A new project aims to turn Bitterne Park into a 'growing place' by giving away seeds and encouraging locals to "grow some food together".
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"What if...Bitterne Park grew enough food to share? Or just had fun growing veg with the kids? In gardens, on balconies, on patios, in plastic bags, in big pots, in planters?" asks the Bitterne Park Growing Places (BPGP) project, which has been set up to get Bitterne Parkers growing.
What's involved?
BPGP explains that "it's really simple":
"We have a BIG STASH OF FREE SEEDS to give away and want to help the Bitterne Park community use them, enjoy them and (if they want to) share their experience (both highs and lows)."
You can apply for seeds via the BPGP web page whether you're a first time grower or are more experienced.
Seed collection and delivery will be organised in a Covid-safe way, say organisers.
Funding to help get Bitterne Parkers growing their own food comes from Transition Bounce Forward and the People's Lottery Community Fund, and seeds have so far been supplied by Haskins Garden Centre and the Cultivation Streets charity.
The group's web page explains inspiration for the project came from "Transition Southampton's Imagine Southampton, St Denys Front Gardens Plus group, and Rob Hopkins' book From what is to What If – Unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want and also by Green Island Veg Economy on the Isle of Wight, whose creation by Holly Masden early in the pandemic envisaged a community growing enough food to share".
Photo: Markus Spiske on Unsplash