Digging in the city

Digging in the city

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They are doing it on the rooftops, on tower block balconies and even on a disused railway: Swedes have discovered a passion for urban gardening as a way of growing fresh food and getting back in touch with nature.

Part of a global movement, an increasing number of Swedish city-dwellers are growing their own in window boxes and allotments or are visiting public gardens built in or on industrial or office spaces.

"Up on the roofs we are able to create more bio-diverse cities," said John Block, who leads guided tours of Malmo's Augustenborg Botanical Roof Garden.

. Malmo, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Stretching over 9,500 square meters on top of local government office blocks, the garden is more than just a pretty space, he said.

"With the help of these new green areas, we're making a better urban environment with their cooling capacity and reduction of air pollutants."

. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Inspired by New York's Highline, a garden built on an elevated railroad, and Berlin's Prinzessinnengarten, a reclaimed wasteland, a Stockholm neighbourhood has turned a disused railway into a communal space for hundreds of amateur gardeners.

. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Five years ago, local man Philipp Olsmeyer wanted to make his Sodermalm area greener and contacted local authorities with his idea for the Tradgard pa Sparet - Swedish for "Garden on track".

"Now there are about 200 (planter) boxes here. Some of them belong to the association and some belong to schools," he said.

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Slideshow

Kale grows at Kajodlingen farm in Gothenburg, Sweden.
. Gothenburg, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Kale grows at Kajodlingen farm in Gothenburg, Sweden.

William Bailey shows his hands after seeding at Kajodlingen farm in Gothenburg, Sweden.
. Gothenburg, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

William Bailey shows his hands after seeding at Kajodlingen farm in Gothenburg, Sweden.

A general view on Jubileumsparkens odlarforening (Jubilee Park cultivating compound) community farm in Gothenburg, Sweden.
. Gothenburg, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

A general view on Jubileumsparkens odlarforening (Jubilee Park cultivating compound) community farm in Gothenburg, Sweden.

A lettuce is pictured at Kajodlingen farm in Gothenburg, Sweden.
. Gothenburg, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

A lettuce is pictured at Kajodlingen farm in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Vegetables and fruit lie on a table at Lena Israelsson's allotment garden in Stockholm, Sweden.
. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Vegetables and fruit lie on a table at Lena Israelsson's allotment garden in Stockholm, Sweden.

Pim Bendt, cultivation principal at Bee Urban, adjusts a smoker as he works with the bees at the rooftop terrace in Stockholm, Sweden.
. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Pim Bendt, cultivation principal at Bee Urban, adjusts a smoker as he works with the bees at the rooftop terrace in Stockholm, Sweden.

Bees are gathered on a beehive frame in Stockholm, Sweden.
. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Bees are gathered on a beehive frame in Stockholm, Sweden.

A pumpkin grows at Rosendals Garden in Stockholm, Sweden.
. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

A pumpkin grows at Rosendals Garden in Stockholm, Sweden.

Pelle Mattsson, intern gardener at Rosendals Garden, works during the harvest festival in Stockholm, Sweden.
. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Pelle Mattsson, intern gardener at Rosendals Garden, works during the harvest festival in Stockholm, Sweden.

People stand in a greenhouse at Rosendals garden in Stockholm, Sweden.
. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

People stand in a greenhouse at Rosendals garden in Stockholm, Sweden.

Carl Gentele, a member of Tragard Pasparet (Garden on the track), poses for a portrait in Stockholm, Sweden.
. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Carl Gentele, a member of Tragard Pasparet (Garden on the track), poses for a portrait in Stockholm, Sweden.

Daniel Jager waters the plants on the balcony of his apartment in Stockholm, Sweden.
. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Daniel Jager waters the plants on the balcony of his apartment in Stockholm, Sweden.

Anna Eliason and Fredrik Alm pose for a portrait with their gardening box in Stockholm, Sweden.
. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Anna Eliason and Fredrik Alm pose for a portrait with their gardening box in Stockholm, Sweden.

A general view of Tragard pa Sparet (Garden on the track) in Stockholm, Sweden.
. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

A general view of Tragard pa Sparet (Garden on the track) in Stockholm, Sweden.

A few miles away, Rosendals' Garden is a city farm popular with Stockholm's foodies who enjoy its vegetables, fruits and herbs in the greenhouse café.

. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Pelle Mattsson combines his job as an illustrator and graphic designer with gardening at Rosendals, something that helps keep the city-dweller in touch with the changing seasons.

. Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

"Gardening in Sweden is season-based so I think it's a good combination," he said.

"To sit in the studio and draw and spend a few days in the garden."