ORGANISERS are hoping to get Blackbird Leys around the table to share a 'big lunch' with a purpose.

Oxford’s largest estate will once again take part in the annual celebration of community tomorrow, with a Big Lunch planned in the community centre.

Part of the tenth anniversary year of the initiative, organised by the Eden Project, residents will join more than 9.3million around the UK expected to take part this year.

Taking place in all types of communities, events range from a handful of people to thousands, sharing food together in what is described as ‘a simple act of friendship and fun.’

Organised by FriendLeys with help from Good Food Oxford, the Blackbird Leys event will see people bring food to share - giving an insight into different family and cultural traditions.

Peter Nowland, who helps to organise FriendLeys, said: “The Big Lunch is a fantastic way to get over shyness and get to know our neighbours over some shared food.

“The event on Wednesday will be a chance for everyone in Blackbird Leys to get together.

“We are inviting people to bring some food to share. Or they can just turn up, as I’m sure there will be plenty to go around.”

The event comes as part of Oxford Green Week, a city-wide festival that aims to inspire people to take action on climate change.

It is one of a number of events taking place across the city with film screenings, food fairs and art and architecture talks all planned.

The Leys held a Big Lunch in 2015, and another in 2017, which celebrated 20 years of the Fry’s Hill part of the estate, at The Barn in Greater Leys.

Last year, research published by academics at Oxford University used data from the Big Lunch to explore the link between sharing food and individual happiness.

Researchers found that people who eat socially are more likely to feel better about themselves and have a wider social network.

Mr Nowland whose FriendLeys group was set up so that older and more vulnerable people could meet every Wednesday morning for tea and cake, said it was a chance to help reconnect with neighbours and get people talking to those they may never usually mix with.

He is also hoping many of the estate’s different cultural communities come out to join in the fun so that people can discover a range of different foods and new recipes.

The event starts at 12pm and is free to attend.