Growing Success A group of Bangladeshi women are rediscovering their rural roots at Spitalfields City Farm in London's East End. Horticulture lessons are part of a project that is building links with an ethnic community. Living in the inner city, these countrywomen have taken to cultivating window boxes. Motia Begum, the group's interpreter, says: "Work on a city farm compensates for life in a tiny flat. We call them the Coriander Club because that is what they like growing." Using the women's enthusiasm for growing herbs as a starting point, the project's organisers are broadening their horizons. Last year half a dozen gained a Pitman qualification in basic English. The project organisers are planning to offer IT training in the future. Motia Begum says the classes are an important lifeline. "A lot of these women never leave their community because they can speak Bengali in all the shops and the post office." NAME: Spitalfields City Farm BRIEF: To provide education and activities for local families TARGET GROUP: Spitalfields residents FOCUS: To provide literacy and numeracy trainging for women on the horticulture course GRANT: Small MANAGED BY: Basic Skills Agency

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