Learning how to grow Vertical Veg has been a key and fun element of Greening Wingrove & Arthur’s Hill work. The work has been driven by a vision to help start ‘greening’ the streets of Wingrove and Arthur’s Hill through encouraging residents to think creatively about the often small spaces available at the front of their homes as growing spaces. 

Teaming up with Mark Ridsdill Smith, founder of Vertical Veg, we’ve explored how veg could be successfully grown vertically, in pots, hanging baskets and in so many other innovative ways.

The Vertical Veg programme has proved highly popular, through the delivery of sessions based on the streets, and our urban ‘harvest festivals’, open to anyone with little or lots of knowledge about growing veg.

Sessions have seen people from different sections of the diverse community come together, have fun whilst learning and make connections between neighbours. Also, very importantly, there’s now more healthy home-grown produce and a more widespread satisfaction of growing something yourself. 

Since the Covid 19 emergency the Vertical Veg programme has taken on a new format, using on-line meet up sessions and providing starter packs for people who would like to try out some growing for themselves.

This phase of the programme has been generously supported by the Co-op’s Local Causes Fund (click here to see how you can help) and by the Newcastle Round Table.

To find out how you can grow your own food click HERE to download all the information sheets with great advice and tips from Mark. 

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