This isn't a chit-chat post, if that's what you are thinking, but worryingly Hugh
Fernley-Whittingstone was on TV last night advocating 'guerilla gardening' as I
watched it initially looked like a good idea, until I realised exactly what it
entailed.
Basically members of the public, dismayed at having to wait up to 30 years for
an allotment have begun growing food in public open spaces, and almost
anywhere else. This could be in planters next to bus stops, playing fields,
graveyards, areas of waste land....... Anywhere they like and are encouraging
others to harvest the food produced, take it home and eat it.
Ok quick question - what if they were doing this on an old landfill you were
currently investigating under Part 2a? There were people planting raspberry
bushes in wasteland. I realise that the risk woud be relatively low, but it
would have to be considered, and it's hard enough on POS as it is!
And it's not just a contaminated land issue, they are literally using planters
next to bus stops.....
Extract from a site advocating it:
'Growing food requires land. Look around you, it's everywhere.
If not horizontal, it's vertical. There is always somewhere.
Your imagination is the limit, railway embankments, back gardens, golf
courses, roofs, car parks, overgrown bits, cracks in the pavement. The flower
beds in your town centre could be growing your crops, right in the heart of
the consumer landscape of burger bars, chain stores and supermarkets.'
Here's the link for last nights article.....
http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/river-cottage/river-cottage-
autumn/todmorden-s-bid-for-self-sufficiency-08-10-15_p_1.html
|