Hilary Benn visits Ideal for All

Mr Benn, has a wide interest and responsibility for agriculture, the environment and food security. When planning a visit to the West Midlands region, Salop Drive Market Garden had attracted his attention as a flagship example of a local food scheme.

Hilary Benn was greeted by Helen Stephens, the chair of Ideal for All and Roy Short, the company president, and the trustees.

'Dig for Britain' campaign needed to save Allotments

In September 2009 the Government was been urged to dramatically expand the number of public allotments by building on brownfield sites and encouraging landowners to donate unused holdings to their local community.

With 100,000 people currently on a waiting list for an allotment, the New Local Government Network (NLGN) is calling for the Government and local councils to make better use of the estimated 3,500 hectares of unused brownfield land - the equivalent size of 25 Hyde Parks - to create new community allotments. With residents in some London Boroughs having to wait up to 40 years for a plot, NLGN argues that the need for additional land is clearly vital.

Garden Showcase

Calling all budding gardeners! Does your school have a garden/ gardening club?

If so, we are creating a pictorial display of school and community gardens in Sandwell. We would love to have your photos showing your gardens, and children enjoying gardening

Help us to show off your gardens for all to see!

Food For Life Partnership visit to Salop Drive.

A crisp spring day in March brought representatives from the 3 Food For Life Partnership (FFLP) Birmingham flagship secondary schools to Salop Drive Market Garden. The Garden Organic Education Officer for West Midlands, Malcolm Smith, had organised the morning with Ideal For All. The aim of the visit was to enable the staff and pupils to see organic food growing on a large scale; to learn some new skills; and to enable them to network and share experiences from each others schools.