The Incredible Edible, a network of more than 150 community farming groups, has developed plans to require local authorities to maintain a register of public land suitable for growing vegetables and fruits, to which local groups could request access. The “right to development” campaign has cross-party support from Lords and MPs, with calls for the government to incorporate it into the forthcoming leveling legislation. “This is not unreasonable if we really believe in giving people better health, prosperity and access to good food,” said Pam Worhurst, co-founder of Incredible Edible, which began growing guerrilla food for a neglected audience. in Todmorden, Yorkshire, 2008. “It’s really simple and we don’t need to invest millions – let’s make better use of the land that taxpayers are already paying for.” The growing community movement has spread to hundreds of places across Britain and to countries around the world, growing food in addition to doctor’s offices, in train car corners and even in wheelchairs for lack of more permanent plots. “There is an appetite to find unpopular plots of land, roll up our sleeves and grow food on it, but we found a very uneven playground for people who have access to land in their community,” Warhurst said. “Right now, if you have a local authority that you do not support for some reason, then you have a small problem.” Local growers are sometimes discouraged by boards that cite health and safety concerns or insurance issues. “We have not killed anyone yet and we have no intention of doing so,” Warhurst said. Pam Warhurst (left) and Mary Clear, who co-founded Incredible Edible, were photographed in Todmorden in 2012. Photo: Gary Calton / The Observer Under the proposals, the new law would oblige councils to maintain a list of public land suitable for “community farming” or “environmental improvement”, including NHS land, government agencies and possibly water utilities. Locals and volunteer groups could apply for a certificate of legal use for the cultivation of the land for an agreed period, without any rent or change of ownership. Land that was heavily contaminated for growing vegetables could still be used for beekeeping, for example. “The growing community movement has had difficulty accessing land and it is about upsetting this balance,” said Naomi Luhde-Thompson of Rights: Community: Action, a coalition of activists seeking to address a climate emergency funded by proposals for the “right to development”, which could first be introduced in the House of Commons as a private member bill. Mike Kane, a Wythenshawe and Sale East MP, wants to introduce a 10-minute bill to raise the profile of the campaign in parliament. “In my constituency we have acres of land that is ripe for this and at the moment it can be difficult for the community to access it,” he said. “But there is more and more interest in it, with social prescribing for green finger activities. We know that gardening and farming connect people to the land and improve their physical and mental health. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST “It would be great to see the right to grow in the manifestos of the dominant political parties.” According to Luhde-Thompson, policymakers have responded positively to the proposals, which are backed by legal advice from the Landmark Chambers and have garnered the support of MP Rosie Boycott and Labor MP Barbara Young in the House of Lords. “Everyone is just, ‘This is fantastic, why not?’ and now he is taking it before the government, “said Luhde-Thompson. “If we really want to put it into law, we have to adapt it to some kind of government bill, and the reforms of the planning law or the leveling bill could be an exciting opportunity.” Warhurst added: “We need people to be more active and have access to better food, which will keep them healthier. We have a global crisis. People have a role to play in creating more food for themselves and their communities that will bring them health and happiness. This is an asset that is not used properly. Doesn’t it make sense to reuse public land paid for by the taxpayer? “It requires a simple thing – the will of politicians to do it. Why not?”
