This week we’ve been exploring the Arkwright Meadows Community Garden in Nottingham.
Situated very close to the city centre, this previously unloved playing field has been completely transformed into a fabulous outdoor space that the local community now cherish. My kids love to come here because there’s lots to explore and they like comparing the crops with our own at the allotment.
Here it really is all about bringing local people together whilst educating about healthy living and grow-your-own. The main growing area is a huge circular raised bed, at this time of year there’s plenty of earth waiting for plants but look how far on the broad beans are!
In addition to selling the produce and plants that are grown here, the garden provides mini-plots for local residents and an after-school garden for children. There’s also a tyre garden which is used by local primary schools to teach children about ‘sow, grow and eat’ – who knew old tractor tyres made great raised beds!
It’s not just gardening either; dancing, cooking, yoga, cycling and craft workshops all go on here. For wildlife spotters there’s a pond with dipping platform, beehives and an insect hotel; my kids always head straight for these areas. The pond was very quiet – due to the time of year I guess – but the bees were still busy.
We even got to meet some new arrivals at the chicken house this time – they were so nosey!
Coming here always reminds me that gardening is so much more than looking after your own little plot of land; it can unite, inspire, educate, delight and feed a whole community. Everywhere you look you can see just how much love, effort and pride has gone into this place. I always come away feeling completely uplifted. And usually carrying a few plants too!
If you’d like to get involved with your local community gardens, the Big Dig campaign organises regular events where you can join in. The next event is on 21st March 2015, visit www.bigdig.org.uk for more information.
You can explore the Arkwright Community Gardens more at www.amcgardens.co.uk
Joining in with Annie’s ‘How Does Your Garden Grow’ series at Mammasaurus
How I wish I had something like this closer! Love the links with children and schools and the yoga?! Fantastic!
Everything about it is just lovely. It would be a great place to do yoga I think, might be a bit chilly right now though!
I have been looking for allotments here but I dont know where to start. I love this one. I can feel the community love! #hdygg
Try contacting your local council, some allotment sites are under council control and if they’re not then they should know where to point you. Hope you find some!
Funnily enough I’ve just been reading about community gardens-such a wonderfully positive way to use space in urban areas especially. This looks like a great spot and i love those tyres as raised beds.
I think the tyres are a great idea for schools with limited outdoor space too – it’s a really low-cost way to get big containers, I imagine they’d last for ages as well.
What a fab space, and so useful to help kids and the community with the realities of growing food. #hdygg
We all learn something every time we visit – and seeing what jobs are being done is a great motivator to get cracking back at home!
Love it! We have a community garden called Grozone in my town – such wonderful places. I need to get moving with my broad beans after seeing those! The paintings are great, so cheery.
I knew you could get broad beans started early but I had no idea they could be planted out this month – I’m willing my seeds to grow now!
What a haven. I love the chickens! Do they share chicken duties as well? We always thought it would be nice to have chickens, but not with our dog!
I think the staff look after the chickens – we’ve never been there when they’re collecting eggs though so I wonder if they let the kids help with that, must ask next time we visit! I’m sure your dog would really enjoy some resident chickens, in the same way our cat would 😉
What a vibrant community garden. So much to offer! Love the first photograph of a skipping, jumping, happy child. Exactly how gardens like this make me feel (I’m just too old and dull to show it like this). Lovely to find your blog from #hdygg
There really is something to grab your attention everywhere you look, and even though there’s so much crammed into a relatively small space it never feels too busy.
I love how a garden can make you feel like a child again – even if you don’t skip!
Oh this is awesome – what a fantastic space for the community. The tractor tyres are a great idea – I’ve seen car tyre planters before but not tractor ones used, really practical and common sense now I think about it!
The painted backdrop’s great too – kids must really love it. So inspiring Catherine, thank you for sharing!
(and for joining in again x)
I thought the same with the tyres – they’re just the right height for kids too. Lily spent a good chunk of our visit last week calling out all the fruit and veg on the murals, I bet that happens a lot!
I adore everything about this, such a wonderful community activity.
Thanks, we’re very lucky to have this garden near us – I tell everyone about it!
What a fabulous looking place. I used to design and build gardens in schools and I know how much the children got from their outdoor spaces.
Wow what a fab job that must have been!
what a wonderful use of space and how great for the community. love this
They really have made the most of every square foot!