Health Through Food

Aim: To encourage and assist a healthy lifestyle through food growing, gardening, good diet and related activities.

Health Through Food activities centre on BCEP’s community allotment plots at Scotchman Road, though work is also focused in schools’ own grounds as appropriate. A wide range of fruit and vegetables are grown there, including beans, potatoes, squashes, turnips, apples, pears and currants. There is also wild flower area, ornamental beds, a bog and a rockery. The programme joins forces with Sustainable Futures and other partners for events like Apple Day, an allotment celebration day and an Early Years Environment Day. Clients include primary schools, local residents and groups from community centres.

A highlight of the programme has been the polytunnel full of exotic plants - lovingly cared for by gardener Ben Taylor and his helpers - at Bradford City Farm. They even succeeded in growing rice and a very healthy looking banana tree. The tunnel also strongly featured in a teachers day where food growing links to the national curriculum were investigated and fresh produce from the tunnel consumed.

Manningham in Bloom competitions took place in 2004 and 2005 and were complemented with container and hanging basket workshops in the community, held in community centres, schools or community gardens. Gardens entered in the competition have swamped expectations both years and the standards certainly make the judges earn their lunch! Entrants then come together to enjoy the unexpected beauty of the Manningham gardens at the prize-giving. Manningham Healthy Living Initiative's partners Kala Sangam and Artworks have provided creative activities exploring traditions and stories relating to fruits, vegetables and plants.

Funding Body:

New Opportunities Funds from the Big Lottery Fund

through Manningham Healthy Living Initiative