For 2023, the Get Growing Trail ran over the weekend of 3–4 June.

Download the 2023 Trail leaflet here.

STOP PRESS! 02/06/23
We’ve just had news from Herbalists without Borders Bristol that they’ll sadly not be able to open for the Get Growing Trail this weekend, due to illness. There are regular volunteer sessions at the site if you want to get involved there another time. Keep an eye on their website for more info: bristolhwb.org

Participating sites this year

Alive dementia-friendly allotment 
Charlton Road Allotments, Brentry, BS10 6JZ 
Opposite 332 Charlton Road. We’re the first plot on the right through the gates.

Sunday 4 June, 2–4pm
Come and visit Bristol’s first dementia-friendly allotment, as seen on Gardeners’ World. At Alive, we’re passionate about community growing projects and therapeutic horticulture and strongly believe in working with nature to heal ourselves and the world around us. We have a defined nature area at the allotment, places to relax and a large variety of fruit, veg and flowers growing in the beds. We’re looking forward to showcasing what we do at our peaceful, green space in North Bristol and challenging preconceptions around age and dementia. 
Volunteer sessions: Mondays 9.45am–12.15pm & 1.15–4pm, Tuesdays 1.15–4pm. We mostly need session support volunteers during these times – please contact volunteer@aliveactivities.org before attending. aliveactivities.org/what-we-do/services/alive-gardening · 07423 719 088

Blaise Community Garden 
Church Lane, Henbury, BS10 7QS 
Adjacent to Blaise Castle Museum through metal gate to the left of the Museum.
Saturday 3 June, 10am–2pm
Blaise Community Garden is entirely run by volunteers and is a registered charity. Not an allotment, all produce is shared by the group. We have beehives for pollination but we don’t eat their honey. We encourage insect-friendly planting and have a wildflower meadow. There is a pond full of frogs, newts and dragonflies. There is a woodpile left undisturbed for bugs and mini beasts. Some areas are ‘no dig’ beds. So this is a place where we grow food, flowers, fruit, frogs and friendship. We will be running our pop up café with refreshments and home made cakes. Volunteer sessions: Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays 10am–2pm www.blaisecommunitygarden.org.uk 

Bramble Farm
Beckington Walk, Knowle, BS3 5EA
Satnav postcode BS4 1AW. From Redcatch Road, enter Stockwood Crescent and we are midpoint around the crescent. Walk through the privet hedges onto Northern Slopes and turn right. Signs will lead the way!
Saturday 3 June, 11–4pm
Bramble Farm started up more than a decade 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 it a very special place. Come and have a look around and a bite to eat. Visit the animals and veg patch in this beautiful spot on the Northern Slopes. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more information about what we will be offering for the trail.

Bridge Farm
Bridge Farm Community, BS16 1BQ
On the corner of Glenfrome Road and Bell Hill, Stapleton. 
Visit: Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 June, 11–4pm
Volunteer: both days 12–4pm
A bridge between city and country, this farm is emergent and creative, self-organising and inspiring with plants perennial and vegetable, herbs and trees, animals, insects, people and history. Come be a part of something special. Bridge Farm will be open to all on both days, for both visits and volunteering. No need to book. Volunteer sessions: alternate Sundays, see Instagram or website for details.

Dame Emily Park Project
Dame Emily Park, Morley Road entrance, BS3 1BS Bus 24 stops at Dean Lane park entrance.
Open access site 24/7 all year round
Volunteers on site Sunday 4 June, 2–4pm
Planting, seeding and digging · Visit our Bee Village · Collect free herbs for visitors · Nature related kids activity · Have a chat over coffee and snacks dameemilypark.com

Easton Community Garden
Gordon Road, Easton, BS5 7EE
Just off Bristol to Bath Railway Path. Down drive between 58 and 60 Gordon Road. Large green gate on the left. 
Sunday 4 June, 11am–3pm
Easton Community Garden is a beautiful hidden retreat just off the cycle path. We grow vegetables, fruit, flowers, herbs and trees using permaculture methods. We aim to be as environmentally friendly as possible (we collect all our own water and make our own compost and plant feeds) and the garden is full of bees, butterflies, birds and frogs. On weekly drop in days we are open to everyone to learn, grow, make friends, share plants and harvests, or just sit and relax. No cost, no commitment, just come and enjoy – although we are always keen to meet new volunteers! Sun/rain shelter. Shared tools and harvest. Volunteer sessions: Sundays & Wednesdays 11am–2pm www.eastoncommunitygarden.org.uk

Filton Community Garden
Elm Park, by Filton Leisure Centre, BS34 7PS
Access from leisure centre car park or A4174.
Open access site 24/7 all year round
Volunteers on site Saturday 3 June, 11am–1pm 
Volunteers will be weeding, planting and sowing and you are welcome to join in. Take a tour of the garden to see how we encourage pollinators and wildlife and how we have made it a peaceful place for humans to enjoy as well! Find out how we involve the community and how we are adapting planting for dry summers. Visit the fairy tree, pond, orchard and herb beds.
Volunteer sessions: alternate Saturdays 11am–1pm. Facebook: Filton Community Garden

Fishponds Community Orchard
Thingwall Park Allotments, Fishponds, BS16 2AE Access is via 2 entrances to Thingwall Park Allotments. 
Sunday 4 June, 2–5pm
The orchard covers three adjoining allotment plots bordering the Frome Valley and Eastville Park. It contains a wide range of fruit trees, grown organically and managed to encourage wildlife. Some of the trees are rare Gloucestershire varieties. There are also edible and dead hedges, a small pond and willow den, picnic tables and benches. Visit this beautiful space and learn about how the orchard has developed over 16 years, the regular events and activities that take place and how it is managed by its volunteers and supported by members. Facebook: Fishponds Community Orchard

Grow Wilder (Avon Wildlife Trust) 
181 Frenchay Park Road, Stapleton, BS16 1EL 
Near the corner of Stoke Lane. 
Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 June, 10am–4pm 
Our mission at Grow Wilder is to bring about urgent action for the protection and regeneration of wildlife. We do this by educating and empowering people, communities and businesses to make positive changes and by demonstrating sustainable approaches to habitat creation, regeneration and organic food growing. Volunteer-run café, wildflower nursery, pick-your-own veg, organic produce for sale. Volunteers welcome – please see website for details: www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/explore/grow-wilder

Hartcliffe City Farm
Lampton Avenue, Hartcliffe, BS13 0QH
Limited parking, park on Lampton Avenue if you can. Hartcliffe City Farm open 6 days a week to the public 
Sunday 4 June, 2–4pm
Hartcliffe City Farm Market Garden and the Heart of BS13 Flower Farm will be open for tours of the gardens and fresh garden produce sales on Sunday, 2–4pm. Hartcliffe City Farm is open to the public Tuesday–Sunday and has regular garden volunteer days and wellbeing sessions, farm animals, educational garden space, and programmes for children and young people. hartcliffecityfarm.org.uk

Hazelnut Community Farm
Garden of St Anne’s Church, St Leonard’s Road, Greenbank, BS5 6JN
Saturday 3 June, 10am–3pm
We are a welcoming community garden that grows food collectively to give away, great for all ages and no experience needed. We also have loads of creative expressions and are aiming to develop community connections and training sessions. Volunteer sessions: Sundays 3–5pm www.hazelnutcommunityfarm.com

Horfield Organic Community Orchard
Nearest postcode BS7 8JP
Walk down the lane beside 22 Kings Drive (between Bishop Road & Kellaway Avenue), turn left and it’s the first gate on the right. Or take the lane beside 134 Longmead Avenue Field (BS7 8QQ) until you come to the last gate on the left.
Saturday 3 June, 2–5pm
Pioneering, member-managed orchard celebrating 25 years of inspiring fruit growing as a way to grow community, wellbeing, and local food. See our home orchard plot (how to grow fruit in small spaces) and our experiments with nature-friendly management of pests and diseases and passive water capture. Growing resilience is vital as climate chaos changes everything. Support the orchard – join HOCO as a Friend. Homemade cakes, refreshments, produce & plants for sale. 
www.community-orchard.org.uk · hocohello@gmail.com · 0117 373 1587

Knowle West Edible Gardens CIC
Inns Court Community and Family Centre,
1 Marshall Walk, BS4 1TR
Enter via Inns Court Green (northern section): come through the gates at the end and through the car/minibus park.
Sunday 4 June, 10am-4pm
In the walled garden at the back of Inns Court Community Centre we’re growing some very tasty fruits and vegetables, and feeding them with green manure and homemade compost. We’re growing wildflowers to encourage all kinds of insects and birds. We’ve got espaliered fruit trees, grape vines climbing up pillars, and tomatoes and peppers in the polytunnel. On the day, we’ll be serving tea and coffee, plus homemade soup and bread from our potting shed. Kids can have fun and leave their mark stencilling on the shed. Morning volunteer sessions 10am–1pm, finishing with a cooked lunch – please call or text in advance. www.innscourtgarden.com · 07905 961 876

Lawrence Weston Community Farm
Saltmarsh Drive, BS11 0NJ 
Open to the public Tuesday–Sunday 9.30am–4.30pm
Saturday 3 June, 10am–12 noon, staff on-site for Trail
The Farm is a community-managed project that aims to improve the quality of life for local people. We do this by working with members of the local community and other groups to provide exciting and inclusive activities, as well as a safe, free, green community space. The farm wants to provide a supportive environment in which people can flourish and contribute positively to their community. We have a vegetable garden, wildilife garden, community orchard and woodland. We manage the site by working with nature – there is plenty of work all year round including cleaning, planting, maintaining, coppicing, propagation and growing flowers and vegetables. Accessible site. www.lwfarm.org.uk/index.html

Malago Berry Maze
Malago Greenway cycle path BS3
Just off Marksbury Road along the cycle path to Parson St.
Saturday 3 June, 10am–1pm
The Malago Berry Maze is a unique community project which offers the opportunity for free foraging of the numerous berries growing around the maze, including the highly sought after yellow raspberries! Volunteers will be weeding, planting and mowing and providing tours of the maze and identifying the various berries and plants. Facebook: The Malago Greenway Berry Maze

Metford Road Community Orchard
Metford Road Allotments, Medford Road, Redland, BS6 &:A
Entrance by number 37
Sunday 4 June, 12-5pm
Mature organic orchard/forest garden based on permaculture principles, growing all sorts including apples, plums, pears, grapes, figs, medlars, mulberry, quince, almond, various soft fruits, herbs, wild flowers, mixed hedges, a few veg, and community. South-facing, with a stream and umpteen sunken baths, the site is teeming with wildlife. It’s steep and uneven, so sturdy shoes are a must. Compost loo and green oak shelter. Light refreshments, guided tours, hopefully a quiz or treasure hunt, and a warm welcome on offer to fellow nature-lovers. Our site is only accessible to those without any mobility problems. Sadly we can do nothing about that. mrco.wikidot.com

New Roots Garden
44 Speedwell Road, BS5 7SB
Up the little lane next to 44 Speedwell Road. Call the number on the poster on the gate and we’ll let you in.
Saturday 3 June, 11am–4pm
A garden, a wilderness in the city, a place to come together, to laugh, to grow food, to make friends, to share food, to feel blessed – bees, herbs, fruit trees, veg beds, polytunnel, cob shelter, compost loo. Shared by many, open to all, and especially wanting to provide a nurturing and nourishing space for those with little access to nature. Volunteer sessions: Regular Friday volunteer days. Facebook group: New Roots Garden

Redcatch Community Garden
The Pavillion, Redcatch Park, Broadwalk, Knowle
BS4 2RD
Saturday 3 June, 10am–1pm
Garden Tours at 11am & 12 noon
We are a community garden growing edible and plant produce using innovative gardening techniques and re-purposing old materials. We use a ‘no dig’ approach, using organic principles and our own compost and liquid feeds. We grow sustainably to encourage soil health and biodiversity. Produce is turned into food available for our Roots Cafe and events, or sold in our shop. The Garden supports our mental health and well-being groups, visiting school groups, and sessions and activities. come meet the Gardening Team, tour the growing area and ask questions. www.redcatchcommunitygarden.com

St George Park Community Garden
St George Park, St George, BS5 9AT
Open access site 24/7 all year round
Volunteers on site Saturday 3 June, 10am–12 noon
The community garden is right in the middle of lovely St George Park, located on the old bandstand site. It has four large raised beds and a circular central bed, planted with herbs and pollinator-friendly perennial flowers. The community garden is popular and enjoyed as a place to play or have a quiet sit down. It’s next to the park café if you need a drink, a snack or a small bag of duck food! The organic veg and fruit grown is for everyone to enjoy and harvest when ready. Volunteers are welcome to join our gardening activities. Volunteer sessions: 1st and 3rd Saturdays, April–November, 10am–12noon. Facebook: Friends of St George Park

St Werburghs City Farm & Propagation Place
Watercress Road, St Werburghs, BS2 9YJ
www.swcityfarm.co.uk/city-farm/get-directions (directions for travelling on foot, bicycle, bus and train).
The City Farm opens to the public 7 days a week, 9am–5pm. The Community Garden on Mina Road is open 24/7, 365 days/year.
On Saturday 3 June, 10am–2pm, staff will be on-site, specifically for the Trail, at the City Farm and Propagation Place
Propagation Place will offer on-site sales of vegetable plug plants, a tour of our secret garden, and the option to learn about sowing and caring for seedlings. Sit down for a picnic in the Farm’s bee garden or at Propagation Place. Meals are available from the Farm cafe as usual. Propagation Place, the Community Garden, and the Farm are wheelchair accessible. www.propagationplace.co.uk · www.swcityfarm.co.uk

Sustainable Westbury on Trym (SusWoT)
47 Abbey Road, BS9 3QN & Stoke Lane Community Garden, by the Coop, Stoke Lane, BS9 3RW
47 Abbey Road: Saturday 3 June, 11am–4pm
Stoke Lane Community Garden: Saturday 3 June, 2–4pm
Visit 47 Abbey Road to buy tomato and other vegetable plants to grow. There will be people on hand to advise you how to grow tomatoes and other vegetables. Visit the community garden to relax. www.suswot.org.uk

The Golden Hill Community Garden
Through allotment gates at end of Monk Road, Bishopston, BS7 8NE
Behind Horfield Prison
Saturday 3 June, 10am–1pm
We are an accessible and child-friendly site just off Gloucester Road. We have two large polytunnels, 40+ ‘no dig’ raised beds, two ponds, play houses and a digging bed, a well and solar-powered pump supplying water to the allotment and a strawbale eco house. We always garden with nature in mind. Come along for tea, chats, cake, plants and pond dipping. Wheelchair assessible. Disabled parking on site on request.
Volunteers sessions: Wednesdays, 10am-5pm thegoldenhillcommunitygarden.com

The Haven
Claybottom Allotments, Wainbrook Drive, Claybottom, BS5 7EG
Walk to the end of Wainbrook Drive onto the grassy verge walk through the tunnel, The Haven is straight ahead
Saturday 3 June, 12–5pm
We are a grassroots community nature-based project set up by and for people with lived experience of addiction, mental health issues, life trauma and social isolation. Our site of 1.3 acres hosts a variety of habitats and different growing spaces. www.havenlandcommunity.org.uk

Totterdown Community Orchard
At the bottom of Park Street, Totterdown, BS4 3BJ
Open access site 24/7 all year round
Volunteers on site Saturday 3 June 10am–12 noon
The community orchard was founded more than 15 years ago on steep wasteland. There is a old apple tree which probably grew from seed at the time of the 1970s house clearances for a road never built. Planted trees include apple, pear, quince, cherry and plum with a range of soft fruit bushes. Regular activities include apple pressing in the autumn and a January wassail with occasional activities and work parties. The area has a small pond and bee hives. Honey is available to buy. The adjacent community space is used and maintained by local residents as a place to meet up and play as well as being a favourite space for mountain bike tricks. www.tresa.org.uk

Tynings Field Community Orchard 
65 Woodwell Road, Shirehampton, BS11 9UG 
Before the railway bridge on the left. 
Sunday 4 June, 3–5pm 
Orchard, geese, veg, wildflower plots and compost toilet. Facebook: Tynings Field Community Group 

University of Bristol Botanic Garden 
The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, Stoke Bishop, BS9 1JG 10am–4.30pm, 7 days a week
Sunday 4 June, 11am: special tour of the Botanic Garden focusing on the growing of exotic vegetables. No need to book. 
Entry free on production of the Trail leaflet at the Welcome Lodge.
Dramatic displays illustrating collections of Mediterranean flora, rare native, useful plants (including Chinese and Western herbs) and those that illustrate plant evolution. Wildflower meadow, enchanting lake and pond with aquatic flora, glasshouses, home to giant Amazon water lily, tropical fruit, medicinal plants, orchids, cacti and a unique sacred lotus collection. Refreshments on the west terrace provided by Chandos Deli. Wheelchair accessible. botanic-garden.bristol.ac.uk · 0117 428 2041 

Windmill Hill City Farm 
Phillip Street, Bedminster, BS3 4EA 
Saturday 3 June & Sunday 4 June, 9am–5pm
Two garden tours: Saturday, 10.30 & 11.30am
Windmill Hill City Farm is a 4.5-acre green space in South Bristol. On site, you’ll find community gardens, a variety of farm animals, a play area, picnic areas and a café and farm shop. On Saturday morning at 10.30am and 11.30am, we will be running a tour of the gardens which will involve a chance to meet the garden team and taste some of the wonderful seasonal produce! Meet by the greenhouse. www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk 

Woodcroft Community Orchard
Woodcroft Road Allotments, BS4 4QW
Find us down the lane on the corner of Birchwood & Woodcroft, double gates.
Sunday 4 June, 11am–3pm
We’ve been concentrating on habitat recently, developing our wildlife pond area with a bog garden. We are building habitat piles with materials and deadwood that would otherwise be burned or removed. We will be chatting about the work we have done and sharing future plans. Kids activities TBC.
Volunteer sessions: 1st Sunday of the month. Facebook: Woodcroft Community Orchard