Right to Grow: A Revolution in Urban Spaces

A special roundtable edition recorded at the London National Park City Visitor Centre, 80 Mortimer Street, LondonIn this episode, London National Park City director Mark Cridge sits down with four community food growing leaders to explore how the Right to Grow movement is taking root across the capital. From housing estates in Tower Hamlets to empty greenhouses in Newham, the conversation covers why Londoners need greater access to land for food growing, what it takes to start a community garden from scratch, and how the campaign is building political momentum borough by borough.GuestsKalpana Arias, co-organiser, Right to Grow London Network Victoria (Tori) Sherwin, director, Incredible Edible Lambeth Carmen Ho, Right to Grow Tower Hamlets Selene, Transition Newham and Right to Grow NewhamWhat we talk aboutThe Right to Grow as a policy framework: what it asks of councils and why it matters for London's food security. The barriers communities face when trying to access public land for growing, from complex leases and absent points of contact to fear among councils of losing development potential. The tension between housing need and green space access, particularly in boroughs like Tower Hamlets. How food growing connects people across cultures and generations, from Bangladeshi grandmothers sharing growing knowledge to nursery children planting their first seeds. The role of seed swaps, cookbooks and walking tours in drawing new people into the movement. Why food growing belongs in the school curriculum. The intersection between food growing, biodiversity, wellbeing and London's identity as a National Park City. What success looks like in five years: every London borough adopting or working towards a Right to Grow policy, dedicated funding for community food growing, and training programmes to support new garden leaders.LinksRight to Grow campaign (Incredible Edible): incredibleedible.org.uk/what-we-do/right-to-grow Right to Grow London Network sign-up: capitalgrowth.org Capital Growth (London's food growing network): capitalgrowth.org Incredible Edible Lambeth: incredibleediblelambeth.org Incredible Edible Lambeth Right to Grow page: incredibleediblelambeth.org/right-to-grow-campaign Southwark Council Right to Grow announcement: southwark.gov.uk London Assembly recommends Right to Grow (April 2025): incredibleedible.org.uk/news/london-assembly-recommends-right-to-grow We Are Grow (Barnet farm): wearegrow.org London National Park City: nationalparkcity.london Do London Differently Podcast (all episodes): nationalparkcity.london/podcast Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7xzEmzAQ8L94xI2V9qOGMqCreditsHosted by Mark Cridge. Filmed and produced by Michael Shilling. Recorded at the London National Park City Visitor Centre, Westminster.Explore more London National Park City Podcasts