Our story
In 2011, all of this was just a disused piece of land and a seed in the minds of a few dedicated local folk. As a direct result of the views of local residents through public consultations, an agreement between NCC, Cantrell Primary School and BFG was formed, providing a whopping 20 year lease on the land!
A phased plan was developed, to include food growing and wildlife areas, a community orchard and outdoor kitchen.
In July 2012, BFG opened its gates for the first time, with local residents volunteering their time to transform the unused land into an area fit for growing fruit and vegetables.
Cantrell Primary School were provided with an access gate from their playground and offered exclusive use of the Community Garden on Tuesdays and Thursdays as an outdoor classroom.
The summer of 2012 saw the first of our Family Sessions, which were popular from the beginning, including free workshops such as building bird boxes, gardening skills, environmental crafts and healthy cooking.
From then, we have gone from strength to strength, becoming a charity and employing 3 workers to ensuring the projects sustainability.
What we do
Bulwell Forest Garden is open 4 days a week, with volunteering opportunities in gardening and wildlife conservation—or just as a lovely space to come and hang out!
Our primary aim is to grow fruit and vegetables together as a community, then share it out.
If you volunteer with us, you’ll get to take some produce away for free.
If you don’t volunteer with us, you can give us a donation for seasonal produce which is advertised at the gate.
We offer regular family activities during school holidays such environmental crafts, gardening, and healthy cooking workshops as well as adult learning courses throughout the year. Check our events page for more info.
You can also sample our produce at our Big Friendly Lunch Club every Friday during the summer, where we cook a two course vegetarian meal with produce harvested that morning. See our Lunch Club section for more info and recipe ideas.
Health and wellbeing is the heart of everything we do at BFG, including weekly yoga sessions during the summer.
Our vision
Develop a community garden to include food growing, general wildlife areas, and community spaces in order to create a stronger sense of community responsibility and ownership.
Provide greater access to affordable fruit and vegetables as well as opportunities for local people and the wider community to learn about and be involved with growing food.
Support healthy living as well as environmental and food growing education and training for people of all ages, including community groups and schools.
