Can We Dig It:
The Urban Gardening Right to Green Spaces and Growing Food Youth Pledge
As cities expand and urban areas become more densely populated, access to green spaces and opportunities for growing fresh, healthy food are essential for the wellbeing of our communities. This pledge empowers youth to advocate for their right to green spaces and urban gardens, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the environment.
Urban gardening not only provides a source of fresh produce but also promotes sustainability, biodiversity, and mental health. By transforming vacant lots and underutilised spaces into thriving gardens, we can combat food deserts, reduce our carbon footprint and create vibrant community hubs.
Our Can We Dig It program works in schools, neighbourhoods and with charities, creating a community and youth-driven response to climate change, food poverty and lack of green spaces in deprived and overlooked urban areas of Nottingham. The aim of Can We Dig It is to create a youth-led pledge for authorities, councils, organisations and individuals to commit to that creates a healthier, more sustainable and more just future for all.
We aim to inspire the next generation to become environmental stewards and community leaders, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of green spaces.
The Objectives
Weekly sessions in primary schools that take place in the garden, growing food and flowers together and being in nature, understanding pupils’ priorities and thoughts around climate change, food and green spaces.
Pop-up Can We Dig It sessions at our community gardens, capturing input from local children and families.
Continuous capture and recording of feedback to produce periodic reports and an end-of-year conclusion on how the school and local community feels about the issues covered.
A mid-year guerrilla gardening campaign: growing plants in school and planting in the community, for example planters near to shopping precincts or local neglected spaces.
An end-of-year presentation and exhibition that showcases the schools’ and communities’ response to the key themes of food poverty, climate and green spaces.