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The Big Dig is a new intiative from Capital Growth which aims to provide training and advice to thousands of people all over the country. The idea is to increase the amount of people helping with community food growth projects.

The Edible Gardens Open Day is the first part of The Big Dig and is funded by the Cabinet Office’s Social Action Fund and co-ordinated by Sustain:the alliance for better food and farming. Six cities – Brighton, Coventry, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough and Sheffield - are taking part in the event this year, with over 5,000 people expected to participate in September.

Clare Horrell from The Big Dig, said: “The Edible Open Gardens events will be the first time many of these gardens have been opened to the public. Gardens have been created in some unusual spaces such as a floating garden on a barge. What they all have in common is that they are run by local people who give up their free time to grow fantastic, tasty fruit and vegetables right in the middle of their communities. We want the public to come and visit, taste what is growing and be inspired to get involved themselves so that food growing sites become a part of every urban community.”

Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society said: "The Social Action Fund is designed to help bring people together through innovative projects that can make a real difference in local communities. The Big Dig is doing just that - enabling community groups to transform unused spaces in cities across England for everyone to share and enjoy. Edible Gardens Open Day will give people a chance to sample the incredible range of projects and hopefully be inspired to get involved themselves."

Read more about The Big Dig here.