Abundant Borders was formed in 2016 with the core aim of helping those experiencing food security in the Scottish Borders by teaching cooking and food growing skills. While the need to address this issue remains, particularly in light of the ongoing cost of living crisis, other imperatives have arisen in the past six years, including
- an increased demand for, and skills gap, in horticulture
- an increased awareness of the challenges that the climate crisis places on food growing and food supply chains
- the need to respond to the Scottish Government Good Food Nation Act
- an increase in social isolation fuelled by the slow recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and exacerbated by the rise in the number of people experiencing poor mental health.
We continue to see that the skills that allowed previous generations to make meals from seasonal, local, cheap ingredients have been lost, leading to many households becoming reliant on fast food and ready meals, a problem which has worsened as the rising cost of energy has made it increasingly expensive to cook meals from scratch. While Covid changed the training landscape, with more courses moving on-line, face to face cooking and practical garden sessions remain important.
As a nation, we are starting to see the impact that global warming has on food production and on global supply chains, resulting in empty supermarket shelves as high temperatures, fire and drought affect European growers. Teaching people to grow their own food in an environmentally friendly way, and encouraging them to seek out locally produced food, will be vital in local and national responses to the climate crisis. Currently the UK imports 84% of fruit and 45% of vegetables consumed, yet a 2022 study found that if gardens, parks, and other overlooked open spaces were used for food growing that area alone would be enough to grow 40% of the UK’s fruit and vegetables. Supporting the reintroduction of varieties that grow well under local conditions and sharing seeds to allow others to do the same, will be an important aspect of food growing in the community gardens.
In 2023 the Scottish Government passed the Good Food Nation Bill which aims to ensure that people in Scotland have access to healthy, nutritious food and that businesses and public kitchens commit to producing, selling and serving good food. The Bill also aims to create links between policy at the national and local levels, and to establish an independent Food Commission. Abundant Borders has been part of the Scottish Food Coalition campaigning to make sure that the bill delivers on its potential to transform the food system. We will continue to take a leading role in bringing together partnerships and to foster collaboration across the Scottish Borders to ensure that the National Food Plan is delivered at a local level for the benefit of local people.
Community gardens remain important in initiatives to tackle social isolation. Over the past year a range of non-gardening events have been held in the gardens and connections made with groups and individuals who can enjoy the benefits of being outdoors and in the natural environment but who may not be able to engage with the physical demands of gardening. We will continue to create and sustain community spaces where people can grow and meet.
If you feel you might want to volunteer some time to help us to deliver on these bold aims, please do get in touch via email to robin@abundantborders.org.uk
- You can read the full plan, HERE
- Our 2021-23 Strategic Plan can be viewed here.
- Our Strategic Plan for 2017-2020 can be viewed HERE
