Veg Cities
Veg Cities Hull was a project funded by Sustainable Food Places between 2018 and 2023, working with local government, food groups and organisations from schools, to hospitals, workplaces, food growing enterprises and restaurants.
Everyone knows how important vegetables are as part of a healthy, balanced diet. They sustain our bodies, sharpen our minds and help us fight off infection and disease.
Veg Cities Hull aimed to increase the growing, cooking and eating of vegetables in Hull. We worked with organisations such as Hull Healthy Lifestyles Team, Hull KR Community Trust, Veg Power UK and many others. We organised events, challenges and promotions that inspired and motivated people to get involved as individuals or as a community in the growing, cooking and eating more VEG!
Although the programme is now finished, you can still get involved in the following ways:
- Get inspired by checking out these case studies and find out what motivates the people of Hull to cook, eat and grow their own veg.
- Read the Hull Growers Handbook and find out how you can get started with growing vegetables for yourself (it’s easier than you think).
- Sign up to receive our Monthly Newsletter for the latest information on what is happening in Hull and the surrounding area.
- Check our resources page for information on local, national and global groups and discover what useful advice they can offer you.
- For children and families we have teamed up with Veg Power UK and Simply Veg to spread the message of feeding kids well on a budget. Their websites are packed with lots of useful information, advice and regular competitions, sign up to get a monthly email here: https://simplyveg.vegpower.org.uk/
- Join us at the annual Seed Celebration every February! This is a great opportunity to meet the groups who are supporting communities across Hull with the growing, harvesting and sharing of locally produced food. We aim to make it a family friendly event with plenty of activities and great food. It is usually held in the city centre during the half term break and is a great way to get some free seeds and speak to the experts about how to get growing.
We need your help to get as many people as possible in Hull growing, cooking, selling and saving more vegetables! We always aim to make things as fun and enjoyable as possible.
Would you like to get involved? We’re always looking for fresh ideas, so please let us know how we make veg matter to you by contacting us.
Peas Please
In May 2022, Hull Food Partnership was named the winner of the Veg City Prize after being runner up for the previous 2 years.
The prize was awarded by Peas Please and recognises impactful and integrated place-based approaches to increasing veg uptake at a local level for cities participating in the Veg Cities campaign.
“Hull Food Partnership is delighted to be nominated for the third year running for the Peas Please Veg Cities Award, and we are very happy to be included in such good company with Veg Cities from across the UK sharing their expertise and enthusiasm for all things veg,” said Darren Squires, Hull’s Veg Cities campaign co-ordinator. “We could never achieve the things we do without the committed members of our Food Partnership and Grower’s Network. They go out in all weathers to support community veg growing and put on events to encourage people to eat and share more veg. They are the driving force behind Hull’s success and we salute every one of them.“
Sofia Parente, Sustainable Food Places Policy and Campaigns Coordinator at Veg Cities was equally delighted by Hull’s success: “After two years as runner-up, it is fantastic to see Hull Food Partnership win the Peas Please Veg Cities prize this year,” she said. “They have really demonstrated the impact of collaborating with council, food businesses, voluntary and community sector organisations. They are in a perfect position to ensure these actions are embedded in the city’s long term food strategy.”