Notes from 2nd Islington Right to Grow Meeting - 16/04/2026

Dear Islington R2G friends,

Thanks to everyone who attended yesterdays' meeting which was a great success.

A brief summary of the meeting is below and I have added photos of the key tasks we'll be looking at over the next month in our new task groups.

Please note that the lists below are not exhaustive, we had lots of great ideas and input yesterday and as we develop, we'll have lots more. 

The idea of setting up the task groups is that they are self directing, liaise on their areas and across the groups and are open to all in the campaign. 

1. Update on Islington R2G: 

- article in Islington Now newspaper 18.03.26. I'm preparing a piece for the Islington Gazette in June

- Meeting with Councillor Ruth Hayes, Labour Clerkenwell, Head of Environment Scrutiny Panel. She is very supportive of the campaign. If she is re-elected, she will support this and provide us with introductions to ket council members

- Visit to Global Generation's new site. They are keen to collaborate 

- Continuing collaboration across London with other R2G groups on events, People's Assembly on Food & R2G in June, Oxford Real Farmers Conference delegation and workshops on R2G.

2. Task Groups:

Outreach: to meet and connect with groups, organisations, individuals, plan events, case studies on positive and barriers to growing in borough. 

Led by: Fran Smith, Anita Gracie, Morgan Haringman, Georgie Worth

Communication and Funds: to include social media and in person communication, clear messaging of R2G purpose and values, funding, publicity, case studies (as above)

Led by: Ruby Tapper, Fran Smith, Paula Harvey, Peter O'Garr

Policy: to include communication with local councillors and LBI officers, GLA, other influencer groups and land owners, compare other London borough R2G motions to prepare one for Islington, clarify benefits of R2G wrt Islington policies and 2030 vision and Climat Change commitments. 

Led by: Anne Cruikshank, Morgan Haringman

3. Events to participate in for networking and comms:

- Olden Garden plant sale: May 10

- Highbury Quadrant event: June 6

- Elizabeth House event: July 15

- Camden permaculture Festival: July 26th

- Islington Grow Show: Sept 7

- People's Assembly on Food & R2G, local and London wide in early June. Dates tbc

4. Socials: 

Film nights: Georgie to propose related films. Dave to organise Berlin film showing.

Visits to growing projects: RUrban Poplar, Caversham community garden, Camden Community gardens

5. Organisation: We agreed to meet on a monthly basis in person as a whole group to feedback and update on progress of each task group. Task groups to meet as required. 

Actions:

Task groups to meet and start developing ideas, contact lists, etc

Ruby to set up Google Drive files for sharing information. Details to come.

KL to meet with each group. Propose clear R2G messaging for review, invite for next meeting, develop People's Assembly and ORFC content, visit to RUrban

DB to set up Berlin film loan & venue, Camden gardens visit

Georgie: list of related films for future events

Date of next meeting: Thursday June 4th at the Ecology Centre, 6.30-8.00

If any or all of the above makes you leap with inspiration for making positive change, empowering communities through grassroots gatherings, get involved. We'd love to see you at the next meeting. Contact us in the meantime to find out more about any of the task groups you would like to connect with and our events.  

Katherine

Islington Right to Grow

food@islingtonclimatecentre.co.uk