Edible Estates

Edible Estates is a partnership of organisations which work together to promote community greenspace projects.

We work across a variety of communities, but our approach is particularly well suited to social housing estates.

We use food growing as a tool for urban regeneration, promoting individual health and well-being, and community cohesion.

The Edible Estates initiative has been developed to provide a framework for the creation of community growing projects in Council estates. It is a collaborative project of several organisations who work with local areas partners and communities across the city. We have sought to develop models which not only support folk to grow fruit and vegetables, but also have an positive impact upon the communities in which they live, increasing the environmental sustainability, and supporting the development of local community resilience.

The term ‘Edible Estates’ was first coined by Fritz Haeg an American architect/activist, involved in the creation of edible landscapes in the suburbs of American cities. We have developed the idea as a framework for the regeneration of greenspace around social housing estates, principally through the development of community food growing projects.

Whilst local food is a goal, community growing projects also provide an opportunity to encourage and support residents to become involved in their community, learn new skills, and improve their health & well-being.