Transforming a derelict playing field into a thriving community garden

Arkwright Meadows Community Gardens was created In 2001 by local Meadows residents joining forces to transform part of this disused, unloved, rubbish-strewn playing field into a green space for the local people to use.

The Gardens are now a safe space for family events, a place of learning and the opportunity to buy freshly grown fruit and vegetables. There is a wide range of educational and community-based activities on offer ranging from willow workshops to horticultural work experience, supporting volunteers and bringing together people from a real mix of ages, ethnicity, language and backgrounds.

Produce

The on-site shop offers a large array of organically grown vegetables, fruit and herbs. During the spring, summer and autumn months there is a huge variety of goodies available including berries, plums, apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, chillies and so much more. In the winter the shop stocks jams, chutneys and dried herbs.

Challenges and Successes

It was a remarkable feat to transform this derelict space into the thriving oasis it is today. Local residents have created a wonderful, multifunctional garden that inspires the community to engage in food growing.

The Community Gardens have been recognised with a number of awards including the Big Wheel Workplace Challenge, the ‘Regeneration and Renewable’ category of the Nottingham Post Environment Awards and The Queens Award for Voluntary Service.

Future

The garden continues to produce high quality fruit and vegetables and a range of educational outreach workshops and programmes to encourage others to get involved with community gardening. Visit the AMC website for more details. 

Visit our food co-op map to find out more about Arkwright Meadows and others like them.