The growing trend for community gardens in disadvantaged areas of British cities is bringing about significant social change, according to new research presented to the annual International Conference of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in London.
In Salford, for example, alleys at the back of terraced houses which were affected by crime and the dumping of refuse were gated at each end and are now peaceful spaces where flowers and fruit are grown in containers.
Professor Paul Milbourne of Cardiff University studied 18 projects in deprived areas of nine UK cities where people had come together to take over neglected areas where they could grow food or flowers.
“They do it because they feel no-one cares about the area they live in”, says Professor Milbourne. “Gardening is a catalyst which creates a new meeting place where they can think about doing other things together.”
He quotes one of the scheme co-ordinators as saying: ‘The flowers are only a small part of what we have done; the social aspects are more important.’
Membership of the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, the umbrella organisation, increased by 72% between 2006 and 2011, to more than 500 projects. The Royal Horticultural Society also has an It’s Your Neighbourhood scheme with more than 1,000 registered groups.
