Radcliffe Community Gardens is looking for new volunteers to join the group ahead of a busy growing season and a programme of community events.
Based in Radcliffe on Trent, the group is open to anyone – regardless of age or gardening experience – who is interested in learning new skills, meeting new people and getting active in the fresh air.
It is run entirely by volunteers who grow organically, using peat free, low plastic, nature friendly gardening. Last year’s harvest included beans, potatoes, onions, sweetcorn, tomatoes, spinach, peppers, cucumbers, courgettes, rhubarb, raspberries and pumpkins.
The produce is shared between the volunteers and Radcooks – a busy, volunteer led project providing meals every Sunday for vulnerable families in the village.
As well as growing fruit and vegetables, volunteers have the opportunity to take part in plot improvement, maintenance and building projects, such as building paths and compost bins, installing new watering systems and refurbishing outdoor furniture.
The group also welcomes links with other local organisations and events, leading Great Growing Challenges with village Brownies and Cubs packs and taking part in the annual Village Show and the Nottinghamshire County Show.
Plans for the new season include creating a wildlife pond, developing a high raised beds area with a new seating area to accommodate volunteers with mobility issues, making a bug hotel for younger gardeners, and installing a solar watering system in the polytunnel.
Founder and chair of Radcliffe Community Gardens, Karine Toledano, said: “We’re really looking forward to a busy spring and summer and we’d like to encourage more volunteers to get involved in our friendly group – our aim is to get people outdoors working physically, meeting socially, and engaging mentally.”
The group meets at Lees Barn Road allotments (opposite the RSPCA) on the first and third Saturday of every month from 9.30am until 11.30am, and will be holding extra sessions on Sundays 28 April, 23 June and 14 July from 3pm – 5pm. A variety of tasks are available, as well as hot drinks and cake.
Radcliffe Community Gardens will also be running free community events at Lees Barn Road
allotments over the spring:
- Saturday 20 April, 9.30am – 11.30am: Seedling swap
Swap and share plants and seedlings with your local community
- Saturday 27 April 10am: Talk on perennial vegetables
Meet and taste some plants which give you food year after year
- Sunday 28 April, 3pm – 4pm: Sunflower planting
As part of Good to Grow Week 2024, families are invited to make a seedling pot and plant a sunflower.
Please note there are no toilet or parking facilities on site. Suitable footwear must be worn.
For further information find Radcliffe Community Gardens on Facebook and Instagram or email: [email protected]