Middlesbrough sows the seeds of urban farming

The people of Middlesbrough are springing into action, sowing seeds in locations varying from window boxes and balconies, to roundabouts and skips.  The Urban Farming team has already lined up support from across the local community and at least 1,000 people are expected to participate in the planting.  Crops planted this week will be cultivated throughout the summer and will be harvested and cooked for a ‘Meal for Middlesbrough’ in September.  The town’s new urban farmers will be responsible for supplying produce for the public meal.

Urban farmers will represent many sections of the local community: staff and pupils from 16 schools; two residential care homes and old people’s drop-in centres; mental health units at two hospitals; Psyche department store and other retailers; students from the University of Teesside; and local allotment owners.  Middlesbrough Council is supporting the project and has agreed to turn over some of its parkland, town centre planters and other land-holdings for growing fruit and vegetables.

Dott 07’s Urban Farming project director is David Barrie, who comments: 'The number of miles that food travels before it hits our plates is on the increase, and food transport generates millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions that harm Middlesbrough and the rest of the planet.  The Dott 07 Urban Farming project uses design principals to develop ways of combating these unsustainable trends and pioneering local food production as one answer to the economic and environmental future of our towns and cities.' 

The project has captured the imagination of hundreds of people in Middlesbrough.  They have decided that they want to design a way to combat climate change and lead a healthier, more environmentally friendly life.  This project aims to make locally produced food a new way of life in Middlesbrough and turn some of its ‘dead’ land into places to grow food for years to come.'

Councillor Bob Kerr, deputy mayor of Middlesbrough, adds: 'The Urban Farming project is a wonderful chance for the people of Middlesbrough to design a more sustainable approach to food production and supply that can be used in the town and wider Tees Valley.  Middlesbrough has a lot of disused land and we can use this space to provide a practical benefit for everyone.  This Dott 07 project will allow the people of the town to directly affect the way in which their community evolves and chooses to live.'

The Urban Farming project is the result of a collaboration between Dott 07, Middlesbrough Council, Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust, Groundwork South Tees, Sure Start, Stand Together East Middlesbrough (STEM) and BioRegional Quintain Estates and Development plc.  Dott 07 is a partnership between the Design Council and regional development agency One NorthEast.

For more information contact Saskia Sissons on 020 7420 5248 or Email saskia.sissons@designcouncil.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. Dott 07 (Designs of the time 2007) is a year of community projects based in North East England that explore what life in a sustainable region could be like - and how design can help us get there.
2. Dott 07 is a partnership between the Design Council and One NorthEast
3. Dott 07 is the first biennial in a 10-year ‘Designs of the time’ programme of design innovation, developed by the Design Council, and taking place every two years in a different region or nation across the UK.
4. Dott 07 asks the question ‘Who Designs Your Life?’ and looks at six key themes: health and wellbeing, food and nutrition, school and community, energy and environment, sustainable tourism, and mobility and access.Dott 07 is ‘user centred’ – it enables communities and individuals in the region to collaborate with designers in realistic situations.Dott 07 projects address real questions and issues, using design principles to find solutions.
5. Dott 07 is being led by programme director John Thackara, renowned internationally for his work as director of design futures network Doors Of Perception, which encourages designers, technology experts and grass roots innovators to work together in new ways.
   Executive producer is Robert O’Dowd, who has extensive experience in business and creative development.  He was a founding director of Classic FM and is now chief executive of Real Health (UK) Ltd and 180 Solutions (UK) Ltd.
6. Urban Farming Project Director is David Barrie, who has extensive experience running urban regeneration, city development and design projects. The project team includes design company Zest Innovation and Debra Solomon, food domain expert from www.culiblog.com.
7. Dott 07 forms part of North East England’s world class programme of events and festivals for 2007
8. The Design Council is the UK’s national strategic body for design.  It aims to strengthen and support the economy and society by demonstrating and promoting the role of design in making business and public services more effective.  It is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry.
9. Dott is one of two national programmes of social and economic change driven by the Design Council.  Designing Demand, its national business support programme, rolls out in the region later in the year.
10. One NorthEast is the Regional Development Agency covering North East England.  It was set up in 1999 to transform the area through ‘sustainable economic development’ and to create jobs, prosperity and a better quality of life for residents.  It covers the region comprising County Durham, Northumberland, Tees Valley and Tyne and Wear.