Marie
I watched this too and had the same thoughts, particularly when they
went and got their dinner from the graveyard. They almost seemed proud
of the fact that they were doing it without any permission from the
Council but they seem to forget that one of our roles is to protect the
health of the public.
Leah
-----Original Message-----
From: Contaminated Land Management Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marie
Mitchinson
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008 10:17 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: River cottage last night......
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
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