Cultivating central London

The Royal Parks in association with the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms are holding a Dig for Victory Family Weekend and a Dig for Victory season to show how Britain responded to war time rationing and food shortages during the Second World War.

They’ve recreated a Second World War allotment and a modern day allotment side by side in St James’s Park and try to reflect how present day concerns such as access to fresh healthy food, being active and living sustainably relate to the wartime experience. Dig for Victory was a campaign to help combat food shortage in Britain by promoting the planting of allotments in gardens and on public land. The allotments in St James’s Park are 500 sq.m and will grow fruit and vegetables throughout the summer such as potatoes and runner beans, and will be tended regularly by local school children and Westminster community groups.

The family Dig for Victory weekend, 26-27 May, is free to attend and explains what it was like to live with rationing and lets visitors take part in family arts and craft activities and old-fashioned playground games.

The Dig for Victory event runs from 25 May-30 September and the allotments will be open to visitors daily from 10am-5pm free of charge, there’s an accompanying display at the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, open daily from 9.30am-6pm. The museum admission costs £11.