Mabley Green Users’ Group launches petition calling for edible park

Out of this world: Mabley Green could soon become an edible park

The Mabley Green Users’ Group have launched a petition to turn the green space in Homerton into the world’s largest ‘edible park’.

Planners are expected to make a decision on the scheme over the next few weeks and the users’ group hopes to convince Hackney Council that this will be the best use of the space.

Mabley Green is twice the size of the largest edible park, five-acre Beacon Food Forest in Seattle, and would be the first project of its kind in the UK.

The group aims fill Mabley Green with fruit and nut trees as well as herbs and other foodstuffs.

Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, said: “Plans for Mabley Green already include a proposal to spend £100,000 on an edible park and associated landscaping, although this may not be the world’s largest, we have to take into account the needs of all park users and manage space sensibly.

“Building the world’s largest edible park would mean losing sports pitches and taking away facilities used by young people from across the borough. We agree that edible parkland will help encourage healthy eating and support our commitment to tackle childhood obesity, which is why this has been included alongside sports facilities that help to tackle the same problem.

“We are working to build a fantastic public park that can be used by people of all ages, interests and backgrounds and would welcome feedback on proposals for Mabley Green from the whole community.”