A few words from Ward councillor Sarah Warren
Empty supermarket shelves at the start of the pandemic revealed the fragility of our food supply chains. Our lifestyles are becoming increasingly urban, and most of us now feel distant from the origins of our food.
We are used to walking into a supermarket and being able to buy strawberries at Christmas, without thinking how those fruit arrived on the shelf. The seasonality of food, that was once a feature of life for everyone, has been lost. Lots of us have little or no experience of growing our own food, whilst too many still eat a diet low in healthy fruit and veg.
“We are looking forward to watching fruit and veg literally sprouting all over the village, and to joining our Batheaston neighbours in coming together to work the land and to share gardening and cookery tips.”
My colleague, Councillor Kevin Guy, and I are thrilled that the community is coming together in Batheaston to provide a solution to all these problems. We were delighted this year to have been able to give a little council funding to assist in the start up of the initiative Grow Batheaston. A group of volunteers have exciting plans to plant fruit and vegetables on common and borrowed land around the village, and have been granted “Access to a large plot. Details to be announced.” soon. We are looking forward to watching fruit and veg literally sprouting all over the village, and to joining our Batheaston neighbours in coming together to work the land and to share gardening and cookery tips. We hope to see you at a Grow Batheaston working day soon!