: "I am hoping that we will be able to work with these organisations and ensure that the council can facilitate more community involvement.

"The Edible York project is also about social inclusion, and could help provide better diets for people who may not have had the chance to grow their own vegetables before.

"In the current financial climate, local authorities are having to look to enable activities rather than actually providing them, so this fits in very well with this approach."

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The local community organisation, Edible York, joined forces with the city council in July to transform an under-used plot of land on Paragon Street by planting vegetables. The Paragon Street bed has provided passers-by with salad, kale, squash, courgettes, beans and fresh herbs.

It is hoped that the initiative will follow on from the success of trailblazing projects such as the Incredible Edible Todmorden scheme, which has established plots where the public can pick their own fruit and vegetables.

York Council's scrutiny management committee will meet on Monday next week to discuss Coun D'Agorne's request. If given the go-ahead, it is hoped that a strategy will be produced by March to take advantage of funding in the new financial year and the start of the growing season.

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