Metropolitan Housing Trust London gets green thumbs up from Mayor’s office

Posted by MHP on June 29, 2010 | No Comments |  Print this article |  Send to a friend

Metropolitan Housing Trust London (MHT London) has been praised by Mayor of London, Boris Johnson for being the first housing association to join his Capital Growth initiative. MHT London were acknowledged for their contribution to the scheme at a launch event that took place on Tuesday 29th June at the Mayor’s office. The Capital Growth scheme aims to provide an alternative to allotments, boost the amount of locally grown food and improve access to low cost, nutritious food in urban areas.

MHT London has pledged to allocate 20 growing spaces (which will equate to 60 allotment spaces) for residents to grow their own produce in their local communities. The housing association has spaces in four areas in south London including Moorlands in Brixton and St Martin’s in Tulse Hill. There are also plans to expand the MHT London scheme north of the river with projects in Walthamstow, Brent and Haringey. MHT London will also be working with a primary school in Walthamstow from September.

The Mayor confirmed that there are already 500 plots of land with MHT London already responsible for 20 growing spaces. A competition, Edible Estates, has also been launched by the Mayor’s office to further promote the Capital Growth initiative, which aims to have 2,012 growing spaces by 2012.

Boris Johnson said: “Capital Growth has already inspired thousands of Londoners to set up 500 community food gardens providing a practical response to the shortage of allotments in some areas. They are discovering the joy of growing their own grub, getting to know neighbours and reclaiming patches of neglected earth. I warmly welcome the landowners who have come on board to help provide the land needed for Capital Growth, including ten borough councils. I call on even more to now rally to our green-fingered cause.”

Rosie Boycott, Chair of London Food, said: “With 500 food growing spaces under our belt we are going all-out to reach our target of 2,012 food growing spaces. The Edible Estates competition is now an added incentive for housing associations and their residents to get the food-growing bug. We know from people in estates who are already growing that it can reap huge benefits for their communities.”

Neil Mawson, Managing Director of MHT London said: “Local food growing is a fantastic activity for our communities. Our residents enjoy it because it’s fun but it also helps in so many other ways, including healthy eating, mental and physical wellbeing, inter-generational support, and social cohesion beyond estates. MHT London is happy to be leading the way amongst Registered Social Landlords’ in helping to support Capital Growth.”