In eager anticipation of the worlds greatest cycling race Tour de France coming to Yorkshire this summer, volunteers are turning Allerton Grange Fields Yellow with yellow marigolds, pansies, nasturtiums and limnanthes in a series of three formal flowerbeds along a section of the traffic free cycle path which connects Lidgett Lane with Talbot Avenue through Allerton Grange Fields in north Leeds.
Friends of Allerton Grange Fields is a registered In Bloom group and have worked to create the yellow beds in partnership with the organisers Roundhay Environmental Action Project (REAP). This exciting community led project which has been funded through private donations from local residents is in direct response to the Welcome To Yorkshire and The RHS campaign to 'Turn Yorkshire Yellow' in honour of the Tour de France 2014 (The Grand Depart 2014).
"We'd like to thank the Friends of Allerton Grange Fields and the Roundhay Environmental Action Project (REAP) Gardening Group for giving up their time to help promote cycling and to joining communities across Leeds and the region in turning Yorkshire yellow in honour of the Tour de France. We are very proud to be hosting the event and want the city to look at its very best when the attention of the world is on us, so projects like this are fantastic and I'd like to thank everyone involved."
In April 2015, Friends of Allerton Grange Fields sowed pictorial wildflower meadow seeds in the three flower beds along the cycle path. The pictorial wildflower meadow seed mix has been sourced from Pictorial Meadows Ltd. (University of Sheffield) who supplied the QE2 Olympic Park in East London (the UK's largest ever man-made wildflower meadows).
The flowerbeds near the community orchard at Allerton Grange Fields will be used to grow edible plants in order to inspire local people to get involved, pick the fruit, herbs and vegetables and grow more food locally. Friends of Allerton Grange Fields are pleased to be working in partnership with Feed Leeds Partner organisation REAP Gardening Group.
Two flowerbeds at Allerton Grange Fields in north Leeds have received an edible makeover to inspire local residents to grown their own.
Friends of Allerton Grange Fields are working with Feed Leeds partner organisation Roundhay Environmental Action Project (REAP) Gardening Group to create edible flowerbeds at the six acre Allerton Grange Fields site off Talbot Avenue in Leeds.
"We have been delighted to see so many different groups across the city embrace the Feed Leeds project, which aim is to promote and inspire people to grow their own healthy produce.
"It is really great news therefore that the Friends of Allerton Grange Fields have now created two edible flowerbeds that people in the community will be able to enjoy, and let's hope these will be the first of many to be produced in and around the local area."
Volunteers from Friends of Allerton Grange Fields and REAP Gardening Group have planted fruit, vegetables and herbs including strawberries, rhubarb, chives, rosemary, thyme and oregano. Over the coming weeks, the volunteers will also be planting peas, beans and salads.
The new edible flowerbeds will help to encourage healthy eating and provide local people with an opportunity to pick vegetables and herbs as well as support a diverse range of wildlife at Allerton Grange Fields.
The edible flowerbeds are a key project for the Friends in its emerging ten year Greenspace Management Plan for Allerton Grange Fields which is being developed with Leeds City Council Parks & Countryside. The Friends planted the first fruit trees at Allerton Grange Fields Community Orchard in December.
Andy Goldring, Chair of Feed Leeds Committee said "Feed Leeds exists to promote and support food growing in Leeds for its economic social, environmental and health benefits, so the creation of the Friends of Allerton Grange Fields' edible beds is very welcome news. It's fantastic that groups like this - and indeed our own Leeds City Council Parks and Countryside - are now starting to grow food in green spaces around the city. It helps to build community relationships, it helps to change food miles into food yards, and it sends a powerful message about access to fresh, local, tasty food in Leeds."