‘Let’s Grow’ comes to Halifax

Friday, 22 October 2021 09:04

A pop-up allotment event is coming to Halifax Borough Market this half-term, with entertainment, interactive performances, workshops and prizes.

‘Let’s Grow’ is a free two-day event for families on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 October 2021, it’s produced and brought to the market by the co-creator of the award-winning TV series, ‘Mr Bloom’s Nursery’, Ben Faulks, along with his wife, Mimi.

The festival hub will be inside the Albion Street entrance to the market and the event will see spaces in the heart of the historic Borough Market transformed into fruit and vegetable gardens. Families will be able to explore the ‘Let’s Grow’ pop-up allotment with its charming family of baby fruits and vegetables, along with their friendly ‘Vegetable Nannies’.

There’ll also be interactive and engaging performances, street art, games to play, and family workshops. In addition, families will be able to follow a treasure trail to be in with the chance of winning Shop in Halifax gift cards.

As part of the event, urban street artists will also be transforming stall spaces into giant market murals, this will also coincide with celebrations for the national Love Your Local Market fortnight campaign.

‘Let’s Grow’ producers, Ben and Mimi Faulks live in Calderdale and have toured their theatre shows such as the ‘Pop-up allotment’ and the ‘Vegetable Nannies’ throughout the UK, Europe, North America and Canada for over 15 years. Ben said of the event:

“It’s a thrill to be back delivering festivals and events with the Let’s Grow team after such a long time. As a family, we love coming to Halifax for shopping and socialising and it’s such a privilege to be able to be serve the community on our doorstep, in the valley we’re proud to call home.

“We want to help encourage folk back into the town and we’re looking forward to meeting people to start planning and planting ideas, growing together towards the 50th anniversary of Calderdale coming up in 2024.”

Calderdale Council and its partner organisations are harnessing the power of our unique culture and heritage to revitalise town centres, rebuild the economy and celebrate the borough’s identity. The ‘Let’s Grow’ event will form part of the launch of a two-year community art project and includes the opportunity for people to share ideas for the borough’s Year of Culture in 2024, to coincide with Calderdale’s 50^th anniversary.

The ‘Let’s Grow’ event has been organised by Calderdale Council, utilising grants from the Government’s Welcome Back fund, which is supported by the European Regional Development fund. This is aimed at supporting high streets and tourist attractions to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and welcome back shoppers and visitors.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategy, Cllr Jane Scullion, said:

“The Let’s Grow event will be a wonderful opportunity for families to come together this half term and enjoy exciting and engaging activities, which will also educate about gardening, food and nature.

“It will be great to see the space at Halifax Borough Market used in this innovative way, increasing footfall within the market and through the town centre. We hope to hold many more cultural events in this space and throughout the borough to revitalise our high streets and encourage visitors back to our towns after one of the toughest times in the sector’s history.

“We’re lucky in Calderdale to have exceptional local creative talent and we’ll also be looking for ideas to make the most of cultural opportunities as we progress towards our Year of Culture in 2024.”

For more information about the ‘Let’s Grow’ event at Halifax Borough Market, visit www.letsgrow.org.uk

More from Local and National News

City presents Windrush pioneer with prestigious Leeds Award

one of the nation’s last surviving HMT Empire Windrush passengers and the city’s only remaining Caribbean Second World War serviceman received the Leeds Award in a ceremony at the Civic Hall.
More Than 10,000 Arrests Made By Team Dedicated To Reducing Violent Crime

A specialist team working to reduce violent crime has started a New Year by passing a new milestone after making more than 10,000 arrests.
Plate expectations as historic registration could be up for sale

A unique gift exchanged by two former Lord Mayors of Leeds more than 120 years ago could be about to help the city with unprecedented budget challenges.
Calderdale: Celebrating over 350 years of service at Council

Fourteen Calderdale Council employees have been recognised for a combined total of over 350 years of service at an event at Halifax Town Hall on Thursday 26 October.
Activists who caused £100,000 worth of damage sentenced

A group of activists who caused £100,000 worth of damage to a service station on the M25 has been sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday (27 October)
Appeal Following Collision and Death of Man in Otley, Leeds

Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision in Leeds in which a man later died.
Vehicle involved in fly tipping across West and North Yorkshire seized by Bradford Council

A vehicle involved in multiple incidences of fly tipping across West and North Yorkshire has been seized by Bradford Council.
Anti-social behaviour funding boost in Clitheroe, Colne and Darwen

As part of the county-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour (ASB) Lancashire Constabulary and Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden have announced a further eight areas set to benefit from additional resources to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Lancashire.
Leeds City Council to launch review on taxi vehicle condition standards

Leeds City Council’s Licensing Committee is to embark on a review of vehicle condition standards for hackney and private hire vehicles, following updates to national guidance.
Man Named After Fatal Road Traffic Collision, Leeds Road, Bradford

Police have named the man who died after a road traffic collision on Leeds Road in Bradford last week.
Over £4,000 raised for Mental Health Charity in Bradford

Visitors to the stunning Van Gogh Alive UK exhibition in Bradford donated more than £4,000 to Mind in Bradford.
Bradford Clean Air Zone and the results of traffic flow monitoring

The Bradford Clean Air Zone has been live since September 2022 and is operating to improve air quality in the district by deterring the most polluting vehicles from entering the zone.