Do you want to get involved in a community growing group in Bristol? Here is a map to help you find out where to go to find peaceful city sanctuaries and social garden spaces. Click on the icons on the map below to find out where the gardens are, what they are doing and how to find out more information. Each has a highlighted section telling you how you can get involved and take a bite of Bristol’s home grown food!

View the Get Going Growing map at full screen.

We have tried to make this information as up to date as possible, but if you see a mistake or missing information, please let us know by emailing hello@bristolfoodnetwork.org

GET INVOLVED WITH A COMMUNITY GROUP

There is a huge range of volunteer opportunities across Bristol. Think carefully about what you want to offer – such as time, skills or knowledge – and what you want to get out of it – are you there for produce, keeping fit, making friends? Volunteering should be fun and worthwhile, if you don’t enjoy your first experience try a different garden, there are plenty to choose from!

Edible Bristol offers an easy way to get started with growing. There’s no membership, no contract or tenancy, you can learn from others as you go, and you still get a share of the harvest. Edible Bristol grow food in small community patches, in front gardens, alongside roads, outside shops – wherever there’s a bit of space. Anyone is free to harvest the food – all you’re asked to do is to wait till the crops are properly ready, not to take everything in one go, and to replace a little.

COMMUNITY ORCHARDS

If only have a few spare hours a year and you like fruit, get involved with a community orchard and share the harvest. Learn more about pruning and maintaining fruit trees, harvesting and all important cider-making! Explore the map above to find out where your local community orchards are, and how you can get involved.

CITY FARMS

Learn about small scale agriculture and animal husbandry. Generally city farms offer well organised volunteer opportunities and are a good place to build your skills. Explore the map above to find out where your local city farms are, and how you can get involved.

TRANSITION GROUPS

Transition groups are working to raise awareness of climate change and peak oil and the impact both will have on our lives. These groups are seeking to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by promoting sustainable lifestyles, including local resilient food production.

• Sustainable Westbury on Trym: SusWoT have developed several growing projects, raising around 2,000 veg plants each year for sale, creating veg seed packs tailored especially for small gardens, trialling different wormeries and developing the lovely Stoke Lane Community Garden.
• Sustainable Thornbury: Sustainable Thornbury want to be more energy efficient, and generate more energy locally. They want to grow more food locally and to eat more local food, waste less and use more locally produced goods. They want a strong community that feels able to do things for itself. The group runs a community orchard.

GARDENING GROUPS

• Avon Organic Group: Get advice on organic gardening, go on visit gardens and swap seeds by joining Avon Organic Group.
• Bristol Permaculture Group: Get advice on Permaculture and sustainable gardening; join jam making sessions, seed swaps and wild forage walk by joining the Bristol Permaculture Group. Everything goes through email list – contact bristol_permaculture@yahoo.co.uk to join the email group.