Planting vegetables in public spaces across a Pennine town
Volunteers in Todmorden began planting herbs, fruit and vegetables in public spaces for anyone to pick, sparking a wider Incredible Edible movement.
The small thing
Mary Clear planted vegetables in her front garden and put up a sign inviting passers-by to help themselves. Volunteers then began planting herbs and vegetables on neglected verges and outside public buildings.
The problem
Many towns depend on long supply chains for food, and many people have little connection to where it comes from or space to grow it. Todmorden's founders also saw a town divided by its main roads, with few shared spaces bringing residents together.
Why Pam Warhurst and Mary Clear (co-founders), with volunteers of Incredible Edible Todmorden started
The founders believed growing food in public could bring people together and make the town more connected and resilient (organisation's own account). The Ecologist reported their aim of reducing dependence on global supply chains, under the motto 'If you eat, you're in'.
What they did
Starting in 2008 with a public meeting of about sixty people, volunteers planted food at public sites including the police station, the health centre, the canal towpath and the railway station, often without waiting for formal permission. They called some plots 'propaganda gardens' to start conversations about local, seasonal food.
The group worked with schools, a housing association and a care home on growing spaces, created a walking route of edible plantings, and supported local farmers and food businesses. A National Lottery grant of more than £500,000 later funded projects including an aquaponics unit at the high school.
What changed
Writing in Farming Matters in 2011, John Paull reported food planted at about forty public sites in a town of around 17,000 people, with all local schools growing food. The Ecologist (2014) reported a thousand-tree orchard and about 50 Incredible Edible groups across the UK. A Hebden Bridge news report in January 2026 put the wider network at more than 200 UK groups and about 1,000 worldwide; the project's own site says over 700. These counts are not independently audited, and the effect on local food security has not been measured.
What they learned
The group says small, consistent actions had the most impact and that some early ideas did not work. Paull noted that the idea of picking food someone else had planted took about two years to catch on.
“We don't ask permission. It takes too long and anyway we're improving the place.”Pam Warhurst, as quoted by The Ecologist
Copy this idea
Practical guidance written by our editors from the sources below. Adapt it to your place, and check local rules and safety first.
- Problem addressed
- Little connection between residents and local food; unused public land.
- What to do
- Plant herbs, fruit and vegetables in visible public spots with signs inviting people to pick.
- Materials and resources
- Planters or raised beds, compost, seeds and plants, signs, watering cans.
- Approximate cost
- Very low
- Skills
- Basic gardening; talking to neighbours and landowners.
- Time
- One afternoon to plant a first bed; ongoing weekly care.
- People needed
- A few committed volunteers to start.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Risks and limitations
- Check soil for contamination on old urban sites and avoid planting beside busy roads; agree access with the landowner or council where needed.
- How to adapt it
- Choose hardy crops suited to your climate; partner with schools, housing providers and care homes.
- Lessons learned
- Start small and visible; consistent care matters more than big plans.
Why it matters
Herb beds at a bus stop will not feed a town. But Todmorden showed how unused public land can become a shared resource, and how visible growing can reconnect people with food and with each other at very low cost.
What didn't work
The idea of taking food from public beds was slow to be accepted, taking around two years to catch on according to Paull. The group says some early ideas did not thrive, and it runs without paid staff or core funding.
Editor's note
Pam Warhurst was giving talks about the project in January 2026. No 2024–2026 news on Mary Clear's current role was found. The project describes itself as having no office, paid staff or major funding.
Sources: how do we know?
Evidence level: Documented. Supported by reliable published sources such as UN agencies, award bodies and reputable journalism. Not yet independently re-verified by our editors. What the person says and what independent sources establish are attributed separately in the text.
- reputable journalism
Incredible Edible Todmorden — Julian Dobson, The Ecologist, 1 January 2014Supports: Mary Clear's front-garden sign; plantings at police station, health centre, schools, housing; motto; thousand-tree orchard; about 50 UK groups; aquaponics with Big Lottery funding; Warhurst quote. - peer reviewed
Incredible Edible Todmorden: eating the street — John Paull, Farming Matters, September 2011Supports: Started 2008 with a public meeting of about sixty people; co-founders Warhurst and Clear; propaganda gardens; about forty public sites; town of about 17,000; all schools growing; took two years to catch on; Lottery funding over £500,000. - reputable journalism
Pam Warhurst talk on Incredible Edible — Hebden Bridge Web, 20 January 2026Supports: Current status: Warhurst speaking about 18 years of Incredible Edible; over 200 UK groups and about 1,000 worldwide; mentioned in July 2025 government food policy. - organisational
Our story — Incredible Edible Todmorden, 2026Supports: Organisation's own account: founded 2008 by Mary Clear and Pam Warhurst; first plantings; reasons; no office or paid staff; over 700 groups; small actions mattered most.