“The lads thought chives only came in Pringles crisps!” says John, as we share a hearty lunch of curried lentil soup, chips and cheese rolls, – the same food the prisoners will be tucking into in another building nearby. John works at Thorn Cross (HMP) prison in Cheshire. He’s been supporting the prison’s horticultural training […]
Gardening
Why you should visit the National Fruit Collection
(…when safe & feasible to). What is Brogdale Collections? Brogdale Collections manages public access to the UK’s National Fruit Collection (NFC) at Brogdale Farm near Faversham in Kent. It is the largest collection of temperate fruit in one place in the world! Row upon row of fruit trees and grape vines make up its treasure […]
Racial Justice and Community Orchards
How does racial inequality manifest within public greenspaces? The accessibility of natural spaces is not just a matter of social status; race matters too. Our CEO and Operations Director reflect on how race matters within greenspaces and remind us that diversity always wins in the natural world. – By Kath Rosen and Ella Hashemi. As […]
Locking-down is Slowing-down: A new, national appreciation for nature’s rhythms?
“The rhythm we adopt when tending to plants is the perfect antidote to the instant gratification and high-speed consumerism rife within our pre-pandemic society.” – Jo Hooper and Nicole Thomas reflect on the recent surge in gardening and what this might mean for our wellbeing. We’ve living in a ‘Crop-Growing Revolution’, according to The Guardian. […]