Since March when the lock down started horticultural workers were identified as key workers. To ensure growers could focus on growing during the important spring season we introduced new site protocols to keep them safe. Sadly this has meant access to the site is restricted and our regular volunteering programme and access by the public suspended. The lockdown has created lots of challenges for our growers with plans overturned and big changes in demand as well as seeing those most in need in our local communities struggling under the lock down. The growers and groups at Wolves Lane have risen to the challenges and we are really proud to see such quick creative responses.
Here’s a summary ……….
- Cooked meals for local people in need – In April we recruited a small volunteer team including two local chefs to make good use of the kitchen at Wolves Lane to cook and distribute cooked meals each week
- Standing up for BAME communities – Ubele, have been doing some amazing work leading a petition and coalition demanding an independent public inquiry into the disproportionately high coronavirus death rates in BAME communities. Read this Guardian article about it
- Blackrootz have extended their growing on site and along with other growers are working on plans to grow emergency crops to feed local people in need
- Crop Drop have adapted quickly to meet a surge of new customers desperate for fresh fruit and veg at the same time losing a lot of their drop points
- Edible London geared up quickly to distribute emergency food in the borough, soon outgrowing Wolves Lane. They have partnered with Haringey Council to distrubute food via the Haringey Food Hubs in Tootenham stadium and Alexandra Palace
- The Flower Company facing cancelled summer events and with a large crop of flowers growing, started selling and delivering locally including supplying the big demand from local florists who struggled to find stock
- And to meet the surge in demand for plants and help raise money to maintain the site we are starting to sell some plants grown on site.