We know we can transform the lives of people in Leeds for the better by actively growing food together in our neighbourhoods, as part of building our resilience in a changing world. The biggest obstacle to more local food growing is the lack of available land close to people’s homes.

All around Leeds, small parcels of public land are being left unloved, costing taxpayers money to maintain, and giving nothing back to the community in return. Community food growing projects such as the Incredible Edible community gardens in Manston Park, Grange Avenue and Kippax Community hub have shown that with a little TLC these parcels of land can be turned into something so much more valuable. In the middle of the cost-of-living crisis unlocking local healthy food could be a lifeline for many communities, offering practical hope for everyone.

We think it should be easy for communities to identify this unused public land, and apply for free, straight-forward licences to take on the care of the land. That’s why we are calling for the citizens of Leeds to have a Right to Grow.

Transforming space in urban locations for food growing creates neighbourhoods which are cooler in summer, less polluted, better for our mental and physical health, better for wildlife and encourages local food spend. And, because many of these actions are about giving power to people to shape their community, they turn out to be more sociable and more connected places.

We are calling on Leeds City Council to commit to the Right to Grow, and:

- Identify all council owned land suitable for community cultivation. 

- Make this land available for cultivation by a simple licence to community organisations at no cost. 

- Consider community food growing on sites awaiting development for other uses on a fixed term basis. 

- Adopt a Right to Grow motion and support the Incredible Edible campaign for a national right to grow.