Free Harvest Fair at the 'Dig for Victory: War on Waste' Allotment

The Royal Parks and the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms are holding a Harvest Fair, to celebrate a successful summer's yield in the 'Dig for Victory: War on Waste' organic allotment. The free event is open to all and will take place in St James's Park on 27 and 28 September between 11am and 4pm.

A wide variety of activities are on offer including the opportunity to sample allotment produce cooked by Inn the Park restaurant and Sodexo Prestige catering. Children can take part in harvest craft activities, such as making corn dolls, pompom animals, potato and leaf printing; and the Society of Wildlife Artists will offer children the chance to do wildlife sketching and 3-D model making. The Royal Parks Shire horses will be put to work allowing visitors to see them in action and there will be a petting zoo courtesy of Millers Ark. A performance of the children's play Beetle Bruce by Ginger Cat Productions will start at 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Mark Wasilewski, Park Manager of St James's Park said: "The Harvest Fair marks the end of another very successful year for the 'Dig for Victory: War on Waste' allotment. We have had over 200,000 visitors to the allotment over the course of the project and we look forward to welcoming many more in the future."

Phil Reed, Director of the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms said: "250 school sessions and over 5,000 teachers packs have been delivered since we began the Dig for Victory project last year. With school's now planting their own allotments, we believe the Dig for Victory legacy will live on."

Media enquiries:

For further information or images please contact:
John McPherson, CM/CWR on 020 7766 0152 or email jmcpherson@iwm.org.uk
Katy Murray, The Royal Parks on 0300 061 2128 or email kmurray@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk.

Notes to Editors

About the 'Dig for Victory: War on Waste' Allotment:

• The 'Dig for Victory: War on Waste' organic allotment promotes sustainability and recycling and is tended by school groups and community volunteers. It provides a working demonstration of how to grow fruit and vegetables; attract wildlife; and recycle waste. The Dig for Victory allotment is open every day from 10am - 5pm until 30 September 2008. Admission is free of charge.
• The allotment project is a partnership between the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms and The Royal Parks. The 2007 project delivered 130 school sessions and welcomed over 100,000 visitors.
• The theme of this year's allotment is 'War on Waste' - it is inspired by the 'Ministry of Food's wartime rationing and salvage campaigns.
• A temporary display at the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Room accompanies the project. 'Dig for Victory: Make-do and Mend' features clothes rationing and the impact of 'Make-do and Mend' clothes recycling principles on modern fashion.
• The project is supported by additional funding for the education programme from the History Channel and Sainsbury's.

About the Society of Wildlife Artists:

• The Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) 45th Annual Exhibition is on view at the Mall Galleries Mall Galleries The Mall, London, SW1 24 September to 5 October 2008. Admission is £2.50. For more information visit www.swla.co.uk.

About the Cultural Olympiad:

• The Dig for Victory Harvest Fair will be part of 'Open Weekend' 26 - 28 September the national celebrations to launch the Cultural Olympiad of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• The Cultural Olympiad will highlight the UK's diversity by using both culture and sport to create works and events that will bring people and places together, encourage audiences to take part, involve and inspire young people, welcome the world to the 2012 Games and create a lasting legacy. Open Weekend marks the start of this four year journey.

About the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms:

• The Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms is a branch of the Imperial War Museum.
• The Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms are open daily to explore from 9.30am - 6.00pm, last admission at 5.00pm. Admission charges to the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms: Adults: £12.00, children under 16: FREE, Seniors/Students: £9.50. Free personal sound guides are provided for each visitor available in eight languages.
• For information on learning activities or a teachers pack, please call 020 7766 0132.

About The Royal Parks:

• The Royal Parks is an executive agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
• The Royal Parks are: Bushy Park, The Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, Richmond Park and St James's Park.
• For further information please visit: www.royalparks.org.uk