City Harvest is part of the Fabric of London: London Overgound Mural

City Harvest, forever etched into London clay 

Earlier this month, the NEW Acton Central Station Mosaic Roundel Mural was unveiled by artist Maud Milton and ARL employee David Cranstoun. The London Overground mosaic roundel project is backed by Arriva Rail, among a number of other organisations, including Artyface. This mural at Acton Central is the first since the London Overground lines were renamed and includes the Mildmay Line’s blue. It is also the first London station roundel to be made in 5 years. More info about the roundels here.

Mosaic Roundel Mural Project: Creating mosaic tiles in the community 

In June, Maud Milton and Arriva Rail collaborated with City Harvest to host a workshop at our Acton Park warehouse with City Harvest volunteers and staff for Volunteers’ Week. Staff and volunteers created tiles with imagery and words to represent themselves, and what the Acton community and City Harvest mean to them. David Cranstoun (pictured), a long-standing and award-winning ARL employee, is a champion of this project – and of City Harvest in general – and led the City Harvest Festival food drives at London Overground Stations across the network with his ARL colleagues.

“Acton born and bred”

City Harvest first began in Acton, west London, in 2014. As the first food redistribution charity in London, City Harvest began rescuing food from Acton and Park Royal Industrial Estate businesses, as well as well-known establishments across London. The food was then delivered, for free, by our small team to Acton, Ealing and other local charities like The Upper Room.

Much like our charity roots and our founders, many of our staff and volunteers are also Acton-born and bred. Georgina Edwards, our Senior Volunteering Coordinator, grew up in Acton and now leads our community of volunteers who play a huge role in our food rescue and delivery mission. 

City Harvest’s work with Arriva Rail London

City Harvest has worked in partnership with Arriva Rail London for the last 3 years. Arriva Rail London employee, David Cranstoun, based at local Acton Central Station has become a City Harvest Champion and has led on supporting initiatives such as City Harvest Festival. For the last 3 years, David and the ARL team has rallied London Overground Stations across the network to host food drives for City Harvest. 

On October 10 – World Homelessness Day – the ARL team, in partnership with City Harvest and Chiltern Railways, hosted a fundraising drive at Marylebone Station.