Reading, United Kingdom
City population: 298105
Duration: 2011 – ongoing
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Previous derelict area
Last updated: October 2021

Following the Reading Growallot scheme, a derelict land area in Florian Gardens, Southcote was transformed into an allotment site. The scheme is part of Food 4 Families which is a community allotment project. One in four residents in Southcote live in flats with no garden to enjoy; local families have therefore transformed the land into a thriving allotment, growing fresh, healthy fruit and vegetables. This means that Southcote GrowAllot gives residents the chance to start growing food together. (Ref. 1, 3)

Southcote GrowAllot Community Allotment
Southcote GrowAllot Community Allotment
Southcote GrowAllot Community Allotment, retrieved 08/28/2018 from Annalisa Cavallini

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Community gardens and allotments
  • Allotments

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social cohesion
  • Social interaction
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
  • Economic development: agriculture
  • Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
  • Sustainable production

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas

Project objectives

The specific aim was to transform a piece of derelict land into allotments for residents/local families to e.g. grow fruit, vegetables and flowers. (Ref. 3) Furthermore, as part of ‘Food 4 families’, the Reading Growallot scheme aims to help parents and children to grow their own food. (Ref. 1) The purpose of is to teach local residents the art of sowing, planting and maintaining a variety of vegetables, fruit and flowers. Allotment members will be able to share in the harvest of vegetables, fruit and flowers, be welcome to attend sessions run by the garden tutor on how to grow food and be expected to get involved in the management and maintenance of the site. (Ref. 4) General aims of Food4families: sustainable food growth, encourage healthier eating and lifestyle habits (for residents) and develop an understanding of the broader environmental, cultural and economic aspects of sustainable food production. (Ref. 5)

Implementation activities

Creation of allotments in a former derelict land site. Food for Families provides gardening tutors to families. (Ref. 1) Southcote GrowAllot was created to benefit the community with free fresh fruit and vegetables, physical activity and time spent socialising with other volunteers. (Ref. 2)

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Led by non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Non-government organisation/civil society

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

Food4families is an educational and development project that is sponsored by Reading International Solidarity Centre [RISC is part of WEB/RISC, an educational charity]. (Ref. 5) Food for Families works with Reading Borough Council to find suitable land for community gardens and allotments. (Ref. 1) The Southcote GrowAllot Community Allotment is run entirely by volunteers and managed by a committee; with workshops, learning sessions, corporate volunteer days, open days and stalls are also run regularly throughout the year. (Ref. 2)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Financing

Total cost

€50,000 - €100,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Other

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
  • Membership or entrance fees

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution
  • Provision of land
  • Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
  • Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
  • Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Improved soil quality
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
  • Enhanced support of pollination
  • Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
  • Restoration of derelict areas

Economic impacts

  • Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved social cohesion
  • Fair distribution of social, environmental and economic benefits of the NBS project
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
  • Increased access to healthy/affordable food
  • Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Improved mental health
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Improvement in people’s connection to nature

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No

References

Ref. 1. BBC News (2011) New community allotments for Reading get funding. Berkshire, England. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 2. Get Reading (2016) Pride of Reading: Southcote GrowAllot Community Allotment transformed wasteland into an oasis. K. Jordan. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 3. Reading Gov UK (n.d.) Southcote GrowAllot Community Allotment. Reading Services Guide. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 4. Reading food growing network (n.d.) Groups: Community growing groups. Southcote GrowAllot Community Allotment. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 5. Food4families (n.d.) About food4families. Food4families: getting Reading growing. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 6. Reading Council (2006) The Reading biodiversity action plan 2005-2015. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.