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The Urban Farmers

Alice Roberts discovers the derelict, often hazardous brownfield sites hidden within our urban landscapes that are now becoming a valuable link in our under pressure food chain.

Alice Roberts revisits the - quite literally - ground breaking 'Incredible Edibles' concept of Todmorden and finds that their inspiration has spread across the UK.

Wasteland throughout our cities is being turned into productive agricultural land. Forget roof top gardens, green walls and window boxes, what we're talking about here is derelict, often hazardous brown field sites hidden within our urban landscapes that are now becoming a valuable link in our food chain. But that's not all, in reclaiming this land whole neighbourhoods are being regenerated. No site is too small or too large. From back-alleys on terraced streets in Middlesbrough to acres of polytunnel-lined, disused railway banks in Bristol, these once unproductive - and often hazardous - plots are now feeding their communities via vegetable boxes and even restaurant supply chains.

With a little effort, could our cities really feed themselves? Could this be the answer to both our food security and the improvement of our urban environments?

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 3 Apr 2013 21:00

The team from Middlesbrough Environment City transforming wasteland into an urban farm

The team from Middlesbrough Environment City transforming wasteland into an urban farm

Mavis and Jimmy get to work on their back alley farm in Middlesbrough

Mavis and Jimmy get to work on their back alley farm in Middlesbrough

The new Growing Communities farm in Dagenham

The new Growing Communities farm in Dagenham

Alice visits the Severn Project poly-tunnels at Temple Meads in Bristol

Alice visits the Severn Project poly-tunnels at Temple Meads in Bristol

Broadcasts

  • Tue 2 Apr 2013 15:30
  • Wed 3 Apr 2013 21:00

What has happened to the world's coral?

What has happened to the world's coral?

In 2016 reefs around the world the size of city blocks died. Here we explore why.

Podcast