London's great growing giveaway

At about 5am today, two huge B&Q trucks parked up beneath the shadow of Nelson's column and started unloading tray after tray of baby plants - 100,000 in all.
 
B&Q had joined forces with our Capital Growth scheme to encourage Londoners to grow their own. They provided the plants given away by a small army of volunteers from us both. 
 
The public response was terrific. I was amazed almost everyone wanted at least one plant. One woman told me she had a grow bag, but no tomato plants. Another took the plant and confessed it was the first time she'd ever thought of growing anything . But as so many Londoners now know, it's really easy to grow veg in the city: if you haven't got a garden, you might have a balcony andf if you haven't got a balcony, you will have a window ledge. That's all you need.
 
Capital Growth is going from strength to strength. Last week, we hit our mid-way point of 1006 new growing spaces in London. That means that around 35,000 people are now growing veg who weren't doing so just two years ago.

Our partners B&Q have taken a strong lead in environmental issues: they were the first major chain to ban the sale of fluorescent light bulbs and the first to guarantee all their wood comes from sustainable sources. It's also pleasing our hunch that urban vegetable gardening is set to get very big is happening and being endorsed by companies like B&Q.

On Monday, I'll be visiting their stand at Chelsea. When the show is over, the stand plus the plants will be given to the winners of a Capital Growth competition.