Waltham Forest residents could soon be growing their own food thanks to a grant from the Mayor of London.

Organic Lea, a worker’s co-operative who run Hawkwood Plant Nursery and the Hornbeam Centre, received £1,195,700 from City Hall’s Good Growth Fund.

The money will allow them to create two “growing hubs” in Waltham Forest and neighbouring Haringey as part of their “Market Garden City” project.

Local London Assembly Member, Jennette Arnold OBE AM, said: “It is fantastic to see Market Garden City receive this vital City Hall investment targeted at regenerating and rejuvenating our community for the benefit of local people.

“This is a positive step that will help to repair some of the damage wrought by a decade of austerity on our high streets and the social and cultural fabric of our neighbourhoods”.

In Waltham Forest, the money will be used to improve the Hawkwood Plant Nursery in Chingford, which the not-for-profit currently runs as a market garden.

Organic Lea will improve storage, processing facilities, offices and the farm shop, as well as creating more classroom space and new renewable energy and water harvesting installations.

The plant nursery will share the almost £1.2 million in funding with another growing hub in Haringey, located on Wolves Lane in Wood Green.

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