GROWING VEG AND GROWING COMMUNITY

Tanya Bowman joined her local community garden and ended up not just helping to grow veg but also helping to grow the enterprise to involve more people and the wider community

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Heppenstall Community Garden in Devon sits on land belonging to North Devon homes - a housing association. The area was an abandoned playground until being converted into the community garden in 2010. Tanya joined as a volunteer in 2011 at a time when enthusiasm and volunteer contributions were dwindling, so she took up the reins - with the agreement of North Devon Homes - to keep the garden running and it has grown from strength to strength.

How do you get volunteers and is the produce shared among them?

The garden runs on a fair share scheme, where work done in the garden is paid back in produce. The garden is a relaxed area where people can meet to connect, to share ideas, to learn new skills and to engage with others in a friendly environment and share their love of gardening and nature. We meet when we can via a social media group and we encourage volunteers from all walks of life - and volunteers don't need to be very experienced in gardening to join. After an introduction to the garden volunteers are given useful information about the garden and a code of conduct. We liaise with different groups including Live Well Barnstaple, the local college, other gardening groups, the nearby hospital, Together Drug and Alcohol Service, Barnstaple in Bloom, local councils and the North Devon Volunteering Service. The garden is well located, being in a cul-de-sac overseen by the neighbours. We have a low wooden fence and the garden is open to all.

You work as a nurse. How do you feel you benefit from your involvement with the project?