Has anyone ever planted anything on public land?

[ecofriendlywendy]

I have seen a few things on YouTube where people have made systemic changes by 'gurilla gardening'.
In Pheonix a man illegally cut the curb of the road and planted deep bowls of native plants, watered by the water drained from the road. Now new estates need to have these road water fed gardens incorporated by law. Because he did it on his own first. If he had asked he wouldn't have had permission.

Another one is the UK Town of Todmorden. Where a group of residents decided to start planting food in public land. It became so popular that GP surgeries and other places started to contact the group and asked them to plant their wasted green space neat their surgeries and shops and fire departments. People can pick as they please. The lady said she was asked how she would feel if someone took every cabbage. She said if they took them they needed them. It doesn't matter if one individual is greedy because the whole town has come together and grown and grown and grown. It has been a complete mindshift for the whole community and the children who are now 7 or 8 years old today have only known a world where you pick tomatoes from next to the shop and cucumbers from outside of the doctors.
Also now people outside of the original group have started their own groups including groups on cooking and preserving.

how amazing is that?

It has inspired me. I started on my own windowsill. then balcony and now I have invested in an allotment.
BUT I want to spread the word. I want my children growing up picking not just apples and blackberries but runner beans and cucumbers and everything and anything else.

I have noticed a few people have planted flowers outside of their garden, on the other side of their fence and its always a beautiful edition to the road. nobody can complain about pretty anuals on their street can they? So I am going to sow some and grow some and plants some flowers and tomatoes and bits and bobs here there and every where. I have actually been thinking about it for years but haven't done it. This year I have a bit of experience and all the pots and seeds and I am going for it!
Anyone else had some success gurilla gardening? or have any stories to share? I genuinely believe we can plant our way out of this climate crisis. From grass roots.

Guerilla gardening can be really lovely but works best if you can get an idea of who owns the land and how they normally maintain it and why.

It just avoids you spending time planting something lovely and it all getting strummed down by a contractor who has to keep the grass low there for driving visibility around a corner.

Your local council might have a public grass cutting map on their website which would help you identify land, or you could approach your local parish council and ask if you could take over a particular patch of land.

I have a friend who plants trees randomly. Some work out, some don't. He has planted dozens of giant redwoods hoping to make future landmark trees.

There's The Phantom Planter near me (UK). He plants fruit trees on wasteland or other useful spots for people to use later. Brilliant chap.

We're considering doing similar with our home education group. Our local council ok'd it if we agree that they'll be pulled up should the land be needed later.

Oh wow thats amazing and yeah @sushigo I have my eye on a little strip of land that's not even grass, just needs a little bit of compost and a sprinkle of seeds I reckon.

I would love it if we could have a thread where we share our little planting wins. in all of my 'zero waste journey' I have never felt like I'm getting there by just reducing waste. But growing my own such and such gave such an amazing feeling. I could literally feel my ancestors coursing through me.

@ecofriendlywendy it might be worth lobbying your local council. Councils are always looking for ways to save money and ours have reduced verge maintenance to twice a year and individual residents and groups have adopted particular stretches. Gardening for wildlife is about doing less not more.

Round here, quite a few pavement trees have things planted round their trunk in the bare earth where there are no slabs. Some have even made little edges to the space, so it looks like a mini-garden. I wouldn't go that far, but I was thinking of scattering some wildflower seeds round the one closest to my house - at the moment its just dust and a couple of weeds so I thought it's worth taking the chance with something prettier

I planted a Jubilee tree in my DMum's garden, and am going to collect acorns this autumn and see if I can germinate them. I'll need to guerrilla plant them if any make it, so I'm on the look out for suitable sites already just in case. I don't want them to be a nuisance!

I often look at the urban landscape and think of how greenery could be added. But it's just dreams for now, unless anyone knows of any organisations that offer support to those seeking to persuade councils to give permission (realise it might not be forthcoming, as they'll be thinking about costs and ongoing maintenance if the initial supporters melt away)

This is my fantasy too. Particularly to plant trees. In my hippy moments I feel sad that we've lost the forests that used to cover this land (UK)

I haven't personally planted one, but I love the work of this organisation

Trees for Streets - Let's fill our streets with trees

If your council isn't participating, you might want to drop a line to your councillor

If you are planting things in the open, not in gardens. please make sure that they are native species. Invasive non-natives can be just as bad for the environment as not having plants at all. Natives are best for encouraging the insects, birds etc too.

It's a bit of an urban myth that native species are best for encouraging wildlife, there are plenty of non native a species just as good or better.

But plenty aren't, and many are just too invasive - Spanish bluebells, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, rhododendron etc

There is a group in South Birmingham who plant fruit trees in public spaces along the Rea Valley cycle routes (presumably with council permission). Come rain or shine they are out doing this sort of work, think its a lovely way to Foster community spirit and teach youngsters about nature

Our village has a group who does this, the parish council give them a grant each year to help them. No need to go guerilla!

Nice to see this thread pop up again!

My wildflowers at the base of the tree didn't come up. I suspect too many dogs pee there - anyone any recommendations of what to try next year?

I think whilst the ground is nice and damp, I might fork it over, and perhaps scatter red clover seeds

VikingLady, where’s the Phantom Planter? I know some people who plant fruit trees along canal tow paths etc. I’ve planted self seeded trees from my garden (oaks mainly) in larger areas of rough ground where they’ve got a chance at a longer life - and yes, good to stay back from roads with the bigger stuff!

Quick shout out for Veg on the Edge which I came across in a car park in Saltaire.