Latest news and blog
June 2025
Thanks to 9th West Bridgford Scout group for all their help once again! This time getting the garden tidied up for the growing season ahead.. the mini orchard pictured was also planted by the group last year .
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Weds 11/06 6.30pm: Good Grief Dear Garden cafe with willow weaving ADVANCE BOOKING recommended, more details: https://fb.me/e/6PyaRxAfY
Mon 16/06 7.30pm: Our talk at Cropwell Bishop Growers & Gardeners about the garden and no dig growing methods (at The Old School, Cropwell Bishop)
Sat 28/06: garden is open, plant sale and hopefully some produce available too!
May 2025
New garden cafe with Good Grief Dear
We've teamed up with Good Grief Dear CIC to host a new Garden Cafe starting on Wednesday 11th June 6pm-7.30pm! The first cafe will be WILLOW WEAVING with Poppy from Wild and Wonder.
The cafe will run once a month, every second Wednesday, and is free to attend for people experiencing any kind of grief or bereavement. Refreshments will be provided. Thanks to Nottinghamshire County Council for funding this project. Please get in touch with Good Grief Dear at goodgriefdear@gmail.com to find out more or come along (see flyer below for details). See our Events Calendar for the programme.
Spring 2025
Plans for summer
We are getting ready to reopen for summer! Our opening hours will be different this year, and we will focus more on producing vegetables for the local area. Some plans include a natural dye group, evening openings, hosting a garden cafe, and open days. We will also be giving a talk on the development of the garden and no-dig growing methods at Cropwell Bishop Growers & Gardeners in June.
See our Events Calendar for up to date information.
If you would like to get involved with the garden at any point this coming season, please get in touch: cropwellcommunitygarden@gmail.com
Winter 2024
Snow(!) and winter closure
The garden is now CLOSED for the winter season; we wish everyone a restorative and joyful winter, and a huge thank you to all those who have supported the community garden this year. Our opening hours and first planned events for 2025 will be updated in the New Year. We look forward to continue working toward a local agroecological food system and sharing the joy of community horticulture.
Autumn 2024
Photo diary
Summer 2024
Summer harvests and PloughFest
March 2024
Orchard planting
Local Scouts came to help plant 5 heritage fruit trees in the garden, did you know just 5 fruit trees qualifies as an orchard?
Our orchard consists of:
- Apple - Ashmead’s Kernal
- Apple - Bardsey
- Apple - Bramley’s Seedling
- Plum - Yellow Pershore
- Gage - Willingham
Read all about the orchard here.
2023
What’s happened so far and what’s happening next?
Work undertaken so far
- Removed dangerous waste and contaminants
- Filled a large skip with bonfire waste, litter, and dumped junk
- Cleared the site of head high brambles and nettles
- Levelled the whole site by hand
- Filled and removed many builders bags of green waste,
these are taken to a local farmer’s composting site, and the compost spread on local fields - Made the greenhouse safe and built raised beds inside
- Built compost bays for manageable amounts of garden waste
- Removed huge patches of ground elder by hand
- Repaired the gate and installed new fence posts
- Reduced and tidied the boundary hedges
- 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
- Our local tree surgeon provides woodchip for the site paths and to keep weeds down
- Local Scouts hold sessions and help develop the garden
- Held open days for the village with free seeds and plants
- Set up website and Facebook page
- Awarded grant funding for development of the garden
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Purchase of a new shed to replace rotten one, for storage and rainwater catchment
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Planting of mini orchard consisting of heritage fruit tree varieties
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Install more rainwater catchment including purchase and use of IBC
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Communal seating so the whole village can spend regular time in the garden
- Development of event programme and workshops throughout the year
- Aim to open every Friday and have workshop sessions throughout the year
Planned work
- Gain planning permission to install a polytunnel and other structures
- Plant a natural dye bed and host a natural dying learning group
- Installation of shelter for cover when it is raining or very hot
- 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 facilities including worm farms and bokashi
- Build a ‘Little Free Library’ for community seed library and host seed swaps
- Finish woodchip paths once infrastructure has been installed
- Build a produce stand for villagers to access weekly harvests more regularly
- Commission a local artist to paint a colourful mural on the fence
- Purchase of community tools including gloves and garden equipment
- Purchase an apple press for community apple juicing day
- Host annual Cropwell Abundance event with fruit swap and share
Last updated 6th May 2025
How to find us
View our photo gallery
Learn more about our agroecology values
Events calendar