London canals used to grow food

A total of 14 groups have signed up to the Capital Growth project so far

Unused stretches of land along London's canals will be used to grow food as part of a mayoral scheme.

British Waterways, which maintains 100 miles of the city's canals and rivers is the latest group to sign up to the Capital Growth project.

It aims to make 2,012 pieces of land suitable for growing food by 2012.

Organisations including councils, schools, hospitals, housing estates and parks are expected to open up their land for the initiative.

'Amazing response'

"If this scheme is successful then there is no reason why we couldn't repeat it elsewhere in the UK along the 2,000 miles of canals and rivers in our care as part of a wider initiative to encourage communities to make greater use of their waterways," said British Waterway's chairman Tony Hales.

So far, a total of 14 groups have now signed up to the pilot scheme, which was launched in November 2008 by Boris Johnson and Rosie Boycott who chairs the London Food Board.

"The response we have had to Capital Growth has been really amazing," said Ms Boycott.

"We are now working with a wide range of groups and organisations who are enthused by the prospect of growing their own food in London to the benefit of our local communities."

The London Development Agency is funding the pilot scheme at a cost of �87,000 until March 2009.

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