The Blue Finger Vision

Transcription

1 The Blue Finger Vision Business as usual? Or an opportunity to create a world class Urban Agriculture Hub? This document has been created collaboratively in response to the Blue Finger Metrobus road plans. Rather than an argument for or against it is an invitation to see beyond the adversarial planning process to explore the context within which decisions about our resources are made. Could the Blue Finger be the key to addressing the local economy, job creation, health and wellbeing, social inclusion, education, waste management, youth inclusion, access to green space, amenity, tourism, climate change mitigation, biodiversity and quality of life? Could it be a world class Urban Agriculture Hub rather than just a potential building site? Would the decision be different if we saw the land as potential market gardens rather than former market gardens? Can we afford to write off opportunities before the possibilities are fully and creatively explored?

2 Contents 1 Introduction 2 Contents 3 Vision Outline and Invitation to decision makers Supporting strategies and plans 8-9 Contributions from organisations, businesses and experts To and help make it a reality please visit Created by Sarah Pugh, Pete Summers of Shift Bristol and Maddy Longhurst of The Blue Finger Alliance. with contributions from and the support of the Bristol community.

3 The Blue Finger is a hugely important piece of high quality agricultural land coming out of the north fringe of the city of Bristol. It is 1,000 hectares of exceptionally deep and fertile soil within easy reach of the urban population. rare Grade 1 agricultural land. It is a designated wildlife corridor and Green Belt. It is visible from the motorway network as the welcome to the city. The ensuing piecemeal development of this land permanently removes the potential for us to fully utilise this precious resource for the prosperity, health, wellbeing and enjoyment of the whole community. We invite Bristol City and South Gloucestershire Councils to 1. Begin an explorative conversation to uncover the true potential of the city s agricultural resources and green spaces before they are lost. 2. Delay and/or minimise any loss of agricultural land until a comprehensive land use plan is in place. This may include revising plans and rethinking land allocation. 3. Recognise the need to respond to change and to future-proof food infrastructure and economy. 4. Develop partnership working and whole city participation to embrace the opportunity to become a world leader in green economy, urban food production and quality of life. This is an invitation to create a city we can all be proud of, one with an ability to adapt to change and rely on its own resources. Whatever happens to the Metrobus proposal we urge decision makers to take on this challenge before any other decisions are made about the land. 5. Fully utilise the expertise, experience and insights of the region s highly skilled network of green organisations, businesses, communities and grassroots projects to create an imaginative vision for the future that meets the needs of the city.

4 We have a time-limited opportunity for Bristol and South Gloucestershire to create a world class food enterprise hub using innovative and sustainable food production methods that could achieve economic, health and social An integrated urban farmscape could incorporate farming, processing, catering, education, gastro-tourism, horticultural therapy, amenity, energy production, composting and wildlife conservation. The Blue Finger brand could become synonymous with excellence, vision and resilience. Amongst varying estimates, The Soil Association calculates a Community Supported Agriculture Scheme can earn 27,276 per hectare per year using sustainable, organic methods. If half the Blue Finger land was used for food production this would be increased through innovative methods, added-value processing, catering and Job creation. US urban farm project Growing Power employs 50 full time staff plus many part time and associated positions. Food security and a buffer to future volatile food prices and availability. Improved diet and nutrition leading to better health. Multiplier effect of money spent in the local economy. Better inclusion and community cohesion and the associated decrease in mental health issues. Direct use of compostable waste materials to reduce the waste stream. Meaningful youth inclusion leading to decreased crime and anti-social behaviour. Since Incredible Edible Todmorden began there has been a 50% crime reduction in the town. Thriving local markets that support local food and artisans and attract visitors. Research and development in urban agriculture. Improved access to green space through gardening activities and amenity projects. Opportunities to tackle food poverty and associated health problems locally. Green skills and education leading to better job prospects and skilled population. Access for schools, community groups and others to food and growing experiences. Lower carbon footprint for the city s food supply contributing less to climate change. Increase in tourism as people visit the gastro capital of the UK. Increased investment in Bristol as its reputation as a city with a high quality of life grows.

5 Across the board local, national and global reports and strategies talk about the needs and opportunities outlined here. Here is a sample of quotations from recent documents.the Blue Finger land presents an opportunity to put strategies into action that would be impossible to achieve anywhere else in the city. We want to be ambitious. We need to be creative with existing resources. Our goal is to address health and care around individual needs and ensuring that city and local neighbourhoods are positive, pleasant places to live and work. Together we can drive the changes, make for the future. Barbara Janke, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board Bristol Health and Wellbeing Strategy projects which showcase how housing, business, and public spaces can be designed to be affordable, demonstrate a high green standard and contribute to our city s health and wellbeing. Practically, this means using sound design principles, good planning, and health evidence to help regenerate local communities and contribute to our local economy. This includes: Using council owned property to create affordable, safe, healthy places to grow up and grow old in, built with sustainable resources, with good walking and cycling access to local services, green space, play and food growing opportunities and powered by renewable energy. Setting a benchmark for positive building and planning. Promoting walking and cycling as the primary methods of getting to and from places through transport planning and encouraging the everyday take up of physical activity. Ensuring neighbourhoods are planned and designed to support healthy lifestyles. Combined, our partner agencies are included amongst the largest employers in the city. As such, we can Bristol Health and Wellbeing Strategy To achieve necessary changes there needs to be a greater use of the approach known as food systems planning. This refers to the strategic integration of agriculture and food into the way that cities are designed, planned and managed. It can address issues relating to the environment, employment, local economy; education, training; health, climate change, social justice and inclusion. At a community level there is a need to increase knowledge and skills in food production, preparation and cooking and to build understanding of the impacts that food choices have. Cities generate heat, energy and waste resources that provide potentially valuable inputs for food production. Food production, distribution, preparation and retail provide important employment, and good food and future resilience of its food system through use of policy, strategy, advocacy and planning processes. All four Local Authorities, the local businesses and the public sector agencies all need to play a part. Joy Carey, Who Feeds Bristol Report 2011

6 Reports and strategies... In order for the city region to be more food resilient in the future we need to understand Bristol can help to increase the number of land-based jobs. The best and most suitable quality food growing land has to be protected and available for food production. All Bristol Development Framework documents, including local plans, have demand from community groups and individuals. Some of the highest quality land in the UK can be found to the north and south of the city. One way of protecting this land from non-food purpose development is to farm it. Bristol Food Policy Council The Bristol city region has not yet lost its diversity of independent local producers, wholesalers, processors, caterers and shopkeepers. With the right mechanisms and with the growing public interest in the future of food, we can start to rebuild a food culture for Bristol that has the health of people and planet at its heart. Dr Hugh Annett. Bristol Director of Public Health Food policy, actions and measures which would prepare Bristol for peak oil include More local production and consumption of those foods which can be grown in the local region. Protection of local agricultural land for farming. Increased access to growing spaces for people to be able to grow some of their own food. Development of low energy food production, processing techniques and food distribution systems. Promotion of foods with low fuel requirements (more seasonal foods, less meat). Creation of food storage for emergency situations. Food retail solutions that don t rely on private cars. Bristol Peak Oil Report Maintaining and improving a network of green infrastructure A network of valuable open spaces, green infrastructure and wildlife habitats will be maintained and improved throughout the city. Green Belt areas on the city fringes will be maintained to safeguard Bristol s attractive setting. Green infrastructure will be built into new developments across the city. Providing new opportunities for physical activity, sports, active play and food growing. Open spaces available to all will be improved. Bristol Development Framework Core Strategy

7 Reports and strategies... Bristol is the UK s fastest growing city.... The city has plans to create resilient systems more decentralized, less prone to cascade failure and will future-proof investment decisions....the city aims to empower individuals and communities to help themselves, support capacity building and local-decision making, and protect local amenities....the city is using a systems-led approach learning. Bristol aims to be future-proofed by Bristol s Resilience Challenge. Rockerfeller Resilient Cities Offer Bristol as a test-bed for innovative environmental ideas, where we will develop Bristol, but will hopefully become a model for cities in the UK and around the world. Attract investment, business, and tourism to Bristol and the wider UK. Bristol Green Capital Aims Soils, the foundation of agricultural development and ecological sustainability, provide the basis stocks, one quarter of global biodiversity, and serve as a platform for construction and construction material. However, soil quality varies with site conditions and management practices. The area of fertile soils is limited and is increasingly under pressure by competing land uses... The increasing degree and extent of soil degradation processes due to mismanagement and land use changes are threatening this resource and urgent action is needed to reverse this trend if we are to assure the necessary food production for future generations, mitigation of climate change, provision of clean groundwater, and dimunition of biodiversity loss. United Nations Global Soil Partnership Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by climate change.the world has to adapt and the world has to mitigate. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair IPCC In many cases, the best use for open spaces to meet the needs of people in the city is to grow food in those spaces; this is especially true of high-quality agricultural land, or land that has been under community cultivation for long periods of time (e.g. allotments). Likewise, one effect of climate change that can already be seen is the impact on price and availability of imported food, and on UK crop yields. The best way to mitigate against this effect is to protect and promote local food production and to work for a diverse, resilient local food system. Food Policy Council s comments on the Bristol Development Policy, November 2013 In England 61.9% of adults and 28% of children are obese. The associated health problems cost the NHS more than 5billion per year.

8 We asked businesses, organisations and individuals to comment on the potential of the Blue Finger as an Urban Agriculture Hub. Feed Bristol is Avon Wildlife Trust s nationally renowned 8 acre community food growing opportunities for people with different needs to access nature and organic communal food growing. The project plans to generate income so that it can move away from reliance on funding to create a sustainable social enterprise. The following are our topline statistics. In 2.5 years over 23,000 people engaged in different activities, workshops and events on the site 6,000 people from disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable groups used the site 10,000 people engaged in wildlife/gardening activities, courses, workshops and events 20,000 hours of community activity 25,000 hours recorded volunteer time by 584 volunteers 4,500 school children involved in educational activities from 40 different schools 36 trained Grow Leaders - who deliver activities to groups and manage the site 32 volunteers gained employment using their experience here as a reference 6 people used the site to help kick start small green businesses. Over 20 different corporate groups contributed to the project. The Metrobus development would build a road on 1/3 of the site and severely impact the remaining land. Matt Cracknell, Project Co-ordinator, Feed Bristol, Avon Wildlife Trust A city that really understands the challenges it faces will leap at the opportunity to protect and nurture its agricultural land, its food growing culture and skills base. The city s approach to its soil has a great bearing on its direction in the context of its food security, public health and economy. It would be a great shame if this irreplaceable asset were to be squandered through a planning process that bears no relation to the true realities of life. Feeding ourselves is absolutely fundamental. Teacher and Consultant Cuba - 383,000 urban farms produce 1,500,000 tons of vegetables. The question we need to ask is whether the vision of a city surrounded by and interwoven with highly productive, diverse and beautiful urban agriculture systems is a thing of the past, or the future. While we know for sure that it has formed a key and pivotal part of the city s past, we see from city after city around the world that bringing back the market gardeners, makers, the gourmet mushroom growers also represents the future. Just viewed as a public health strategy it has the potential to tick everyone s boxes. As a strategy for food security and job creation it s a no brainer. And for a European Green Capital, I would say it s absolutely essential. Rob Hopkins, Founder, Transition Network The Blue Finger land is a unique resource that cannot be replaced. It offers the potential to grow food in a way that captures the imagination of the people of the city, spawns new community-based enterprises and brings the people of the city in touch with the natural world. For me, our attitude to the Blue Finger land is a touchstone of our sincerity in regard to being a sustainable city and a Green Capital of Europe. Chris Sunderland, Director, Bristol Pound CIC

9 More contributions from the Bristol Organisations and Businesses I have been bringing young people together to learn about and take action on the large scale issues that they face in the future. Food is often the thing that they get most shocked by. The shock comes when they learn how much we waste and how little fresh, locally produced food we actually eat. If young people do not witness our generation protecting the land which will feed them and their children in the future, then they will see our lack of integrity between what we say is important and the actions which we take. Jamie Colston, Green Vision The demand for knowledge and skills in sustainability is growing as people become aware of the need for change and adaptation and as they search for healthy and meaningful ways to interact with the world. Bristol has become a national hub for green thinking and practice and could continue to build on this expertise to become a Green Capital - for more than a year. Sarah Pugh Shift Bristol We now grow organic vegetables for over 80 households on our site adjacent to the M32 and at Feed Bristol. It is clear that there is a great demand for locally grown food from Bristol residents many of whom are keen to participate in and learn about food growing. We must have the entire Feed Bristol site and the Blue Finger protected for the future. It is quite clear that high quality land close to the urban centre is a now rare and essential resource James Adamson Sims Hill Shared Harvest CSA Bristol s reputation in the UK and the world is that of a food lover s and grower s city but the reality is that there are food desert areas with little access to fresh food at all. We were inspired by the work of Incredible Edible Todmorden, which has seen a drop in crime of 50% since starting a gardening revolution in the town, and by projects in the US. Incredible Edible Bristol is working with community groups and educators to bring food growing to streets, parks, schools, hospitals. We are growing resilience in communities who want to collaboratively to enrich their lives through convinced that Bristol s community has what it takes to set the standard in urban food growing. Sara Venn, Incredible Edible Bristol Loss of farmland to cities is estimated at 1.6 to 3.3 million ha per year between 2000 and 2030.