100ft underground near Clapham North tube station, in a converted Second World War bomb shelter, is the Zero Carbon Food project. What is the Zero Carbon Food project? It is the first underground farm in London using LED lights and hydroponics to grow vegetables – rocket, pea shoots, miniature broccoli, etc. – led by famous chef and TV personality, Michel Roux Jr.
As we head into spring (clocks go forward one hour on 30th March!), we discover a host of other garden projects taking place in London.
On a mission to fill unused spaces in London with community orchards is The London Orchard Project. Community orchards are designed to encourage people to rediscover, or even discover, homegrown fruit and with allotments in the capital not only in short supply, but extremely difficult to obtain, this is a welcomed step! To date, 60 community orchards have been planted with a range of apple, pear and plum trees including Caledonia Park in Islington and Archbishop’s Park in Lambeth.
Lottery funding was granted in 2013 to Food Growing Schools, a new project aiming to get every school in London growing their own vegetables. Currently in its research stage, the project is calling for schools to complete a survey (www.foodgrowingschools.org/#survey) to contribute to their findings.
Battersea Park sees a new flagship garden, courtesy of Thrive, who believe the new garden will help those with mental health issues and disabilities to transform their lives by gardening. Working with Sarah Price, an award-winning garden designer, it is hoped that the finished garden will feature flowers, trees and an orangery.
Finally, there is the London Garden Bridge. Linking the South Bank with the north side of the river at Temple station, work has commenced on the pedestrian bridge. Costing £150 million, the bridge has designed by Thomas Heatherwick, who designed the London 2012 Olympic cauldron and the new Routemaster bus. Joanna Lumley, well-known and popular actress, supports the project and has given the bridge a new name – the ‘floating paradise garden’. Set to open in 2017, the new bridge will be adorned with plants and trees, designed by TV gardener, Dan Pearson.