Councillors hatch plan to grow fresh strawberries and chilli peppers outside Leeds Civil Hall
Plans to use flower beds outside the building in Millennium Square for edible growing are being drawn up by Leeds City Council.
Council gardeners could grow strawberries and chilli peppers outside the Civic Hall to help boost access to fresh food.
Plans to use flower beds outside the building in Millennium Square for edible growing are being drawn up by Leeds City Council.
Last September Green Party councillors encouraged the council to convert the beds to encourage people to grow more food.
Now the council has confirmed the beds could be used for urban food growing this spring.
Labour’s Mohammed Rafique, executive member for environment, said the beds stood unplanted over the winter as soil maintenance work was carried out.
In a written answer to a question from the Greens, he said: “The frontline gardening team have been working on planting options for the site which are being formulated into plans to be implemented this spring.
“This will include consideration of edible planting, including strawberries chillies and peppers, as well as other options including biodiversity and climate adaptation, with due consideration to sustainability.”
Headingley and Hyde Park councillor Tim Goodall, who raised the question at the last full council meeting, welcomed Coun Rafique’s response.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m glad to see that the council’s gardening team are considering edible planting and encouraging biodiversity in the flowerbeds outside the Civic Hall.
“It’s also good to see that they are considering climate adaptation and sustainability.
“As it’s such a central and visible site, this would be great for encouraging even more planting initiatives like this across the city.”
The council said it encouraged edible planting elsewhere through its support for community groups and allotments.