Cropwell Community Garden

Cropwell Community Garden is a project working in collaboration with our local pub/brewery, Scouts and villagers. The aim is to develop a community market garden, where our rural community are able to participate in growing produce for the village, and engage in horticultural activities. Once works are completed it will be an accessible green space, alongside a place to host activities and events. This former private allotment has spent many years overgrown. In 2022, work began by filling a giant skip full of garden waste, rubbish, bonfire piles and broken glass, alongside clearing the growing brambles and invasive perennial weeds. We are now in the process of landscaping and building the infrastructure of the plot including a polytunnel and greenhouse repair. The plot is around 320m² and maintained using agroecological practices to support wildlife and soil health. You can also follow the project on Facebook.

Many thanks to Rushcliffe Borough Council and The National Lottery who have funded this project.

What happened so far..

  • Removed dangerous waste and contaminants

  • Filled a large skip with bonfire waste and dumped junk

  • Cleared the site of head high brambles and nettles

  • Levelled the whole site (by hand!)

  • Filled and removed many ton green waste bags (which go to a local farmer’s composting site and spread on local fields)

  • Made the greenhouse safe and built raised beds inside

  • Built compost bays for garden waste

  • Removed huge patches of ground elder by hand

  • Repaired the gate and installed new fence posts

  • Reduced and tidied the boundary hedges

  • Undertook arboriculture work to save onsite trees

  • Removed a rotting shed and reused what we could

  • Built a number of garden beds using no dig techniques

  • Used mushroom compost and manure for growing

  • Local tree surgeon provided woodchip for the site

  • Covered paths with woodchip to keep weeds down

  • Local Scouts hold sessions and help develop the garden

  • Held an open day for the village with free seeds and plants

  • Set up website and Facebook page

  • Grant funded for purchase of polytunnel for year round growing

& What’s next

  • Repair greenhouse by sourcing and installing new glass

  • Install more rainwater catchment including use of IBCs

  • Communal seating so the whole village can spend time in the garden

  • Field shelter for semi indoor space when it is raining or very hot

  • Purchase of a shed for community garden tools

  • Mini orchard with native and local fruit tree varieties

  • Mini wetland to attract and support local frogs, newts and dragonflies

  • Finish building beds for maximum fruit, veg and herb production

  • Set up more composting, worm farms and bokashi

  • Build a community seed library and host seed swaps

  • Have a grand opening event for the village and local council

  • Finish woodchip paths once infrastructure has been finished

  • Build a produce stand for villagers to access weekly harvests

  • Commission a local artist to install a colourful mural

  • Potentially get a new fence for the perimeter of pub car park

  • Purchase of community tools including gloves and garden equipment

  • Set up of village ‘Little Free Library’ stand with books, seeds etc.

  • Host annual Cropwell Abundance event with fruit swap and share

  • Development of event programme and workshops

  • Aim to open every Friday and drop in sessions throughout the month