A food growing project that champions local sustainability by encouraging people to get to know their neighbours, grow food and give support during lockdown and beyond has received Covid-19 emergency funding from the National Community Lottery.

The pilot, which has been working with the Forcera Community Interest Company, started in November and aims to reach out to all the residents of the mile long street between now and March.

The project connects neighbours so they become aware of who lives on their street in order to create a support network, and shape a food growing and sharing project that serves their different needs.

The Ross Road Food Growing Project has started giving out free seed packs and before lockdown arranged local meetings (with social distancing) which have resumed again since December. In the beginning of next year, the project plans to deliver online gardening workshops and continue to find ways of connecting local people.

Ruth Miller, one of the Directors of Forcera CIC, resident of Ross Road and founder of the project said: “We are delighted to gain this funding and excited to increase the numbers of local people growing food and making links with each other. We hope that these connections will build a stronger community and help us understand how we can support each other during these times of pandemic.”

One of the outcomes of the project is to create a model that can be replicated to show how streets within neighbourhoods can create tight knit communities that really have the opportunity to connect. 

If you are interested in getting involved with the project, then please visit
www.rossroad.org.uk or
email info@rossroad.org