The Right to Grow initiative is a legislative framework developed by the organisation Incredible Edible, aimed at enabling local communities to cultivate public land for food production or wildlife conservation.
Southwark Council has made history by becoming the first London borough to adopt the Right to Grow motion, reinforcing its commitment to urban food growing, sustainability, and community wellbeing. This landmark decision underscores the borough’s proactive approach in providing residents with better access to green spaces and fresh produce, particularly during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
The Right to Grow initiative is a legislative framework developed by the organisation Incredible Edible, aimed at enabling local communities to cultivate public land for food production or wildlife conservation. By adopting this motion, Southwark Council will establish an accessible, up-to-date map of all public land suitable for community cultivation. This initiative ensures that residents and community groups can easily identify and apply for free leases on designated land. Additionally, should the council decide to sell any of these plots, community groups will be granted the opportunity to bid for them.
“Having a Right to Grow on public land is of fundamental importance in the struggle for food justice and the leadership shown by Southwark councillors and officers is truly inspirational.”
Pam Warhust, chair and founder, Incredible Edible
Councillor Portia Mwangangye, Southwark’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks, and Young People, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, stating: “Our commitment to a Right to Grow approach builds on four years of council support for food growing and community gardening. In 2021, we launched the Allotment Expansion Guarantee, granting residents the right to create garden projects on Southwark housing estates. This has led to 21 new growing sites. We also support a borough-wide network of growers through training, events, and resource sharing, helping to connect people and projects across Southwark.”
Southwark’s journey to this milestone has been years in the making, driven by the dedicated efforts of the council’s community gardening team. Since 2020, the team has identified and transformed pockets of land for cultivation, fostering a thriving network of growers throughout the borough. Their work has resulted in the establishment of 21 community gardens, offering 241 food-growing plots, as well as a robust schedule of training sessions and events. These initiatives have demonstrated that even densely populated inner-city boroughs can carve out valuable spaces for urban agriculture.
Pam Warhurst, chair and founder of Incredible Edible, lauded Southwark’s leadership, stating, “Having a Right to Grow on public land is of fundamental importance in the struggle for food justice, and the leadership shown by Southwark councillors and officers is truly inspirational.”
The decision to adopt the Right to Grow motion is not just a local triumph but part of a broader movement towards sustainable food production. The initiative aligns with the United Nations’ Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for transformative changes in food systems worldwide. It also supports Southwark Council’s broader climate change commitments, reinforcing its dedication to environmentally friendly policies and food security.
Looking ahead, Southwark’s pioneering decision could pave the way for other London boroughs to follow suit. Capital Growth, a London-based food-growing network, is collaborating with Incredible Edible to support the wider rollout of the Right to Grow across the city. The organisation is forming a campaign group comprising activists, grassroots organisations, councillors, and council officers who are keen to bring the motion to their local areas. This coalition will serve as a knowledge-sharing hub, helping boroughs across London navigate the process of passing the motion and implementing it effectively.
Southwark believes that Right to Grow initiative holds the potential to reshape London’s urban landscape, ensuring that green spaces are not only preserved but actively used to foster community resilience, food security, and environmental sustainability.
