As gardeners gear up for the growing season, many are looking beyond their own front doors to the communal spirit and shared satisfaction of growing together.
The Big Dig, now in its third year, is the nation's community food growing celebration and in London is part of Urban Food Routes supported by Seeds of Change. On the weekend of 22 and 23 March, volunteers will join in the preparations for spring at gardens all over the country. Visitors will discover what it's like to volunteer at one of these cherished green spaces, taking away new skills from shed-building and composting to herb identification and eco-friendly cooking.
The Maryon Park community food-growing project in Charlton was launched on Big Dig Day 2013. Progress on the 8,000-sq-metre (2-acre) site has been impressive, with volunteers crucial. "The Big Dig aims to get people involved with their local community garden," says organiser Tim Anderson, "and we were able to tap into it and recruit volunteers – we wouldn't have been able to do it without them." There's now a waiting list for the 16 plots at Maryon Park and with a forest area, wild flower bank, communal herb garden, small orchard, children's area and even art installations, there's plenty to do.
Friendships have been forged thanks to the garden, Tim says. "It's brought people together who wouldn't have known each other. We're very multicultural, and each one of our plotholders has an amazing story; they might have expertise that local retired people don't."
There's always work to do, says Tim's wife and project co-ordinator Edna Anderson. Her belief in sustainability drives the organic ethos of the garden. "I'm passionate about looking after the Earth, and looking after people as well," she says. Maryon Park is a member of Capital Growth, a network of over 2,000 London gardens whose gardeners organise the event in the capital.
Many UK cities are part of the Big Dig movement. The landscape practice Groundwork Greater Nottingham is delivering the Climate Friendly Gardeners Project at the Windmill Community Gardens. Low-impact techniques are at the heart of the garden, and with an on-site bread oven and low-fuel rocket stoves, the approach extends to eating, too. "We always try to sit down and share food," says Claire Hale of Groundwork, "it's something everyone can relate to. Visitors will get a flavour of the experiences on the site, the different things we can grow and eat, and the workshops we run.
"Volunteers who open up the site for a community event, or maintain the Facebook page, are just as important as those in their wellies turning the soil every day."
The Big Dig in London is funded by the Urban Food Routes programme, which supports the development of London's food growing projects and enterprises. Urban Food Routes is co-ordinated by the Plunkett Foundation and supported by the Mayor of London and Seeds of Change.
Get involved
Community gardens across the UK, from Totnes to Newcastle upon Tyne, are currently getting ready for the Big Dig on 22-23 March and they need your help. To find your nearest community growing project and learn how you can join in, visit: bigdig.org.uk
