EVERYONE who lives on Oxford's biggest estate is being encouraged to come together to share a lunch and celebrate all that's good about the local community.

Blackbird Leys-based group FriendLeys is once again organising a Big Lunch this year and has announced it will be held on Wednesday, June 12.

Part of the national Big Lunch campaign, which encourages people to stop what they are doing and get together with their neighbours, this year's event will take place at the Blackbird Leys Community Centre from 11.30am until 1pm.

Peter Nowland, who helps to organise FriendLeys, said the event will help people get to know those who live near them.

He 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, June 12 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.”

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Organised by the Eden Project and funded by The Big Lottery Fund, The Big Lunch is the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours.

Launched in 2009, 2019 will be its eleventh year.

More than 10 million people joined the Big Lunch last year, and this year is set to be bigger than ever before.

It sees people throughout the country set up bring-and-share lunches and forge stronger bonds with their friends and neighbours.

The Leys held a Big Lunch in 2015, another in 2017 which was at The Barn in Greater Leys, and another in 2018 organised by FriendLeys at Blackbird Leys Community Centre.

Last year 50 people turned up to share food and a chat, and all those who came along thought it was a big success.

FriendLeys is a group which meets every Wednesday morning for tea and cake, games and talks from Oxford organisations.

It is being supported in organising the event by Good Food Oxford and it comes as part of Oxford Green Week, a city-wide festival that aims to inspire people to take action on climate change.

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With a theme of 'one planet living', other events planned for this year include a 'big green day out' in Broad Street on June 8, a one planet party at the Tap Social on June 11 and an electric vehicle show in Broad Street on June 15.

Jo Colwell, of Oxford City Council, said: “This year’s line for up Oxford Green Week aims to continue the success of previous years and to highlight the ways in which residents in Oxford can get involved in taking local action against climate change."