Author: Zoe Parker

Space to Grow

By Zoe Parker

Published 30th November 2025

Realising the potential of the community gardening movement in the UK.

In early 2025, the RHS set out to understand the scale, impact and needs of the UK’s diverse community gardening groups by launching the National Community Gardening Survey – the largest of its kind. The results have now been published and the numbers speak volumes. Over 2.5 million adults have taken part in community gardening in the past three years, and 14.7 million more say they’d love to get involved. Read their full article

Who are RHS?

RHS (the Royal Horticultural Society) are UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow.

Their mission is to be there on people’s lifelong journey with gardening – to bring happiness, health, stronger communities and a thriving natural world.

With 220 years of experience, they support gardeners of all ages with expert advice, community and schools projects, scientific research, professional qualifications, our five RHS Gardens, and events including the iconic RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Community gardens do more than grow plants – they grow pride, purpose and connection.

Community gardening groups empower people with new skills, and serve as a space for cultural exchange, intergenerational learning and friendship.25 They offer a welcoming environment for people to begin their gardening journey, or simply to belong.

Call to Action from RHS two people digging in a flower bed

Useful Links & Resources

Space to grow cover of pdf two people of different ethnicities gardening
statistics of aduts community gardening
Download the Report

Bang in Some UK Beans

By Zoe Parker

Published 26th November 2025

As part of the Food Foundations’s campaign to get the UK doubling their bean consumption, we are spilling the beans on UK grown and produced beans and pulses.

The Food Foundation want to see a UK where everyone – regardless of income – is empowered to cook and eat beans.They want to see more beans available and in more delicious ways: on supermarket shelves, in schools, and on menus when eating out and about. All of which makes them much easier to access and more appealing for you! With food prices rising again, beans and pulses offer an affordable, healthy and sustainable solution. More than that you can buy locally grown and produced bean and other pulses right here in the UK.

Why are we banging on about beans?

Because beans are a win-win-win for climate, health and your wallet.

collections of packets of beans lentils and peas

If you are wondering where to buy your UK pulses, Hodmedod’s is the place to start. They specialise in a wide range of British Grown Pulses many of which are less common. From Fava (broad) beans to Carlin Peas, from Flamingo Peas to Olive Green Lentils, you can buy these British grown pulses canned, dried or roasted. Some of their varieties are “forgotten” or less widely grown — like fava beans (broad beans), and a variety of carlin peas (the original northern mushy peas). Places you can buy these beans and pulses include Hodmedod’s own website,  Ethical Superstore, Suma, Leeds Veg Box, Greens Grocers, Natural Food Store Headingley, Holland and Barrett, the Bold Bean Co use their beans for many  of their products. Bold Beans Co are stocked in Leeds by Waitrose, Tesco, Morrison and Sainsbury’s.

beans in a pan
“Beyond health, beans and pulses’ nitrogen-fixing properties boost soil health, reduce reliance on fertilisers, and help meet biodiversity and climate goals—all with a low carbon footprint.”

HENRY Gets a Makeover

By Zoe Parker

Published 21st November 2025

New Leeds HENRY website makes it even easier to find sessions that Support whole-family wellness

HENRY Healthy Families Growing Up programmes, now including 5-12’s, explore key themes such as; well-being, whole family lifestyle habits, mealtimes, TV, sleep, food, behaviour, setting boundaries, parenting and physical activity. Programmes are delivered across Leeds and online and there is no cost to attend.

These free courses are a fantastic opportunity for families to embrace healthier habits and create positive changes together. The Healthy Families Growing Up Programme is suitable for any parent or carer with at least one child aged 5-12 years. We have programmes available at various locations across Leeds, as well as an online option that parents can join from the comfort of their homes. Find out more from School Wellbeing website here

Why it Matters
  • HENRY family support works – 97% of families who join a HENRY family programme are leading a healthier lifestyle by the programme’s end.
  • Independent evaluation has shown that families make long term lifestyle changes, and parents themselves often describe our support as ‘life-changing’.
“I got lots of ideas about how to help my family and make healthier choices for us all.”

Useful Links & Resources

Healthy Healthy start brighter future pdf
Download 5-12 delivery leaflet
kids of different genders and ethnicities smiling and laughing
Download Families Growing Up Information
map
Click for HENRY Map - Leeds Locations
kids happy healthy illustrations diverse in ethnicity hair styles genders

More useful links, recipes, nationwide Henry support near you and healthy eating resources.

Go to HENRY Homepage

What is a Food Partnership?

By Zoe Parker

Published 11th November 2025

Why Food Partnerships matter – and how Leeds is driving change

A food partnership brings together councils, researchers, businesses, community groups, and individuals to transform how a city eats, grows, and shares food. Instead of disconnected decisions that fuel food poverty, waste, and poor health, partnerships create joined-up solutions that work for everyone.

Food partnerships may take different forms from place to place, but they share the same goal: creating a space where councils, businesses, charities, farmers, and researchers can work together.

They’re not just talking shops—they take action. Whether that’s shaping local policy, running food education programmes, supporting sustainable farming, or tackling food insecurity, every effort works towards building a food system that is healthier, more sustainable and fairer for everyone.

No single organisation can transform a city’s food system.

Councils hold powers over planning and buying food (procurement) but rely on others to deliver change. Businesses influence supply chains but need public demand. Community organisations run vital food projects but depend on supportive policies and funding.

Here is where a food partnership comes in. A food partnership acts as the glue for bringing these diverse players together. It joins the dots to ensuring efforts align towards shared goals.

FoodWise Leeds is driving this change. With support from Leeds City Council, the University of Leeds and other organisations, our advisory group and sustainable food coordinator connect food initiatives across the city to build a healthier, more sustainable and fairer food system.

The partnership focuses on Sustainable Food Places’ 6-Key Issues:

  • Food Governance & Strategy
  • Building a Good Food Movement
  • Healthy Food For All
  • Sustainable Food Economy
  • Catering and Procurement
  • Food for the Planet

Together, these guide action on everything from reducing food waste to improving access to healthy meals. The Leeds’ Good Food Action Plan, updated in 2025, sets out clear steps for a more inclusive and sustainable food system.

Together, we can make Leeds a healthier, more sustainable and more equitable place to live.

Sustainable Food Places

Find out more about Sustainable Food Places and how sustainable food partnerships work.

Find out More

🌱 Join the Movement

 

Want to help shape Leeds’ food future? Here’s how you can get involved:

✅ Join 850+ Leeds Citizens and Take Action as an Individual, Food Business or Organisation

✅ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates

✅ Sign the Leeds Food Charter and commit your organisation to the city’s good food movement

a systems approach SFP

Opportunities,Jobs & Funding

By Zoe Parker

Published 9th November 2025

Explore Exciting Opportunities in the Good Food Movement

Discover courses, meet-ups, funding support, and career opportunities in the Leeds good food movement.

Looking for more? Browse even more jobs, events, and funding opportunities over on Doing Good Leeds here or find national sustainable food jobs on Roots to Work here.

Fusion Cafe are Hiring!

Fusion Cafe at  Reginald Centre are urgently looking for a Cafe Manager (and cook) to join their team. 16hrs per week Mon- Fri 10-2 pm each day. To find out more contact Tashi (pronouced tash-eye)

Telephone:  0113 3070300

Email: admin@blackhealthinitiative.org

Leeds Veg Box are Hiring!

Veg Box Manager

Amount: 12.60 per hour

More info : here

Application deadline: 23/11/2025

Hyde Park Source

Looking for a new Office & Operations Co-ordinator to join the team.

Amount: up to £28,538

Website: https://www.hydeparksource.org/join-the-team.html

Application deadline: 11/12/2025

Eat Your Greens – Kitchen Crew

We’re hiring! Head Chef Ben is on the lookout for a couple of full-time chefs to join us at Eat Your Greens.
All levels welcome, from Commis to Sous Chef. If you love great food and want to work in a creative, friendly kitchen, send us a short intro and your CV.

email: kitchen@eatyourgreensleeds.co.uk

Community Garden Grants

The funding of up to £5000 is for the creation of a garden or a similar project  for the benefit of the local community.

Application deadline: 20/10/2025

Find Out More

How the Environment Shapes our Health

Join us for this online course if you are curious about how the environment shapes our health. Open to people working or interested in Public health.

13 October 12.00 (Midday) online

Find Out More

Community Gardening Meet-Up

The RHS is organising a programme of free Community Gardening Meet-Up event to support community gardeners bring benefits of gardening to more local people.

Thursday 9 October 2025 at Thackray Museum

Find Out More

World Health Day

Join Global Food and Environment Institute (GFEI) for this online event for World health day about Women’s Everyday experiences in Malawi agriculture and social relations.

Find Out More

Good food, Fair Future

By Zoe Parker

Published 31st October 2025

Sustainable Food Partnerships Unite at Parliament to Drive a Good Food Future

Sonja Woodock, the Sustainable Food Places (SFP) coordinator for the Leeds Food Partnership will heading down to Parliament on 5 November for the SFP Day of Celebration and Action 2025

The Sustainable Food Places Day of Celebration and Action took place on Wednesday November 5 2025. This was an occasion to convene in Parliament to showcase and celebrate the important work of our network, strengthen our relationships with our MPs and step into our roles as experts on issues that matter the most to their constituents. The focus this year is Food Partnerships enable healthy, sustainable, and affordable food in your constituency. This year is a key moment in food and farming, including the development of a national Food Strategy that recognises the role of vibrant local food cultures

The UK-wide Sustainable Food Places network convenes 123 food partnerships who link up local authorities, community organisations, farmers, businesses and residents to roll out innovative projects improving access to healthy, sustainable food, strengthening supply chains and celebrating local food identity.

Click on the link to find out more.

Why it Matters
  • It gives national visibility to local food action, elevating grassroots solutions into parliamentary and policy discussions.
  • It builds stronger collaboration between local partners and MPs, which can influence policy and secure funding or legislative support.
  • It reinforces the idea that transforming food systems is not just an agricultural/farming matter but spans public health, community development, environment and local economy.
Together, we can make Leeds a healthier, more sustainable and more equitable place to live.
MP Alex Sobel and Sonja Wood cock

SFP day of Celebration

Read More

Find out More
day of celebration and caction image of people

🌱 Join the Movement

 

Want to help shape Leeds’ food future? Here’s how you can get involved:

✅ Join 850+ Leeds Citizens and Take Action as an Individual, Food Business or Organisation

✅ Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates

✅ Sign the Leeds Food Charter and commit your organisation to the city’s good food movement

over 120 food partnerships 40 mps 3 main asks
recognise and mandate food partnerships in every local authority
introduce statutoru food poverty action plans and auto enrolment for Healthy Start and Free school Meals in England

Inside Leeds Recycling Hub

By Zoe Parker

Published 30th October 2025

What happens to your  recycling after it leaves your green bin?

Sonja Woodcock, our Sustainable Food Partnership Coordinator recently visited the Leeds Materials Recycling Facility (MRF)— which is the place where all our green bins get sorted. The visit was organised by community composting champion Annie Whitehead, and it offered a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how our city manages its recycling. It was also pause to reflect on how much waste we produce and why reducing and reusing are more important than ever. Hear about the visit form Sonja’s perspective.

recycling in leeds

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Recycling

When our mixed recycling arrives at the MRF, it first passes through a giant trommel, a huge rotating drum that separates out larger pieces of plastic and glass. From there, the materials travel across a series of conveyor belts, where teams of skilled workers sort through them by hand. Across three shifts, around 30 pickers per shift carefully separate aluminium from tin, plastic films from bottles, and cardboard from other packaging. Once sorted, these materials are baled and sent to specialist facilities for recycling — most of them right here in the UK.

The Bigger Picture: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

While the MRF’s work is incredibly impressive, one message stood out clearly: we can’t recycle our way out of overconsumption. The facility is doing an amazing job managing our waste, but the volume itself is unsustainable. Much of what’s recycled is packaging from processed food and drink — items we could often reduce or avoid entirely. If we focus more on the first two steps of the waste hierarchy — Reduce and Reuse — we’ll not only ease pressure on recycling facilities but also benefit our own health and wellbeing.

“Watching this process in action was fascinating. However, the sheer volume of recyclable material is staggering — a sobering reminder of just how much waste our city produces.”

Leeds’ Long History of Recycling

We were also treated to a short talk from Henry Irving, who shared the history of recycling in Leeds dating back to World War II. It turns out Leeds has long been ahead of the curve when it comes to recycling and resource recovery — something I hadn’t really thought about before. You can read more about this in this article: The Secret Library

person in white hard hat recycling rubbish

Top Tips from the MRF Team

If you’re wondering how to recycle more effectively at home, here are a few simple but important tips from the experts at the MRF:

  • Rinse your plastics to avoid contamination — this really matters.
  • Flatten plastic bottles and put the lid back on — it saves space and helps the sorting machines.
  • No batteries in the green bin — they’re a major fire hazard.
  • Only put recyclable materials in your green bin — when in doubt, check before you chuck it.
“It’s incredible to see the hard work that goes into sorting and recycling what we so casually toss into our bins — and it’s a powerful reminder that the best way to manage waste is to create less of it in the first place.”
recycling funnel
Leeds RMF

The Rural Racism Project

By Zoe Parker

Published 27th October 2025

Black Food Matters: from markets to makers, books to reports, here is the first of the many great projects and campaigns to be aware of, beyond Black History Month.
black woman on a bench on a beach holding a red telephone looking out to sea

Produced by Feel Good Films, this short film follows the lives of three minoritised ethnic people living in rural England and features the testimonies of participants who generously shared their stories. The film brings to life key findings from The Rural Racism Project: Towards an Inclusive Countryside, exploring themes of racism, belonging and identity in rural spaces.

This is a two-year study and represents one of the most comprehensive investigations to date into the lived experiences of racially minoritised communities in rural and semi-rural areas of the UK. Drawing directly from participant testimonies and co-produced insights, the research offers a platform for more inclusive narratives to support change across multiple sectors and to reshape national conversations about race and inclusion in rural England. To increase public understanding and institutional engagement, the project incudes many outputs, including two poems by Leeds-based award-winning author, Black Girls hike leader and academic Emily Zobel Marshall.

Watch the film here

The project highlights the key barriers to racial inclusion in rural spaces and outlines evidence-based recommendations for improving access, representation, and safety. You download the report and recommendations here.

Food at the Heart of Rotary Clubs

By Zoe Parker

Published 3rd October 2025

The FoodSavers Network have been working at a local and global level to place food at the heart of community action.

Through partnerships with Rotary Clubs worldwide, Inn’s Churches and the Foodsavers’ Network have been advocating for food to be recognised as central to each of the Rotary Foundation’s core areas of focus:

  1. Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution – supporting peacebuilding and mediation, reducing conflict.

  2. Disease Prevention and Treatment – improving health care access, fighting diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, malaria.

  3. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) – providing clean water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education.

  4. Maternal and Child Health – reducing mortality rates, providing essential medical services for mothers and children.

  5. Basic Education and Literacy – supporting schools, teacher training, and literacy programs.

  6. Community Economic Development – helping communities become self-sustainable through job creation, entrepreneurship, and local economic growth.

Building on the expertise of Gemma and Effie from Leeds University, and FoodWise Leeds, who  have carried out valuable research into food hubs and their role in strengthening communities, the FoodSavers Network has been able to expand its knowledge base and create practical solutions for addressing food insecurity.

Read FoodSavers Network Impact Report here and the magic of rotary research  here.

With the support of Research Retold, this work was presented directly to the International President of Rotary, Stephanie Urchick, and the President of Rotary in England and Wales, Eve Conway, demonstrating how food-focused initiatives can create sustainable change across multiple areas of Rotary’s mission.

At the same time, the FoodSavers Network’s impact reached an international stage when their work was included in the Soroptimists’ Intersecting Crisis Report, which was presented at the United Nations.

You can read more about this work in the links and call to actions.

text based image of downloadable pdf click image

FoodSavers Impact Report

Download the report on tackling food insecurity and building financial resilience.

Download the Impact Report

Food in Rotary

Download Food in Rotary – the missing ingredient

Download the report

Read about Rotary Food

Rotary Food Champions PDF written and produced with Research Retold

Download Research Retold PDF

National Bean Challenge

By Zoe Parker

Published 18th September 2025

Fresh Campaign to double bean consumption for health and planet.

The Food Foundation and Veg Power, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, today announced the November launch of a new UK-wide campaign with a simple mission: to get people eating more beans and pulses.

Strategic and creative agency ARK—founded by Mat Goff, former Adam & Eve CEO, and Mike Wilton, former Anomaly MD—has been appointed to deliver the ambitious digital campaign.

This new initiative builds on the proven success of Eat Them To Defeat Them and Peas Please, which have reached 36 million people since 2019 and driven over 1.1 billion extra portions of veg sales across the UK.

With food prices rising again, beans and pulses offer an affordable, healthy and sustainable solution. They are high in fibre, rich in protein, and provide key nutrients including potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc—all while counting towards 5-a-day. Yet only 4% of Brits get enough fibre and just 17% hit their daily fruit and veg target.

key facts in colourful boxes

Beyond health, beans and pulses also support the planet. Their nitrogen-fixing properties boost soil health, reduce reliance on fertilisers, and help meet biodiversity and climate goals—all with a low carbon footprint.

The Food Foundation and Veg Power are  calling on chefs, retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, food service companies, youth organisations, community groups and caterers to join the “bean revolution” by serving, selling, and promoting beans like never before.

 
Will you join the campaign?

Beans aren’t just good for you—they’re good for nature, good for the planet, and good for your wallet.

 

Up for the Challenge?

Can you eat double the amount of beans and pulses?

From lentils, to broad beans to  peas, there are so many varieties to choose from. Help your own health and the health of the planet with just one more portion of beans every day this autumn.

Find Out More

Join an Apple Day Near You

By Zoe Parker

Published 5th September 2025

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but they are also good for the planet. So let’s get juicing!

Apple Day is an annual celebration of apples and orchards. From the start, Apple Day was intended to be both a celebration and a demonstration of the variety we are in danger of losing, not simply in apples, but in the richness and diversity of landscape, ecology and culture too.

It traditionally falls on 21 October, the date of the first such event in 1990 set up by Common Ground, but events happen throughout September and October

Thanks to Leeds Urban Harvest and Fruit Works Co-operative we have apple pressing and juicing equipment available to hire or borrow in Leeds and Bradford. As a result many local community hubs, allotments and other outdoor spaces can hold public and private Apple Days.

There are 100+ fruit orchards  in Leeds and this great system we have where people can rent or borrow juicing equipment means lots of home-grown apples  that would otherwise go to waste, get picked,  juiced, eaten and stored, saving much food waste.

Your Autumn 2025 line up of Apple Days in Leeds and beyond.

 

14 September The Chemic Apple Pressing  2pm – a family friendly public event. Bring along your apples for pressing Arrive from 11am to help sort apples.

17 September Keighley Apple day at Yorgreen CIC with Fruitworks

21 September Horsforth Climate Action Green Festival

23 September St Vincents from 1.30pm

26 September Community Apple Pressing at Rainbow Junktion – All Hallows Church – volunteers needed 11-5pm

27 September Seacroft Forest Garden Apple day

27 September Apple Day with  Incredible Edible Belle Isle 10.30am & 1.30pm

4 October Apple Day Heart in Headingley 11-4 pm

4 October Skipton Apple Day 2025 at Middletown allotments

5 October Hollybush Apple Day

5 October Harehills Community Orchard 1-3pm

11 October  Headingley Farmers’ Market 

12 October Bradford Apple day

16 October Meanwood Valley Urban Farm  4-11 pm

18 October Oakwood Farmers’ Market

18 October  Apple Day Hyde Park Source 12-4pm

25 October Apple Day at REAP

26 October Apple Day Heaton Allotments, Bradford

 

Check out a fuller list on Leeds Urban Harvest schedule or get in touch with Fruit Works  for their Apple day events. See links below.

Read More about Fruit Works Co-operative
Read More about Leeds Urban Harvest
Let’s share the abundance

Browse our website for more Healthy, Sustainable and Fair Food Solutions including:

Apple Power  Read more about the great work being done in  Leeds and Bradford with apples.

Incredible Edible sites map Pick up some free veg at one of their 20 groups, 70 sites and 150 raised beds across the city in public spaces.

Veg Box Schemes – two local ones are Meanwood Urban Valley Farm. Leeds Veg Box. Discover more about Indie Local Food Busnesses in the Indie Directory

Leeds Food Aid Map  Find 140+ pantries, cafes and food aid busnesses if you need emergency food.

Leeds Good Food Map Discover Little Veg Libraries, Farmers Markets, Community gardens and lots more.

Download the Family Food and Wellbeing Leaflet
apple day 2025 incredible edible skipton
red apples
boxes of apples mixed colours
apple juicing

Apple Power

By Zoe Parker

Published 30th August 2025

Bradford is juicing up fresh solutions to the Cost-of-Living and Climate Crises

Tonnes of  apples go to waste all over Bradford District. Fruit Works Co-operative have established a coordinated juicing equipment library and service that diverts these surplus apples to four communities hubs.

This year, in autumn 2025, the project is supported by Fruit Works, but going forward it will be a self-funding enterprise for the four community hubs in Keighley, Shipley and Bradford. There are 4 ways the equipment can be used, depending on your needs.

Juice it yourself
Juice it for Fun
Juice it for you
Juice it with you.

Juice It Yourself
You borrow the kit for yourself, your family, friends, street or community group to make your own juice.

Juice It For Fun
The kit is used as part of a Community Apple Day, where people come together to celebrate the harvest.

Juice It For You
You bring your apples to one of the community hubs and they press them and bottle the juice for you.

Juice It With You
You bring your apples to one of the community hubs to make your own juice there, with their equipment.

Read More about Fruit Works Bradford

In Leeds with Leeds Urban Harvest  we are lucky enough to juice it up across the city.

Like Bradford, each year, thousands of fruit trees across Leeds go unpicked or unused because their owners can’t harvest them or there is too much fruit to use at one time.

Leeds Urban Harvest is a volunteer run community project that lends picking and processing equipment to groups to make juice from their excess apples.

Because there are more apples than people to juice them they also press and make use of surplus fruit donated by people, which would otherwise go to waste.

Four ways you can get involved in Leeds and fight the Cost-of-Living and Climate Crises

Pick It and Bring It.

Got surplus Apples ? Tell us about them here

hand in box of apples

Juice It for Fun

Come to an Apple Day! More about events here

children juicing diverse heritage

Borrow It 

Rent our equipment. Tell us about them here

Learn It with Us.

Learn how to press, juice and more by volunteering here

person sat up an aple tree smiling
Let’s share the abundance

Browse our website for more Cost-of-Living and Climate Crisis solutions including:

Leeds Food Aid Map  Find 140+ pantries, cafes and food aid businesses if you need emergency food.

Healthy Holidays  More about Healthy Holidays ( HAF) recently funded for the next three years! Read more.

Healthy Start  Go to this page for information on Healthy Start and for  links to other Family Food and Wellbeing services such as free school meals and uniform, money and welfare advice and more.

Incredible Edible sites map (who have 20 groups, 70 sites and 150 raised beds across the city offering free vegetable, fruit and herbs to the public and other

Download the Family Food and Wellbeing Leaflet
boxes of apples of various kinds and colours in crates
four crates of apples plus a woman stood holding another crate of apples i a field by a van
apples on a tree and fallen on grass
Apples red in a box in an orchard