Guerila gardening

elisamoose

We have a patch of public land opposite our house.It has two cherry plum trees ( mum is making jam as we speak!) and a walnut tree swell as a few ornamental trees.The council mow it but it seems such a waste!
we are thinking of planting a few bits and seeing if the council will leave it alone. Has anyone else tried similar?

patchwork_cat

http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/ these people do.

Barneysmom

Have a look at this too........


http://www.guerrillagardening.org/

elisamoose

Thanks for the links. I think our problem may be that is a mown grass area with trees and so any planting may just get mown away every month!

ceridwen

These days Councils tend to leave small "wild areas" in places like public parks and other public "green spaces" - ie the majority of the space is mown, but not necessarily all of it.

Also frequency of maintenance is being downgraded in many places - thus maybe leaving odd "windows of opportunity" for something to grow to fruition and a "harvest" to be reaped by passersby.:)

natlie

Hi
I work for a Local Authority and where we are, it is illegal to change the use of the land without permission, particuarly if this land is owned by the council, you will need to apply to buy the land and apply for a change in its use. You will also need to provide them with a maintenance schedule and details of how this will be funded and what would happen if you were no longer able to maintain it. You alo need to find out why they have not developed it maybe they have plans for the land already maybe they care for it on behalf of a private landowner. Also and most importantly - the land could be contaminated - you need to get historical record, these usually cost about £40 from Environmental Health, you can get a rough free info from envionment agency - whats in my backyard
Nat

ceridwen

I am not quite sure the above poster understands the concept of guerilla gardening.

In brief - it is the concept of just planting a few odd plants (which might be decorative ones on the one hand, could well be useful ones eg food on the other hand).

This is done by a person or small group of people who can see that there is some odd bit of scruffy land that is just being neglected and could be made to look more attractive and/or be productive of a little bit of food. The idea is for everyone in the community to enjoy seeing it looking nicer and/or be able to pick some food for free to help out their food budget.

It is only a temporary use of land - for the benefit of the general public as a whole (and not for some persons "personal requirements") - and there is no requirement/need/thought for buying the land involved.

It is being done as an expression of public-spiritedness basically - and, yes, there is an element of fun involved (no harm in enjoying something that doesnt do any harm).

Guerilla gardening is a very different concept to the way some individual householders can sometimes try to "grab ownership" of a stray bit of land near their property for themselves only - ie "buying" it without paying any money for it.....The householder trying to find a way to get land for themselves only on a permanent basis is selfishness and land theft.

Guerilla gardening is a TOTALLY different concept and is for the community's behalf and not trying to take ownership of land for nothing. It is not done for someones own personal selfish benefit. It is not done with the intention of changing ownership of the land.

For anyone who doesnt understand or hasnt heard of the concept:

www.guerillagardening.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerilla_gardening

(having said this - I've planted some foodstuff in public space and know that others have taken some of this as well. That was meant to happen.

I think I have identified the person who has planted some other foodstuff in a public place and am not totally sure they fully understand the concept that what they have planted there is "public property" and not just for themselves. I am waiting to see if I encounter them doing any maintenance of this food and, if I do so, will check that they realise that this food is for anyone who wants it and not just for themselves - just because they were the one that planted it.)

natlie

Hi ceidwen, I do understand guerilla gardening and the rules apply, you cannot plant or trespass on a landowners property, it is considered under tort law - squatting. It doesn't matter if its a few items if its flowers or if its just tidying it up you are not allowed to do it without permission of the landowner and they are within their rights to report you to the police and local authority, its the same as planting things in your neighbours garden without permission.

The risk comes as I have siad below from people not knowing the nature of the land and there is huge risk of contaminents from land, groundwater, surface water and air pollution - from cars or other source, it could potentially expose the foodstuffs - if thats what they are growing to carcinogens, nitrogen oxides, particulates, dust samll enough to enter the lungs, sulphur, nickel, co2, co, lead etc etc

You need to check with the landowner and get their permission to avoid getting into trouble
Nat

ceridwen

I can certainly understand why peeps would need to be aware of the nature of the land - ie any pollutants that might have ruined it. So - I guess a lot of the time that info. would come from the "local grapevine" from those who had lived in the area for some time.

I certainly wouldnt condone planting anything on private property (except of the obviously abandoned variety perhaps). The planting I have done/am aware of is only on Council territory and I would certainly expect that if anyone in the Council "took exception to it" that they would just have their gardeners replant it with something else or have someone just "have an unofficial word" and not get "heavy" about someone just trying to do something constructive/helpful. I am a bit concerned that someone who is planning on being a bit "helpful" to the community at large might worry that a jobsworth would "come down heavy" on them - guess this is why a lot of it is done at night - as everyone is aware that there will be people concerned to do their jobs for the public good (as I'm sure you are) on the one hand and jobsworths who just like to "throw their weight around" and make life awkward unnecessarily on the other hand. The public sector attracts both people who genuinely want to "do their bit" to help Society on the one hand - and "rule pushers for the sake of it" on the other hand.

I'm sure you come in the genuinely wanting to "do your bit to help Society" category okay - but I guess you can understand my concerns about the "rule pushers" who also go and work for the public sector on the other hand.

*****************

Personally - I will go out in broad daylight and "do my thing" - because its obvious looking at me/talking to me that I'm not some ne'er do well (I expect a 30 second glance at me to reveal that fact - and, if that isnt enough, then 5 minutes of talking to me will make it quite clear) and I can soon say that I'm a "local" as well.

Sambucus_Nigra

natlie wrote: »

Hi
I work for a Local Authority and where we are, it is illegal to change the use of the land without permission, particuarly if this land is owned by the council, you will need to apply to buy the land and apply for a change in its use. You will also need to provide them with a maintenance schedule and details of how this will be funded and what would happen if you were no longer able to maintain it. You alo need to find out why they have not developed it maybe they have plans for the land already maybe they care for it on behalf of a private landowner. Also and most importantly - the land could be contaminated - you need to get historical record, these usually cost about £40 from Environmental Health, you can get a rough free info from envionment agency - whats in my backyard
Nat

It has cherry and walnut trees already - thus is not contaminated and is already growing 'food'.

Sigh.

[Deleted User]

Its often left to be 'wild' as a habitat for insect and butterflies.Most of the bottom of my garden is left (not through choice, but clapped out joints )for this reason I can understand why it would be useful for anything grown to eat is less stuff to import.One reason why 'digging for victory' became important during WW2.Sadly for those that have the enegy and inclination there is usually a long long waiting list for allotments.I would happily let anyone have the use of the bottom of my garden for nothing if only to stop it from being so overgrown.Instead I have to pay someone to cut it back every so often when it becomes a jungle