Merton’s allotment waiting list may have topped 800, but the Mayor of London has launched a novel initiative to encourage home growing.

The “one pot pledge” launched by Boris Johnson and Rosie Boycott last week urges coffee drinkers to use at least one empty cup as a “mini allotment” and grow food at home or in the office.

According to environmental charity Garden Organic, which runs the scheme, an estimated 88,218 disposable cups are used every 15 minutes in the UK.

The initiative is hoped to raise awareness on how a basic cup can be re-used in a positive way to grow food either at work or at home.