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Welcome to the first issue of this newsletter.
We want to share the activities of community growing and gardening groups all over the City.
The pandemic has made everyone more aware of how precious our green spaces are and how important it is to local food production, biodiversity and wellbeing. If you have news or anything to share, please get in touch.

National 'Good to Grow' Days - 24-25 April 2021

St Sidwell's Community Centre garden and St Thomas Community Garden Group are participating in this national campaign.

St Sidwell's Community Centre Garden

St Sidwell's Community Centre's garden will be open on Saturday 24th April, 10 am to 3 pm for the national 'Good to Grow' day.

Discover the grounds and see the beautiful vegetables. The gardener, Julie Smith, will be on hand to answer any question you might have. Feel free to wander or you can follow the self guided garden walk throughout the churchyard and the sunken garden to learn about plants and their uses.

There will also have a garden hunt for children, and the Community Centre cafe will be selling fresh coffee and tea, and a range of home baked goodies. A lovely local day out!

St. Thomas Community Garden, St Thomas Pleasure Ground

St Thomas Community Group (check their FB page) is a dynamic growing group which meets every Sunday at 11 am at the St Thomas Pleasure Ground.

With support from Exeter Connect, they successfully applied for an ECC ward grant which enabled them to expand the site and buy materials, seeds, tools and fruit trees.

‘We aim to provide free organic food to the local community alongside the skills needed to get people growing their own. We grow a lot of perennial plants, and more common vegetables and soft fruits as well as wildflowers. Our first public event is on Sunday April 25 as part of the Good to Grow event.' Clemence Scalbert, Co-coordinator

The Exeter Seed Bank needs your help!

The Exeter Seed Bank is asking local growing groups to choose a plant to save seeds from and share with the Bank for others to enjoy next year.

One of Exeter Seed Bank’s aims is to share knowledge about seed saving, an ancient craft that is reviving in the face of our diminishing seed diversity.

The ESB is also looking for heritage and family heirloom varieties that work well in our Devon soils. If you are an individual/group who want to join in this project, please contact exeterseedbank@gmail.com

Would you like to find out more about how the City's green spaces are managed and how community groups can get involved? Exeter Connect is planning a future event for groups to find out more. Details to come.

The Exeter Community Growers' Network newsletter is only as informative as what we share as a community so send in your event details, stories, and volunteer opportunities to us here.

Devon Wildlife Trust needs your help. They are running a joint consultation with Exeter City Council on Northbrook Approach park (the former golf course), an important area of biodiversity. Please take part in the survey and share with your Exeter networks. https://exeter.gov.uk/northbrook/