Abundance Wins Ethical Award For Best Grassroots Project

Chiswick founders Sarah and Karen celebrate at Green Days with judge Colin Firth

At a star-studded ceremony at the V&A in London, presented by Colin Firth and Lucy Siegle (Observer’s Ethical Living Correspondent) the winners of this year’s Observer Ethical Awards were announced.

Over 8,000 entries were received this year representing the enormous variety of solutions and ideas dealing with environmental and social justice in the UK.

Chiswick’s London Abundance Project, run by Sarah Cruz (right, with Ethical Awards judge and local resident, Colin Firth) and Karen Liebreich (founder of the Kitchen Garden project) is part of the UK network that won the prestigious award.

Each year hundreds of fruit trees go unpicked either because people don't notice them, may not be physically able to harvest them or there are just too many fruits at one time.

Abundance is a team of volunteers who help harvest city fruit and redistribute the surplus to the community on a non-profit basis, or pass the fruit on to local restaurants with all profits going to local charities.

Sarah Cruz, Chiswick’s Abundance co-founder, says “I am so thrilled that London Abundance is part of the UK network that has won this year’s award.

"If anyone knows of any trees that will need harvesting, or wants to volunteer to help pick fruit, or make jams and chutneys, please get in touch with us.”

For more information see www.abundancelondon.com

June 16, 2010