The Growing Local Gardens project began its journey in 2019 when we started looking for land and talking to the south wye community about our plans. In THE AUTUMN OF 2020 we applied to Hereford’s Stronger Towns Fund to support our project and three years later in the summer of 2023, we are finally ready to start our next journey – developing our 19 acre site!
The Community Market Garden ‘CSA’
The Community Market Garden will grow fruit and veggies following the principles of a community supported agriculture enterprise (‘CSA’). A local and sustainable supply of tasty ecologically grown fresh produce supporting the environment, biodiversity, climate and the community. Learn more about how our crop share veggie scheme will work.
The CSA will take up most of the new site and will incorporate around 10 acres of growing areas, the planting of heritage orchards, polytunnels, a packing and store shed and picnic areas.
Children’s Garden
Our new Children’s Garden will connect our young visitors with nature and where their food comes from, how it’s grown, when it’s in season and how it’s picked, prepared and cooked. We will offer a programme of pre-school, primary, SEN and secondary school workshops along with after-school, weekend and holiday gardening, harvesting and cookery sessions. Learn more here about our education programme.
Together with the community market garden, our gardens will offer adult educational opportunities, including accredited courses, workshops, volunteering, apprenticeships and gardening clubs. Learn more about our adult programme.
The Southside Project
The Southside building will start construction in autumn 2024 and will eventually house our ‘field to fork’ Cook School, Cafe, Farm Shop and indoor education space. The purpose-built cook school and community learning hub will host a programme of schools cook workshops, family cook sessions, after-school clubs, adult education, private cook classes and parties. All using our own fruit, veggies and herbs picked directly from our gardens.
The community cafe will showcase our field to fork cookery offering an affordable and tasty menu alongside excellent coffee and cake. The farm shop will sell any surplus produce and plants. Learn more about The Southside Project.