Author: jojojoco

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Grow Community – Sopwell celebrates another year!

Group of people walking towards building at sunset

Image credit: Gail Jackson

Thanks to everyone who came along to our 2024 AGM. This year included a tour of the growing spaces at the Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre (well done to the youth groups growing in the raised beds!), an overview of an active year, and some fantastic sharing food.

Minutes for the meeting are now available here.
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Weekend Working Parties for 2024

Get your gardening gloves on and join us at Berners Drive Community Garden!

Details for Berners Drive Community Garden gardening sessions

Get growing with us Saturdays and Sundays from March until the end of the year. Around during the week? We also have sessions from 10 am every Thursday. Find us at Berners Drive Community Garden, AL1 2JB. No experience or equipment necessary, although you’re more than welcome to bring your gloves and tools if you have them.

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Be a part of our Jigsaw Meadow!

Want to be part of something big?

Small as a window box, large as a garden – do you have some land to spare? Grow Community – Sopwell launch the Jigsaw Meadow project in March 2024 when they will ask you to spare a piece of land; window box or patio planter, so together we create a Jigsaw or wildlife ‘corridor’ across Sopwell.

Wildlife corridors are vital for the survival of our natural neighbours. They bridge the gap between habitats which otherwise would be small and isolated and join them together, allowing movement between important habitats to support wildlife populations.


Have you got a metre of land for the Jigsaw Meadow?
Think about what space you can spare for wildlife in your garden and measure it (in cm). In February we will ask you to submit measurements so we can provide you with the right amount of seeds and knowledge to create a welcoming space for bees, butterflies, ladybirds and other amazing critters.


Last year Marshalswick Community Garden created a half-acre meadow with local residents. We have already had sponsorship from Aylett Nursery and other seed companies and Cottonmill Community & Cycling Centre have promised us a spot of land, but nature needs all the help it can get so we are aiming bigger!

Ask groups you know for some land for the Jigsaw Meadow.

Can you ask any local businesses, schools, faith groups – anyone with any land – to see if they can join in by donating a spot of land, big or small. Over winter have a look outside and see if there is any space that might be spared.
For more info email us here

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Visit one of our Growing sites

Wonderful community projects taking place in Sopwell

Map of Sopwell showing plant growing sites
Image credit: Michelle Mackenzie

Thanks to Michelle Mackenzie for our amazing updated map showing our four growing sites:

  • Berners Drive Community Garden. Seasonal fruit and veg grown by the community and free to harvest, alongside bug hotel and wildflower area. We have plans to bring in a bench for people to rest and enjoy the garden, as well as to provide seating for our outdoor workshops and talks.
  • Martyr Close wildflower meadow. We’re building a wildlife rich area with longer grass and native wildflower species, along with two bug hotels to encourage small mammals and insects. There is some seating for visiting school groups or people who just want to enjoy nature.
  • Abbots Avenue Planters. Free to pick herbs in one bed and free to enjoy flowering bulbs and bushes in the other.
  • Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre. To expand on the fruit trees and wildflower area at the Centre, we are looking at further tree planting for shaded seating and some raised beds for more veg planting.

Keep an eye out on our website posts or on our Facebook page for more information and upcoming events.