Category: News

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Join us on 30th November for Grow’s Sustainable Wreath workshop!

Image credit: Kate Swindells

You are warmly invited to join us at this year’s Sustainable Wreath Workshop from 2 ‘til 4pm on Saturday 30th November.

Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sustainable-festive-wreath-making-workshop-tickets-1059584839779?aff=oddtdtcreator

Once you have ordered your tickets, keep an eye out for an email from us with further information and details on how to pay.

All are also welcome to join us at 10am on the morning of the Workshop for our optional foliage collection walk (see details on Eventbrite).

Bring your own wreath base or purchase a locally-made, reusable wreath base from us for £5 (provided on the day).

Refreshments will be available.

Suggested donations are: Members: £8, Non-members: Sopwell residents £10, living outside Sopwell £15, Children: £8 if making their own wreath (children taking part must be accompanied by an adult) or free if helping with an adult’s wreath. Maximum 2 children per adult.

All profits raised go towards Grow Community – Sopwell’s projects.


Looking forward to seeing you there!
Jo, Nelly and the Grow Team

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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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New Year’s Eve: Morning Stroll and Plant Hunt

Sunday 31st December | 11am – 12pm | Berners Drive Community Garden | Berners Dr, St Albans AL1 2JB

Join thousands of plant lovers searching for wildflowers in bloom – out hunting across Britain and Ireland – with friends and family, joining a group hunt or going solo.

Help us learn more about how our wild and naturalised plants are responding to a changing climate.

We’ll meet up at Berners Drive Community Garden, and then head for Nunnery Open Space via the Alban Way.

Please dress for the weather and for soggy, slippy ground conditions.

If you’re on Facebook, let us know you’re coming here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1404415210175850

Otherwise, more details are here (search under Hertfordshire): https://bsbi.org/nyphevents/st-albans-plant-hunt

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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