WW2 Air Raid Shelter Opens As London's First Underground Farm (Video)

(N.Morgan) In an unexpected advancement in agriculture, London is to become the first city to house an underground farm in what was once a WW2 Air Raid shelter.

This innovative idea was proposed as the brainchild of West Country entrepreneurs Richard Ballard and Steven Dring, in partnership with Michel Roux Jr, the Michelin-starred chef.

Growing Underground, the capital’s only subterranean farm, will start trading to restaurateurs in Covent Garden within weeks.

The farm, in old World War II tunnels beneath the Northern Line at Clapham.

The produce offered will be Pea shoots, radishes, mustard, coriander, celery, parsley and rocket.

Michel Roux Jr in the underground farm Photo: Paul Grover

The first phase of the farm, which includes a sophisticated lighting and irrigation system, is in the final stages of preparation for commercial supply.

Phase one crops include pea shoots, several varieties of radish, mustard, coriander, Red Amaranth, celery, parsley and rocket.

“Our first shoots will be delivered to the surface in the next few weeks”, said co-founder Richard Ballard. 

“After eighteen months of research, development, growing trials – and tribulations – we’re about to start supplying into the market.”

Michel Roux Jr added: “I’m looking forward to creating my first dish using produce from the world’s first underground urban farm, less than two miles as the crow flies from the heart of London.

“It’s great to be involved in this ambitious project, for which we have equally ambitious growth plans.

“Above all, it’s fantastic to be able to source produce that is so fresh in the heart of Britain’s largest city.”

• You’ll have to dig deep to discover what’s growing down on this farm

• Growing Underground: London’s subterranean farm

The crops are grown in a sealed clean-room environment with a specially designed ventilation system, advanced lighting and a sophisticated irrigation that enables the farm to produce crops at very low energy.

The farm’s mission is to deliver fresh produce with zero effect on the environment and all energy is sourced from green suppliers.

Growing Underground’s first commercial client will be County Supplies London, supplying restaurants via Covent Garden market.

The tunnels were used during World War II as a bomb shelter for London residents and designed to accommodate 8,000 people sheltering during air raids.

The Mayor of London, who supported the original idea for the farm through his London Leaders business start-up program, also welcomed the launch.

The Mayor Boris Johnson said: “This is a fine example of the dynamic startups that are helping London lead the world in green business innovation.

I want even more entrepreneurs to help create these brilliant concepts that are delivering thousands of jobs and boosting London’s green economy to almost £30 billion a year.

I wish Growing Underground every success.”

References:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/agriculture/farming/11706406/Londons-first-underground-farm-opens-in-WW2-air-raid-shelter.html

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxAGGWHxteSS3Bc1qX6pXtQ

More Stories Contributed By N. Morgan