Health Warning To Guerrilla Gardeners? United Kingdom

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture;  Public Health
Article Date: 27 Oct 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Environmental Protection UK1 are warning the growing band of guerrilla gardeners to be wary of planting edible crops on potentially contaminated urban land.

With the increasing popularity of home grown food, and long allotment waiting lists in many areas, urban 'green spaces' and derelict land may appear the ideal creative solution to potential vegetable growers2. However, Britain's industrial past has left a legacy of complex and varied contaminants in our soils and there will be cases where these pose an unacceptable risk to human health.

"We would advise anyone considering harnessing the potential of their local landscape to grow food (as opposed to ornamental plants) to seek advice on likely soil quality from their local authority or a specialist consultant." said Lisa Crews, Policy Officer at Environmental Protection UK "If there is any doubt3, the space can still be utilised using containers filled with safe soil"

1. Environmental Protection UK is the charity bringing together environmental professionals, academics, policy makers and the public to work towards our vision of a cleaner, quieter, healthier world. Our Land Quality Committee works to promote integrated policies and practices that encourage the use and re-use of land in a way that protects human health and the environment.

2. For example, The Incredible Edibles project in Todmorden, recently featured on Channel 4's River Cottage, showed an excellent initiative in promoting the use of 'unloved' patches of land to grow community fruit and vegetables. However, Environmental Protection UK wrote to the programme makers expressing concern that, while we fully endorse the philosophy of using locally available seasonal produce and many of the principles behind Guerrilla Gardening, care must be taken to ensure any planting of edible crops is not on land likely to contain contaminants that pose a health risk - see letter to Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall of Channel 4's River Cottage. 3. Local authorities maintain records of known or suspected contaminated sites. Where there is reason to suspect potential contamination, they must exercise due caution in order to protect human health and the council's liability. It should be noted that the determination of risk often involves a costly and detailed site investigation. Where there is doubt, grow bins can be filled with clean and safe soil to utilise and enhance the space. These containers should be placed away from other potential sources of additional air-borne contamination such as busy roads and bus stops.

Mary Devlin
Communications Officer
Environmental Protection UK (formerly NSCA)

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