Set up your own community garden

AS URBAN areas increase, so does the need for community gardens.

Over the next 12 months, organic drinks brand Honest and environmental regeneration charity Groundwork.org.uk will be working together to bring more green spaces and gardens to Britain’s urban sprawls.

Ben Coles, Groundwork director of communities and environmental services, offers the following advice to get a community garden started:

BUILD MOMENTUM BEHIND THE IDEA

Find out how many people are interested in it – the more momentum from locals who are keen to do it, the more voices you have to be heard. Organise a meeting with neighbours to see how it could be taken forward.

CHECK SPACE AVAILABILITY

Find a spot you think would be suitable. Speak to your local authority partner or landowners or whoever is responsible for the land. Contact your housing department, landlord or housing association.

CONSIDER FUNDING

Sometimes councils will refer you to an organisation that can help, other times the residents will find their own sponsorship.

This might come through local businesses, a charity, or with guidance through organisations such as the Federation of Community Farms and City Gardens (farmgarden.org.uk).

MOVING FORWARD

“We would look at the needs, from designing and constructing a growing space to providing people to help the groups get up and running, and to recognise

A community garden that some of them don’t know a lot about what they can grow and how they would look after it. It’s always a tailored response,” says Ben.