The Growing Network
Bringing people together to learn about & enjoy growing food
Your Growing Spaces
Community gardens take many forms in terms of size and location. In Blackburn with Darwen they range from larger communal growing spaces in our parks to smaller projects within schools or organisations. From the planters in the centre of town to disused plots of land in local neighbourhoods.
One thing they all have in common is local people who are passionate about growing food sharing their knowledge and skills with those wanting to learn.
The Growing Network is a place where the people who run these gardens can come together to develop joint projects and share their skills and expertise.
If you’re interested to find out more or you’d like to volunteer in one of the gardens, please contact the community gardens listed below directly.
Community Gardens & Growing Spaces
The Greenhouse Project
The Greenhouse Project is based within Witton Country Park next to the Myerscough College site.
The project, run by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, offers people the opportunity to come and join a weekly session where they will be given the opportunity to contribute to the renovation of the long-abandoned greenhouses, learn a wide variety of skills relating to food growing as well as bushcraft and practical conservation.
Find Out More:
If you’re interested in joining, you can do so by visiting the Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s website: www.lancswt.org.uk/myplace-self-referral
For queries or further information for more experienced growers wishing to support the project as a volunteer working alongside the project officers, please contact Andy Mather 07720 208424 / amather@lancswt.org.uk
Corporation Park Community Garden
A garden which is being developed on the site of a disused bowling green, they welcome charity groups to look after their own plots and volunteers to look after the garden as a whole. The volunteer group meet every Wednesday between 2- 4 (Winter hours 13:30 -3:00).
They have 4 high raised beds which are wheelchair accessible, a small orchard, a soft fruit area and other veg beds. There are also flower beds and they’ve planted a circle of willow shoots this year which will over time form a den for children.
The garden is set within the historic Corporation Park and can be accessed by a gate near the Italian gardens (gate locked when no volunteers are working).
Find out more:
For more information, email vicki.harris@btinternet.com, call 07972 616391 or visit the Corporation Park Supporters Group Facebook page @CPSG:
Whitehall Park Community Garden Group Darwen
This Community Garden Group is diverse, friendly and supportive.
They grow and share their own produce and meet twice weekly on Monday 10 am -12 noon (+ a shared lunch) and on Saturday 1-3 pm.
They welcome all gardening enthusiasts – no experience necessary. Find them in the Rose Garden on Whitehall Road. They would love to meet you.
Find Out More:
Call Marjan on 07837 364728 or visit Whitehall Park Community Garden Group on Facebook or Instagram:
Bank Top Community Garden
Their small allotment style space is attached to Bank Top Neighbourhood Learning Centre on Oakenhurst Road.
Throughout the year they offer a range of workshops and short courses for people with a focus on improving wellbeing whilst learning about growing and nature.
Their free courses are advertised on their website www.bwdlearning.org or you can call them on 01254 581175 to find out more.
Greensleeves Community Garden Shadsworth
Learn to grow, grow together, get kids involved in activities, make new friends and take home the fruits of your labour. Open during term time only for adults on Tuesdays 10 am -12 noon and for adults with children Tuesdays 1pm – 4pm. All abilities welcome, no experience necessary.
Greensleeves Community Garden is situated off Oban Drive on the Shadsworth Estate in Blackburn.
Contact Rachel 07766 421 706 email: rachel.street@newground.co.uk or Hazal Parkinson 07734 099 254 email: hazel.parkinson@newground.co.uk
ROOTS GUERILLA GARDEN
Roots Community (Spark) have a weekly guerilla garden and cook up community advocating for recovery in the Blackburn-with-Darwen area.
The gardening project runs every week Wednesdays 10am-2pm RRR Office, Darwen Street, Entry behind BBC Radio Lancashire.
Note, this is a closed group.
Contact Rolonde Bradshaw, Team Leader in Blackburn with Darwen for Red Rose Recovery: 07572 610 530 | Rolonde.Bradshaw@RedRoseRecovery.org.uk
BLACKBURN BID GROWING PLACES
A community planting project in Blackburn town centre as part of the BIDs priority to make the town centre cleaner, greener and more sustainable.
Join by contacting Catherine.price@newground.co.uk and following their facebook page.
AUDLEY CANAL SPACE
This space is run by Super Slow Way’s group who run a gardening club the first Monday of every month.
Just turn up and get stuck in. Audley Canal and Green Space, access is via Jan’s conference centre car park, Higher Audley St, Blackburn BB1 1DH.
Please do not park in this car park. For enquiries, contact ben@superslowway.co.uk
FENISCOWLES AND CHERRY TREE GARDENING GROUP
An Online local Facebook group that discuss gardening with locals in the area.
Working across all sectors to bring good, sustainably produced food to our community
Be In The Know
News about eating, cooking, growing & accessing food & help available in your area.
Get Involved
Help us to build a good food movement in our borough.
What's On?
Discover events & workshops in the Blackburn & Darwen area.
