Growing Local is Going Local

Connecting Land to the People and People to the land

Project Overview

Growing Local CIC continue to work towards their Growing Local Gardens project. The project was established in early 2020 and is part of Hereford’s Stronger Towns Fund (link to https://strongerhereford.co.uk)  A site has been secured between Grafton Lane and Newton Farm which is in the process of a Community Asset Transfer from Herefordshire Council to ourselves.

The Growing Local Gardens project is threefold:

  1. To establish a Community Market Garden The garden will grow fruit and vegetables for the community of Hereford following the principles of a community supporting agriculture enterprise (‘CSA’). The market garden will address the loss of local growers, connect the people of Hereford with their local fruit and vegetables and give control to the community of their fresh produce production. It will be a local and sustainable source of fresh produce supporting the environment, biodiversity, climate and the community, an essential project for our times. We will shortly be looking for future crop share households and volunteers.
  1. A new Childrens Garden The lease ended on Growing Local’s original schools educational garden in May 2021. A bigger and improved garden is planned at the new site. The garden will connect our young visitors with 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 opportunities,

Together with the Community Market Garden our gardens will offer adult educational opportunities including accredited courses, workshops and gardening clubs as well as volunteer, workshare and apprenticeship programmes.

  1. The Southside – A Field to Fork Cook School, Cafe & Farm Shop a purpose-built cook school and community hub hosting a programme of schools cook workshops, family cook sessions, after-school clubs, adult education, private cook classes and parties. All using our own fruit, vegetables and herbs picked directly from the Growing Local Gardens. The Cafe will showcase our field to fork cookery and the Farm Shop will sell surplus fruit and vegetables, plants and local Herefordshire produce. The Southside build is a partnership project between ourselves, NMITE and Belmont Wanderers FC.

We will be holding public consultations in Hereford throughout 2022 to further engage about our exciting plans. Please do join us in this new venture for Hereford, we are seeking volunteers to help drive forward!. Email your interest to info@growinglocal.org.uk and request a sign up to our newsletters.

Growing Local is a Herefordshire Community Interest Company delivering cook and gardening education and events across the county to children, young people, families and adults.