The Get Growing Garden Trail is over for another year. Thanks to all the 32 participating fruit & veg gardens for taking part, and to RH Southern Trust for funding us and making all of this possible.
You may have missed the Trail, but it’s never too late to Get Growing. You can find a community project near you via the Get Growing Guide or you can get involved in Bristol’s bid to become a Gold Sustainable Food City by pledging to take action on Urban Growing. You can also see a selection of photos of this year’s open gardens on our Flickr site.
We hope to see you all again in 2020!
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The 2019 event…
Bristol’s 8th Get Growing Garden Trail is the perfect opportunity to explore the city’s community allotments, orchards, smallholdings, mini market gardens, city farms, productive parks and even a unique berry maze! This year 32 fruit and vegetable gardens will be opening their doors throughout June – scroll down for details of each individual opening.
In addition to weekday volunteering sessions, openings have been coordinated to focus on specific areas of the city each weekend, with East Bristol the weekend of 1 and 2 June, North-West Bristol 8 and 9 June, Southville and St. Werburghs 15 and 16 June and South Bristol 22 and 23 June.
As well as garden tours, this year’s trail includes seed sowing, fun games for kids, pizza-making, the opportunity to pick up some new plants and fresh produce, delicious lunch and snack stops, wildlife-friendly gardening tips and plenty more.
Explore the trail openings below, download a PDF of the trail map here and get planning your tour!
Watch the Get Growing trailer from Black Bark Films (2016) here
Get Growing Trail 2016 Promo from Black Bark Films on Vimeo.
Weekend of 1 & 2 June
Elm Tree Farm
Elm Tree Farm, Park Road, Stapleton BS16 1AA
Saturday 1 June, 10am–3pm
Tucked away on a 47-acre site in Stapleton, Elm Tree Farm is a small working farm and one of Bristol’s hidden treasures. On our site, we breed a variety of livestock including cattle, lambs, pigs, and chickens. We also grow a wide range of produce including fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers using organic horticultural methods, and our Splinters project produces a number of wooden products for the home and garden. Our produce is sold in our farm shop and at St Nick’s Farmers Market.
0117 958 6206 | www.elmtreefarm.org
Easton Community Garden
East Park Trading Estate BS5 7EE. Down the lane between 58 & 60 Gordon Road, the garden is on the left.
Saturday 1 June, 11am–4pm
We are a beautiful volunteer-run collaborative kitchen garden. Local people are welcomed on a drop-in basis every Thursday throughout the year and take home a share of the produce. The project was started in 2001 and has thrived as a demonstration permaculture site ever since. We have a shelter in case it rains and a compost loo.
www.eastoncommunitygarden.org.uk
Feed Bristol (Avon Wildlife Trust)
181 Frenchay Park Road, Stapleton BS16 1HB (near the corner of Stoke Lane)
Saturday 1 June, 12 noon–4pm
Join us at Feed Bristol, Avon Wildlife Trust’s inspiring site where people and wildlife thrive. We are launching our 30 Days Wild challenge, which is a chance to make time for nature, explore wild places near you and share your love of wildlife throughout the month. For a free pack of goodies and ideas, sign up to: www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild Activities: Explore how to integrate nature into your gardens and food growing. Come and browse our wildflower nursery or join tours around our land where we host six food growing businesses. Enjoy our café, delicious fresh lunch and children’s nature activities.
www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/feedbristol
Sims Hill Shared Harvest
181 Frenchay Park Road, Stapleton BS16 1HB (meet at Feed Bristol, see above)
Saturday 1 June, 12 noon–4pm
Sims Hill will be showcasing our nature-friendly growing site at the home of our sister project, Feed Bristol. We have a variety of veg growing in our big new multispan polytunnel as well as adjoining fields. We are also hoping to run a farm tour over the M32 to our ‘Big Field’ where we grow root veg and other crops in the field and in our smaller polytunnels.
St George Park Community Garden
The Old Bandstand, St George Park, Church Road BS5 7AA (centre of the park)
Saturday 1 June, 10am–12.30pm & Sunday 2 June,
10.30am–12.30pm volunteers on site | Garden open to visitors 24/7
An organic veg and fruit garden comprising of 4 raised beds and a central herb bed on an open site accessible to all. Gardening sessions occur bi-monthly April–September on Saturdays 10am–12 noon which include sowing, maintaining, watering and harvesting crops which are on a 4 year rotation plan. Come along and learn more!
stgeorgeparkcommunitygarden@outlook.com
Strawberry Lane Community Garden
Beaufort Road Allotments, BS5 8JE (diagonally left from the top of Strawberry Lane)
Saturday 1 June, 11am–2pm
We will be running an activity day, planting and harvesting plants. Also it will be a chance to see this newly formed garden and enjoy a light lunch. Relax by the pond, enjoy our polytunnel.
Workdays: Tuesdays & Thursdays 11am–2pm
Woodcroft Community Orchard
Woodcroft Road Allotments BS4 4QW (Next to 90 Birchwood Road a lane leads down to the allotments and Nightingale Valley – follow this down past the garages)
Sunday 2 June 10am – 3pm
Come and see the trees blossom, a chance to grow for kids and adults alike as we expand wildflower areas and make pots out of scrap materials.
Workdays: 1st Saturday of the month
Facebook Woodcroft Community Orchard
Weekend of 8 & 9 June
Blaise Community Garden
Next to Blaise Castle House Museum, Henbury Road BS10 7QS (through the big black gate, just past Blaise House Museum, to the left as you look at the house)
Saturday 8 June, 11am–3pm
Come and explore our wonderful walled Victorian garden. Activities: Take a guided tour or join in with various craft and growing activities and learn about organic and sustainable growing. Suitable for all ages. There will also be a café and plant sale plus the Goram Fair. Toilets available in Blaise Estate.
Workdays: All Mondays and Wednesdays in June, 10am–2pm · Saturday 1, 15 & 29 June, 10am–2pm www.blaisecommunitygarden.org.uk
The Community Farm
Denny Lane, Chew Magna BS40 8SZ (near Chew Valley Lake,
directions here)
Community Farmer Days: 8 June 9.45am–4pm
Join us on one of our Community Farmer Days, at our organic farm next to the beautiful Chew Valley Lake, and try your hand at farming! Community Farmer Days are fun and friendly volunteer events where you can actively participate in the work of The Farm. Adults and children are welcome. You don’t need experience as you’ll have the full support of our experienced growers. If you’d rather enjoy a wander around our beautiful farm you’re more than welcome – we’ve bird and owl boxes, a pond and plenty of wildlife including bees and butterflies!
Sea Mills Community Garden
Sylvan Way, Sea Mills, nearest postcode BS9 2LB (up lane between 43 & 45 Sylvan Way, turn left at the top)
Saturday 8 June, 10am–2pm
Our aim is to grow food together. Volunteers take home the produce we harvest each session. We leave plenty of space for wildlife, especially our resident badgers and foxes. We are developing a wildflower area, and have recently planted a native species edible hedge, good for wildlife, good for us! activities: Open day includes nature friendly craft activities, and is part of the Sea Mills 100 heritage trail. Café and toilet facilities a five-minute walk from the garden at our linked project, The Café on the Square.
Regular sessions: Wednesday afternoons 1–4pm 3rd Saturday morning of the month 9am–1pm
0755 2955403 · smciallotmentproject@gmail.com
Facebook Sea Mills Community Garden
Stoke Lane Community Garden
Behind Hunters Café Bar, Stoke Lane, Westbury on Trym BS9 3RW (access from either Stoke Lane or Reedley Road)
Saturday 8 June, 12 noon–3pm volunteers on site
Garden open to visitors 24/7
Small community garden managed by local volunteers with emphasis on fruit trees and bushes, herbs and wildlife-friendly plants. A peaceful haven for rest and relaxation. A small selection of plants will be available for sale. Refreshments available at nearby Hunters Café Bar.
SusWoT (Sustainable Westbury-on-Trym)
47 Abbey Road, Westbury-on-Trym BS9 3QN
Saturday 8 June, 12 noon–5pm
The aim is to show people who do not grow any of their own food how easy it can be to ‘get growing’. activities: Tomato, bean, squash and many other vegetable plants for sale (at cost price) for planting outside and in greenhouses, plus advice on how to grow them. Various seeds, suitable for late sowing also available. Wormeries to look at and learn about. Refreshments.
www.suswot.org.uk · suswot2050@gmail.com
Metford Road Community Orchard
Metford Road Allotments, Metford Road, Redland BS6 7LA (entrance by no. 37)
Sunday 9 June, 2–5pm
Small organic orchard based on permaculture principles growing apples, plums, pears, medlars, quinces, gages, grapes, figs, a few nuts and a multitude of different berries and currants. Herb garden, chutney vegetable plot, and recently-laid native hedges. Site is on a steep slope (sturdy shoes required) with a stream at the bottom and numerous ponds, and is teeming with wildlife in the summer. Compost loo and custom built gazebo-style oak shelter. activities: Guided tours, tea and biscuits/cakes, produce and plant sales.
www.sustainableredland.org.uk/what-cani-do/metford-road-community-orchard/
Tynings Field Community Group
65 Woodwell Road BS11 9UG
Sunday 9 June, 12 noon–4pm
We are a community smallholding in Shirehampton just off the Severn walkway near Horseshoe bend SSI. We are an orchard with poultry keeping and small CSA of 15 or so vegetable growers. We also have bees and honey and we do all this in an acre of land. activities: Volunteer sessions. Stalls with honey produce. Feed the chickens, plant some seeds.
Weekend of 15 & 16 June
Dame Emily Park Project
Dame Emily Park, Southville, Morley Road entrance BS3 1DL
Sunday 16 June, 2–4pm volunteers on site
Garden open to visitors 24/7
Planting, seeding and digging · Visit our Bee Village Collect free herbs for visitors · Nature related kids activity · Have a chat by coffee & snack
Propagation Place & Ashley Vale Allotments
St Werburghs City Farm, Watercress Road BS2 9YJ (walk onto the farm and straight through the other side to the polytunnel)
The site is wheelchair accessible.
Saturday 15 June, 11am–2pm
Propagation Place is a project at St Werburghs City Farm. We grow vegetable seedlings for sale on-site and online. We offer open volunteer sessions at our accessible community plot.
The extensive Ashley Vale Allotments site caters for a huge diversity of people, plants and wildlife. activities: We will be leading a short walk around some of our plots and pointing out different cultivation methods, wildlife habitats, and the plot that was featured last year on BBC Gardeners World! Tim Foster, local organic garden guru, is giving a free talk at 12 noon on how to make the most of your allotment. Refreshments available, and we’ll fire up the pizza oven in the afternoon.
Windmill Hill City Farm
Philip Street, Bedminster BS3 4EA
Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 June, 10am–1pm
Come and meet our Community Grower for a tasting tour and information about growing to organic principles in our nature friendly gardens. Tasting tours set off at 10.30am and 12 noon. Meet by the greenhouse. Kids can take part in our self led ‘Gardeners’ Friends’ brass rubbing trail. Buy veg seedlings, herbs and flowers from our plant stall. Seasonal menu, including food fresh from the gardens, in our café.
www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk
Weekend 22 & 23 June
Bramble Farm
Beckington Walk, Knowle BS3 5EA
Saturday 22 June, 12–4pm
Bramble Farm started-up over 10 years ago when TV chef and campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall helped local residents set up a small-holding on disused land, which featured in the River Cottage TV programme. The farm is going strong with a solid group of committed local families who all muck in to make the farm a very special place. activities: Come and have a look around, and have a bite of cake. See the pigs, sheep, pygmy goats, chickens and ducks in this beautiful spot on the Northern Slopes.
Facebook Friends of Bramble Farm
The Community Farm
Denny Lane, Chew Magna BS40 8SZ (near Chew Valley Lake, directions)
Community Farmer Days: 22 June, 9.45am–4pm
Join us on one of our Community Farmer Days, at our organic farm next to the beautiful Chew Valley Lake, and try your hand at farming! Community Farmer Days are fun and friendly volunteer events where you can actively participate in the work of The Farm. Adults and children are welcome. You don’t need experience as you’ll have the full support of our experienced growers. If you’d rather enjoy a wander around our beautiful farm you’re more than welcome – we’ve bird and owl boxes, a pond and plenty of wildlife including bees and butterflies!
The Golden Hill Community Garden
Through allotment gates at end of Monk Road BS7 8NE (behind Horfield Prison and Bishop Road School)
Saturday 22 June, 12 noon–3pm
Join us in our big beautiful garden. There’ll be plants for sale and you can get involved with making pizzas in our clay frog oven. There’s a digging bed, mud kitchen and pond dipping for the the young at heart. Our organic site has two polytunnels, 40+ raised beds, a strawbale building, a well and solar powered water recycling system. Our site is flat with wide hardstanding paths and our toilet is wheelchair accessible.
Volunteer sessions: Wednesdays 10am–4pm
www.thegoldenhillcommunitygarden.com
Horfield Organic Community Orchard
Walk down lane beside 22 Kings Drive BS7 8JP
Saturday 22 June, 1–5pm
Pioneering, member-managed orchard. An urban oasis that inspires fruit growing as a way to grow community, wellbeing, and local sustainable food. activities: Home Orchard Plot – how to grow fruit in small spaces. Orchard Learning – new courses in tune with the seasons and nature. Orchard Roots Bristol – exhibition and stories of local, heritage apples. See how a community group transformed marginal land into a beautiful, fruitful orchard bursting with life from the soil to the tops of the trees. Join the orchard – share harvests and how-to.
@HorfieldOrchard · www.community-orchard.org.uk
Let’s Grow Community Allotment
Springfield Allotments, Andover Road, Knowle BS4 1AJ (Entrance via metal gates at the top of Andover Road next to the roundabout where Broadwalk meets Andover Road, if gates closed ring 07940 954568 for access)
Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 June, 12 noon–3pm
Let’s Grow is a community food growing project occupying 1.3 acres of land on the Springfield Allotments with a fantastic view over the Northern Slopes to Bedminster, the suspension bridge beyond. Wildlife pond area, orchard, picnic area, 3 poly tunnels, pizza oven and a tea shed. activities: Buy fresh produce or have a fresh wood fired pizza on Sunday 23 June.
Workdays: Tuesday drop-in 9.30am–1pm
https://kwha1.wordpress.com/what-we-do/ lets-grow-community-allotment/
Lockleaze Community Orchard
Concorde Way Cycle path, just off Bonnington Walk, Horfield
Saturday 22 June, 10am–2pm
A Community Orchard next to the cycle path. activities: We will be digging, planting, laying paths, hoeing and maybe even harvesting.
Workdays: Last Saturday of every month
Lockleazecommunityorchard@gmail.com Facebook Lockleaze Community Orchard
Malago Berry Maze
BS3 5RD (green area opposite Bray & Slaughter Ltd) Located at the junction of Parson Street, Lynton Road and Novers Hill
Saturday 22 June, 10am–1pm
The Malago Berry Maze is an unique community project where members of the local community have come together to create a maze with 17 different types of berry bushes. activities: People visiting will have the opportunity to have a tour of the maze, pick fruit and even join in a planned litter pick.
You may have seen recently that the Berry Maze had been vandalised. The community has pulled together to raise the money needed to repair the damage and Good Gym Bristol (and others) provided the manpower to reinstate the poles, so we will still be able to show people our amazing project as planned on Saturday.
@theberrymaze · The Malago Berry Maze
Redcatch Community Garden
Redcatch Park, The Pavilion, Broadwalk, Knowle BS4 2RD (turning to car park is opposite church on Broadwalk Road)
Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 June, 10am–4pm
We are a community garden growing edible and plant produce using innovative gardening techniques and repurposing old materials. These are for sale and available to munch from our Roots Café. We use a no dig approach, using organic principles and own compost and liquid feeds. We grow sustainably to encourage soil health and biodiversity. Kids can play our mud kitchen and mini polytunnel. activities: Sunday 12 noon – Meet the gardening team and tour the growing area, ask questions and learn about salad growing. Sunday 2pm – Edible flower fun and discover the cleaning powers of plants, including soapwort and loofahs.
Facebook Redcatch Community Garden
RISE
Talbot Allotment Site, Talbot Road, Brislington BS4 2NT (entrance track off Talbot Road towards green gates, the RISE garden is on the left through the gates)
Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 June, 10.30am–12.30pm
Learn-Grow-Cook-Eat-Live. RISE social enterprise aims to tackle long term unemployment in south Bristol by offering vocational skills training in horticulture, cooking and nutrition, retail and hospitality. Our food growing garden provides a nurturing space for learning and wellbeing.
Drop in volunteer sessions: Thursdays 12–4pm
@risesocialenterprise https://the-matthew-tree-project.org/
Talbot Allotments and Leisure Gardens Association
Talbot Allotment Site, Talbot Road, Brislington BS4 2NT (entrance via lane at the bottom of Talbot Road)
Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 June, 10.30am–12.30pm
Our site abuts Callington Road Nature Reserve and Callington Road Hospital, which has a large pond. We have a small wildlife area with bird feeders, foxes’ den and a wide variety of wildlife. The site is edged by a hedge of native species and there are other hedges across the site. activities: We will be staffing our shop on the weekend and will be available to show visitors round.
Totterdown Sprouting
Community Orchard, Park Street BS4 3BJ
Tour: Sunday 23 June, 11am
Sites open to visitors 24/7
Garden Party on Community Space, Wells Road (Zone A) Sunday 23 June, 2.30–5.30pm
The orchard is a small area of steeply sloping land which has been cleared by the community and planted with fruit trees and fruit bushes. There is one old apple tree on the site which probably grew from seed as it is not a known variety. There is a pond and seating has been created from upcycled material.
Zion Community Space and Garden
Bishopsworth Road, Bedminster Down BS13 7JW
Saturday 22 June, 10am–3pm
It’s Zion Community Space’s 8th Birthday and we are opening our doors to celebrate! Our beautiful community garden will be open to explore with a garden trail, alongside the café serving drinks and snacks and hot food till 1pm. Herbs and vegetables are grown in the garden, plus we have bug hotels, wood piles and bird boxes (currently being used by blue tits). We also try to grow flowers that attract bees as well as other wildlife.
0117 923 1212 · www.zionbristol.co.uk
Workdays
Blakeney Road Community Allotment
Blakeney Road Allotments, Patchway BS34 5RT
Workday: Friday 7 June 10am–12 noon
In our community allotment we grow flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs. Come along and see what a day on the allotment is like. We could be digging, weeding, or if you’re lucky, planting and harvesting. There is always a friend to chat with and a cup of tea.
0798 935 1504 · sallylewis@southernbrooks.org.uk
Royate Hill Community Orchard & Allotment Project
Royate Hill allotment site, off Royate Hill, Easton BS5 6RN
(The site is down a track off Royate Hill, just before the viaduct as you travel south. Walk about 400m down track and the Project is on the left.)
Workday: Saturday 1st June 11am-4pm
The project started in 2004, and has been guided by Mike Feingold ever since. The orchard sits on a south-facing slope, and has 50+ fruit tress – apple, pear, plum & quince, plus a variety of fruit bushes. At the bottom of the slope there are 10 veg beds growing a variety of vegetables. We operate according to permaculture principles, and the veg beds are ‘No Dig’. On site we have a roundhouse, greenhouse, several sheds, a compost loo, and fire-pit & eating area. During volunteer work-parties we maintain the orchard, work the veg beds, propagate seeds in the greenhouse, and carry out any necessary repairs to the structures on site. We welcome people at any time during a volunteer work-party, no experience is required. We provide hands-on learning in fruit & veg growing and land/soil preparation.
https://www.facebook.com/royatehill/
Patchwork Community Gardening
Various sites around BS3, see our blog for details
Workday: Last Thursday of the month – 27 June, 6.30pm
We will be holding our regular gardening session on one of our patches, tidying up, weeding and planting.
You might also like to visit some of Bedminster’s other Secret Gardens over the weekend of 15 & 16 June, 12–5pm: https://bloomingbedminster.tumblr.com/secretgardens
Alive Lawrence Weston Community Gardening Group
Blaise Weston Court, Broadlands Drive BS11 0AF Wheelchair accessible
Wednesday 12 June, 12–3.30pm Special opening for the Trail, longer than the usual volunteer session with time before the regular session starts at 1.15pm to introduce visitors to the project.
Come rain or shine, we meet weekly and take part in a range of seasonal gardening and craft activities. We also enjoy a well-earned tea and biscuit break to reflect on our hard work together. It’s a wonderful group, with many regular members, so come along and get gardening! The Lawrence Weston sessions are open to anyone living in the Lawrence Weston area that would like to get involved in a community gardening group. They are suitable for all ages and abilities. Gloves and lightweight tools provided.
Workdays: Wednesdays 1.15–3.30pm
Abi Sweet: 0741 037 9704 · abi@aliveactivities.org https://aliveactivities.org/
City Academy Bristol Community Allotment
City Academy Bristol, Russell Town Avenue BS5 9JH In the Academy grounds near Easton Community Children Centre. Look for a green metal gate opposite the car park (Whitehall Road end of Russell Town Avenue)
Friday 14 June, 11am–1pm
City Academy Bristol allotment is used and developed by a partnership of organisations (CAB, Engage, Beacon Centre Drop in, Easton Children’s centre) and a resident growers’ group. Come and see the site and join in our monthly work session.
Workdays: 2nd Friday of every month, 11am–1pm
