Fruit and veg plots planned for Civic Hall garden

Strawberries, chillies and peppers could be grown outside a council building to increase access to fresh food.

The plans to grow vegetables and fruit in the flower beds outside Leeds Civic Hall in Millennium Square are being drawn up by councillors after the suggestion was made last September.

Mohammed Rafique, executive member for environment, said the council gardening team had been working on planting options for the site, which would be implemented this spring.

He said: "The plans include consideration of edible planting, including strawberries chillies and peppers, as well as other options including biodiversity and climate adaptation, with due consideration to sustainability."

The beds stood unplanted over the winter as soil maintenance work was carried out.

Headingley and Hyde Park councillor Tim Goodall welcomed Mr Rafique's statement.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I'm glad to see that the council's gardening team are considering edible planting and encouraging biodiversity in the flowerbeds outside the Civic Hall.

"It's also good to see they are considering climate adaptation and sustainability.

"As it's such a central and visible site, this would be great for encouraging even more planting initiatives like this across the city."

The council said it encouraged edible planting elsewhere through its support for community groups and allotments.

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