Community Growers Hub

We are a community garden which mainly focuses on individual allotments. Then we work together on communal growing spaces, and other shared spaces. Our other remits include managing and improving the space for nature, sharing produce with the community and reducing barriers to growing for members of the community. The garden is very much focused on growing edible produce.

Our community greenhouse is available for any of the people on the island to share and use. It is limited to 12 plots within a large polytunnel, and each of the plots is available for an annual let at £50 per annum. There is also a small private greenhouse at the same location which is available at the same price. The school has a plot free of charge for the schoolchildren to use, and another plot is given to group of volunteers who grow flowers for people in the community who are recuperating from a hospital stay, or who deserve a bunch! Within the polytunnel events have been held, such as during British Science Week when wormeries were created, soils tested, seed bombs and seed paper were made and seeds were planted to take home or continue within the greenhouse.

People who rent the plots are free to grow whatever they choose, but many decide to grow fruit and vegetables within their plot, as well as herbs and a few flowering plants, including the cut flowers section for creating bouquets for people in the community. The schoolchildren have recently been growing salad vegetables and have harvested their crops to take back to school to eat. Many more are reaping the benefits of home-grown food to enrich their kitchens at home.

We grow veg outside and in polytunnels. We are also interested in encouraging pollinators, wildlife and natural predators to keep down pests. So all aspects of running that. We have pick your own sessions when the strawberries are in season and a couple of open days in the summer.