Environmental Protection UK wrote to River Cottage and Channel 4 raising
concerns that possible land contamination was not address in their
'guerilla gardening' feature.
Hugh has responded to thank us and has informed us that a later episode
will mention the subject of possible land contamination and information
will be posted on their website to help raise awareness of the issue.
See www.environmental-protection.org.uk to view the letter and
associated PR (response from Hugh to be uploaded shortly).
Thanks,
Lisa
Lisa Crews
Land Quality Policy Officer - trainee
Environmental Protection UK (formerly NSCA)
www.environmental-protection.org.uk
44 Grand Parade, Brighton, BN2 9QA Tel: 01273 878 782 Mob: 07525 966
085
Registered Charity no. 221026
Environmental Protection UK (formerly NSCA) has been working for a
cleaner, quieter, healthier world since 1898.
Click http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/events/details/?id=1236
for details of our annual workshop 'Practical and Sustainable Realities
of Contaminated Land', 26th & 27th November 2008
-----Original Message-----
From: Contaminated Land Management Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marie
Mitchinson
Sent: 17 October 2008 10:17
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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