A social enterprise has revealed that hundreds of people across the city and beyond are looking for land to grow their own produce.

Locavore has been going strong for 10 years.

It focuses on sustainability and sells its own organic produce within its Glasgow stores in Govanhill, Partick and Garnethill.  

At the UK Social Enterprise Awards in 2021, it took home the top prize of UK Social Enterprise of the Year.

And in April, it agreed a deal with Glasgow City Council to lease the Bellahouston Nursery site within Bellahouston Park for 20 years.

The greenhouses and polytunnels are now being used by the business to grow food and flowers, as well as housing individual plots for those who want to try their hand at growing produce for the first time.

Glasgow Times:

Locavore managing director Reuben Chesters, 35, told the Glasgow Times: “We are quite fortunate to have gotten this land. 

“But there are a lot of other people that are looking for space as well.

“This is a bit of an issue in Glasgow and beyond.  

“There is massive demand by people for space to grow a bit of food for themselves and for plots and lands to grow produce. 

“Most recently, we had 300 applications for 50 plots from a single social media post.”

Going forward, Locavore wishes to implement plans that will grant people more land.

Glasgow Times:  

Mr Chesters said: “We need to transform the food system and put more local organic food on plates if we are to meet climate targets and make our economies more resilient and wealthier. 

“This year we are creating 50 small plots for individuals at Bellahouston, and we will try and increase this to 100 next year.”

Mr Chesters added that the Bellahouston site will allow Locavore to “ramp up production of local food within the city”.

He stated: “[We] need support from individuals as well as the council - through procurement - to make this work.” 

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow City Council has expressed interest in finding more land to allocate to people.

A spokesperson said: “Our food growing strategy seeks to encourage growing in the widest range of settings, whether that be in allotments, community gardens, orchards, hedgerows or wherever growing might be possible.

“Over 250 spaces around the city such as in parks, on disused sports pitches, within the grounds for social housing and other places have also been identified as potential growing spaces. 

“We are keen to see groups, organisations and other enterprises come forward and we are open to suggestions for these spaces. 

“Interest in growing is on the rise in Glasgow and we are committed to supporting city residents who want to grow their own fruit and vegetables.”