Power to Grow
Community gardens help improve residents’ health and wellbeing, as well as our city’s local biodiversity. Whether you are considering setting one up or need support managing an existing one, we can offer around 10 hours of free mentorship to outdoor community spaces in Birmingham, subject to availability.
From design and planning, organising volunteers, manual support and help with funding applications, we offer knowledge and expertise in all stages. All we ask for in return is your feedback, as it helps us to fund Power to Grow into the future. You can find videos and information about of our previous work below.
If you would like to discuss how we can help, please contact [email protected] with a brief description of your garden’s needs and we will be in touch as soon as we can.
Why not check out our downloadable guides, offering tips and advice on funding, planning, designing and running a community garden.
Our work
Crick Community Garden, Handsworth
In 2021, Crick Community Garden requested help to improve engagement with their local community.
We worked with volunteers to build an earth oven, created out of sand, clay and straw. Not only was this a great way to pass on knowledge and skills, at the end of the project, the garden had a unique way to offer freshly cooked food at their community events.
Allens Cross Community Garden
In 2019, we helped Allens Cross Community Garden in Northfield produce 152kg fresh fruit and vegetables for their community, the equivalent to 1,897 meals or £966.
“There is no doubt that a large part of the project’s success is due to the ecobirmingham’s knowledge, enthusiasm and experience. The involvement of ecobirmingham ensured that the project got off to a flying start from day one. It has proved to be a great success that is valued by local residents and users alike.”
– Project Manager, Allens Cross Community Association.
From 2015 to 2019 we worked with Allens Cross Community Association, providing support 2 days a week to deliver a thriving community growing space. The Association had no previous experience of running a community garden.
Our support and training sessions included volunteer and site management, community engagement, site design, supervision of construction, as well as delivery of educational sessions and assistance with the production, distribution and marketing of food.
The image above is of the transformed space. The beneficiaries of the garden include individuals experiencing social and health disadvantages, including mental ill-health, learning disabilities and those not in education, employment or training. In 2017, the garden received a Britain in Bloom Outstanding Award. It is through our work with Allens Cross Community Garden that inspired our Power to Grow project.
