Growing Communities Action Group
Background
The Growing Communities Action Group has been set up with the vision of creating communal areas across Berwick for people to come together to grow food, herbs and wildflowers. A powerful act of sustainability, growing food empowers people and also helps the planet. While being outside and getting hands in the soil improves our physical, mental and emotional health, gardening neglected land can also increase biodiversity, capture carbon and offset emissions.
Liz Wilcox is the Greener Berwick Treasurer and co-convenes the Growing Communities Action Group with Greener Berwick member Jo Hart. Both keen growers, creators and artists with a shared vision of a thriving, healthy community and planet.
Objectives of our group
To make access to growing food available to everyone, especially children and families.
To encourage local people in learning about the benefits of growing our own food and of healthy eating.
To help towards tackling the growing numbers of people in food poverty - to support the work of the Northern Soul Kitchen, Berwick Food Bank and other local food initiatives.
To obtain a site (or a network of smaller sites) on which food gardens will be planted, maintained and harvested by the community, for the community.
To transform other neglected/underused sites to be community assets, with increased biodiversity, captured carbon, and community activity, eg. planting wildflowers and orchards.
To champion organic food growing and permaculture techniques.
To offer a variety of learning and volunteering opportunities.
To help towards protecting and supporting Berwick's natural wildlife and biodiversity.
Our starting point
We approach landowners of various neglected and underused municipal flower beds, corners of car parks and patches of forgotten ground within the town centre.
Latest news
Read the latest Action Group updates
Get involved
If you would like to join our Growing Communities Action group and be notified of future meetings and events please email us on info@greenerberwick.org.uk
