Ready… steady… grow

Big Dig Food Growing Event at Martineau Gardens.

Gardeners and would-be gardeners are being invited to kick-start their gardening year with fun green-fingered gardening activities at the Big Dig Food Growing Event (on national Big Dig Day), at Martineau Gardens on Saturday 22n d April, from 2pm – 4pm.

The Community Garden in Edgbaston is hosting the free event to encourage people to grow their own food, no matter how big or small their grow space is or how much or how little experience they have. The event will include drop-in food growing workshops to inspire even the most reluctant gardeners to don their gardening gloves. Activities include hands-on vegetable growing techniques and seed bombing. There will be plant and compost sales plus tea and homemade cake will be on offer.

Caroline Hutton, Director of Martineau Gardens, explains why the charity is hosting the event: “We want to inspire people to make a move towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Growing your own food is a step in the right direction. It’s great fun, low cost and you get to eat delicious food.”

Martineau Gardens, just two miles from Birmingham city centre, is a green oasis teeming with wildlife and is looked after by volunteers, many of whom have mental health issues and learning disabilities. Hundreds of school children visit the Gardens to learn about science and environmental issues. Every year Birmingham people visit the gardens to explore its woodland, glass houses, formal garden, orchard, demonstration food growing areas, wildflower meadow, pond and wildlife area with SLINC status.

The Big Dig Food Growing Event takes place on Saturday 22nd April, from 2pm-4pm, free entry at Martineau Gardens, 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7UG. Further information on 0121 440 7430 or www.martineau-gardens.org.uk. The Community Garden is located five minutes from the MAC and opposite the Priory Hospital. Parking is available over the road, at the Priory Hospital (by kind permission). The Gardens are served by buses 1, 45, 47, X61, 63, X64.

The event is part of the Big Dig Day – the biggest ever community gardening day. Details of other participating Birmingham gardens can be found here