HULL’S first city centre allotment is taking shape on the roof of a busy shopping centre.
Green-fingered volunteers are helping to create a rooftop allotment at Prospect Shopping Centre in Brook Street.
The community-led project will be run in partnership with Environment and Management Solutions Ltd which is based on Preston Road.
When complete, the allotment will boast more than ten plots of newly planted seeds and crops, which the volunteers will be able to tend to and, once harvested, they will be able to take it home and eat it.
Jan Boyd, chief executive at EMS, said: “We are delighted to work with Prospect Shopping Centre on its first community allotment.
“This is such a great initiative and it’s really positive to see so many local people already starting to volunteer to help the centre with its project.”
The environmental charity supports communities in east Hull to decrease their carbon emissions, helping them to save money on their household bills.
EMS currently runs regular workshops at East Hull Community Farm and is also backing plans to introduce a new city farm in Hull, which will be housed in old shipping containers.
They hope to welcome further volunteers who are interested in getting involved in the allotment project across the city.
“We are always looking to match keen gardeners, or those just interested in having a go, with local initiatives,” said Mrs Boyd.
“There are lots of other opportunities coming up for anyone looking to get their hands dirty.”
Prospect Shopping Centre has long been committed to pioneering environmental schemes and has won awards for its eco-friendly initiatives.
Lee Appleton, centre manager at Prospect Shopping Centre, said: “We all know the importance of creating a more sustainable environment.
“The creation of our rooftop allotment is a fantastic way of encouraging people to think about their food – from field to fork.
“Working in conjunction with local environmental charity, EMS, our aim is to encourage groups from our local communities to enjoy the benefits of planting and growing their own fruit and vegetables.
“The sense of pride and achievement when the results are in full flourish is another incentive to keep our volunteers actively involved in the coming months.”
ROOTED in Hull is another new environmental project that plans to make the city a greener place.
Organisers of the roaming city farm in the centre of Hull hope the site will be built in old shipping containers on derelict land.
The environmental project encourages residents in the city to grow their own food.
Developers also hope to build a shop and café, which will sell produce grown on the farm and educate people about the food they eat.
