Eat lunch in the street

The Big Lunch - is an idea being promoted by the Eden Project for Sunday 19th July 2009. They are inviting you and all 61 million people across the UK to simultaneously sit down to eat lunch with your neighbours, in the middle of your street as a simple act of community.

Photo: Bread Street Street party last year

This is a great idea that a resident in Randwick pointed out to me - she is hoping to get a lunch going there - here's more below of what it says in the Big Lunch promotion. I have to say we are v lucky in this area with community events from the Wap, pancake races, the recent art exhibition in Whitesill etc etc - and later today the 'Hands Around the Lake' in Randwick at Court Lodge from 12 (sadly I will miss that) - they need 200 people to link all the way around then songs, words and bring your own picnic.

A new initiative run by the Eden Project, The Big Lunch encourages communities to come together through growing food and flowers; creating street music, art and theatre; dressing the street and, of course, cooking and eating together. The day after the Big Lunch, people will walk down their street and know someone in most windows. However, the legacy of The Big Lunch is much bigger than just the day after... The aim is to give people the tools to strengthen their communities through activities such as neighbourhood-watch; improving local amenities such as youth centres; taking care of the elderly or disabled; making imaginative improvements to the local environment; sharing resources from lawnmowers to cars; and supporting local charities both with money and volunteering time.

Organising a Big Lunch in your area is really easy. Available from April, The Big Lunch website and printed Ideas Booklet will take you through the process step by step, giving you the tools, templates and resources to make it as simple as possible. You’ll find inspirational ideas and top tips from our ambassadors on the website and you can find others planning a Big Lunch in your street or area by simply entering your post-code on our Big Lunch map.

To find out more visit www.thebiglunch.com or call 020 7636 8152.

We had a great street party in Bread Street, Ruscombe last year - see here. Not sure what plans this year - some noises being made about another - poss a lunch this time? We also had a great couple of days juicing in Humphreys End last year - see here. So if anyone has thoughts I think just go for it - we had a great response to the street party last year - I think 3 houses were away but over 35 homes participated.....so go knock on those doors!

I see others locally are also doing meal shares like Transition Stroud - see here - and in Whiteshill and Ruscombe there is one of those meals where you have a different course in each home...