Growing Places Issue 4 2012 by Diane Godwin

Growing Places Members’ magazine - Issue 4 2012, November

Growing Together gets green light St James City Farm - saved by the community, for the community Golden team effort at 14th City Harvest Festival Could the Community Land Advisory Service help you?

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Inside this issue

elcome to the final issue of Growing Places 2012. We know that our members promote and value volunteering at all levels – and have been doing so for many years - but as the Olympic summer fades from memory, now might be a good time to think if there are ways of engaging with even more people. Is there a part of the Olympic legacy we can harness for our movement? We’re hoping that our success in being awarded funding from the Innovation in Giving Fund (see page 3) will allow us to explore this question further. We’d welcome your thoughts on these developments. This issue contains lots of examples of what can be achieved by our members when communities grow together. The

Contents

stories from member projects old and new are truly inspiring. So too was the fantastic annual show put on again this year in London at the City Harvest Festival - a golden team effort to rival that of Team GB! The copy date for the next issue is 14 January. Please send any items for inclusion to the editor. diane@farmgarden.org.uk On the cover: Celebrating in the garden at Phoenix Garden, London © Catherine Miller

Growing Together gets green light

Farewell from ARI

St James City Farm

Lottery success at the Secret Garden

Incredible Welsh community growers Golden team effort at City Harvest Festival

10 12-13

Preventing ill health on farms

Inspire a generation of volunteers

Could CLAS help you?

Funding, training and other opportunities

16-17

Member services and FCFCG contact details

18-19

New members We now have 595 members. A warm welcome to all those that have joined since the last issue: • Christ the King Primary School, Coventry • Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School, Coventry • Fernhill Youth Project, Rhondda Cynon Taff • Ferry Lane Action Group (FLAG), London • Fordhall Community Land Initiative, Market Drayton, Shropshire • Fraserburgh Community Garden, Aberdeenshire • Gardening for Health, Totnes, Devon • GoGrow Nailsworth KGV Allotment, Gloucestershire • Green Health Enterprise, Heanor, Derbyshire • Greener Kirkcaldy (Ravenscraig Community Orchard), Fife Page

• Grow it, Eat it, Stoke-on-Trent • Growing Green, Cardiff • Horticulture Learning Zone, Rhondda Cynon Taff • Kewstoke Youth & Community Farm, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset • Llandeilo Growers/Tyfwyr Llandeilo Growers, Carmarthenshire • Milnathort and Kinross Allotments Association, Fife • Moveable Feast Garden, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex • Northfield Animal Haven, Aberdeenshire • Nottingham City Council • Riverbank Community Cafe & Market Garden CIC, Manchester • The Brambles, Merthyr Tydfil

• The Grow! Team, Bridport, Dorset • The Walled Gardens at Maristow, Devon • Urban Wonder, Wigan, Lancashire • Village Domes, Flintshire • Ystradgynlais Community Garden, Swansea

News

Growing Together gets green light

FCFCG Social Media The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens is now on Twitter. As always when we devote time to social media, we think carefully about how it will benefit our members and the wider movement.

Last issue we reported that we had cleared the first hurdle in a new round of bidding for the Innovation in Giving Fund, administered by Nesta on behalf of the Cabinet Office. Following our successful video pitch proposing a new partnership called ‘Growing Together’, we were invited to submit a full bid. On 2 October, Jeremy Iles CEO went to London, along with Andy Goldring from the Permaculture Association and Jennifer Smith from the Plunkett Foundation, to face their selection panel - in true ‘Dragon’s Den’ style. The central idea of the bid is to help create 1,000 sustainable community growing projects and involve 100,000 volunteers by promoting new routes to the time, land, tools and money they need.

The bid was well received and we have heard that we have been awarded £50,000 to develop a pilot. Several funding bodies have already expressed an interest and are maintaining a ‘watching brief’ on developments. A consultation document will be posted on FCFCG website soon – please do have a look and let us know your thoughts. www.farmgarden.org.uk/ growingtogether

FCFCG joins Green Flag team Many members will already be familiar with (and in receipt of) the Green Flag Awards which promote high standards in parks, public open spaces and at community gardens, farms and allotments. FCFCG is pleased to announce that we are now an official partner in this scheme along with Keep Britain Tidy, GreenSpace and the National Housing Federation. Our role

will be to support and expand the number of Community Awards across the UK. The formal recognition of community managed green spaces that this partnership provides is timely and very much welcomed by FCFCG. To apply for an award for the first time for 2013/14, email your interest to: greenflagawards@ keepbritaintidy.org

Our new Twitter account will help us further raise the profile of community growing groups in the UK and showcase their work direct to media contacts, other community-sector organisations and the public. So if you are on Twitter and want to follow our tweets, go to www.twitter.com/fcfcg Our facebook page is a great place to find out what other groups are up to, catch up on FCFCG events and a chance to network and raise the profile of your group. New videos have been added to our Youtube channel and we have also created a new group on the video website Vimeo. Visit www.farmgarden. org.uk/videos for more. Finally, member groups can also share photos of their sites, events etc with FCFCG and other members by joining the FCFCG group on the image-sharing website Flickr.

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News

Tyfu Pobl helps improve community access to land Communities can now access publicly owned land to create growing spaces as part of a new policy under the Forestry Commission Wales’ Woodlands for You scheme, in partnership with FCFCG, Keep Wales Tidy and the Conservation Volunteers. Communities looking for land will also be able to receive support and advice under the Tyfu Pobl programme to develop and manage the space. If the scheme proves to be successful, we could see this adopted by other public bodies and in other regions across the UK. We are also seeking funding to extend the Community Land Advisory Service in Wales, which will enable us to support even more communities be able to access land to grow.

Tyfu Pobl is all about the sharing and transfer of knowledge and we recognise that there is actually a huge amount of knowledge that exists in the commercial Agri-food sector in Wales. Rupert Dunn, our South West Development Worker, has been coordinating study trips and developing training that will provide smaller Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project’s and community gardens and farms looking to scale up with an opportunity to learn from the experts. This summer CSA’s in Wales also had the opportunity to come together to share their experiences at Wales’ first CSA networking event, delivered in partnership with Organic Centre Wales. www.farmgarden.org.uk/wales

The event allowed for reflection on the past year, with the successful completion of the Big Lottery Funded ‘Growing Communities in Scotland’ project. The conference also looked forward to a future which acknowledges that community growing is now an integral part of life within many communities in Scotland. Page

Cat Roberts, our new Administrator, will be the friendly person at the end of the phone when you contact the GreenHouse. “Since graduating from university with a degree in Archaeology. I managed to find paid work as an Archaelogist for two years which I loved but unfortunately I was made redundant. I was then a manager of an ethical solar panel company before moving to the Fed in April this year. “While in this role, I became part of the green movement in Bristol and have become increasingly interested in supporting community groups to make the most of our green spaces.

A growing movement in Scotland The annual National Networking Event in Scotland ran smoothly and was attended by people from a variety of community growing projects, across Scotland.

Fed faces

Workshops on offer included sensory gardening, volunteer management, using ‘Scotland’s Allotment Site Design Guide’ and community engagement. Case studies showcased projects with stories to tell about how to cope with fluctuations in funding, social enterprise and forest gardening. Fruit tasting, seed swapping and the good weather all contributed to a great atmosphere, where people enjoyed the networking opportunities and felt part of a bigger movement.

“My partner is a chef and food is a big part of our lives! We make great dishes together and are always careful about where we source our ingredients. “Although I am enjoying my new role at FCFCG, my dream is to one day have a smallholding in France where I can grow my own fruit and vegetables - and make lots of nice jam. Who knows, I might even come across some interesting archaelogical finds while I’m digging in my new garden!”

News

The Allotments Regeneration Initiative – “a good job well done” fter ten years, the Allotments Regeneration Initiative (ARI), a partnership between FCFCG, the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society (SAGS) and the National Allotments Society, has now reached its natural conclusion. Launched in 2002, with the support of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (which invested a total of £1,070,968 into the project), ARI has made a massive contribution to the present interest in and healthy state of allotments across the UK. At the outset, allotments were under considerable threat from neglect and development. In the intervening ten years, ARI’s original purpose – to encourage the regeneration and uptake of allotments – has we believe largely been fulfilled. Allotments and other community growing spaces are very much in demand, the benefits of local food production are well publicised and allotment waiting lists are at an all-time high. In addition, our work, and that of our partners, with government has led to a strong commitment to protect and promote allotments at the highest level. This was underpinned by ARI being contracted by governemtn to produce the second edition of Growing in the Community - a good practice guide for the management of allotments (2008), its appendix A Place to Grow (2010), Allotments: A Plotholders’ Guide (2007) and Allotments: A Scottish Plotholder’s Guide (2010). All the partners are committed to ensuring that the good work delivered by ARI will continue and

are confident that the momentum in the allotment movement will be maintained over the coming years. The highly-successful Allotment Mentor programme will continue to support and advise allotment holders and managers. In England this work will continue through The National Allotment Society and in Scotland through the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society, while in Wales two former ARI mentors will provide support through FCFCG’s Tyfu Pobl programme. In Northern Ireland, FCFCG and Northern Ireland Environment Link will continue their partnership to support the growth of the community farming and gardening movement. Landowners and community groups hoping to create allotment sites can also get help from the Community Land Advisory Service. FCFCG Chief Executive Jeremy Iles said, “ARI is proud to have contributed to the increased profile and importance of allotments. The initiative has focused on creating and nurturing a culture of positive thinking amongst communities about the future of allotments and the ways in which they can be regenerated and we are confident this positive momentum in the allotment movement will continue over the coming years.” All photos © Betty Farruggia

Finally, we’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone that has been involved with ARI - staff, volunteers, advisers and funders, - past and present. www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari Page

Members

All photos © Reyaz Limalia

Saved by the community for the com

n the heart of Tredworth’s hustle and bustle you will find the tranquillity of St James City Farm a rare breeds centre in the middle of the city of Gloucester. This oasis of rural life has been a haven for inner city families for 14 years. However, in the summer of 2010 it came within a whisker of being closed down as part of the local authority’s desperate attempts to slash costs. Derek WakefieldBrown, Manager at the farm, describes what happened next. “Both the city farm and it’s sister site Robinswood Hill Farm - a rare breeds centre - were originally managed by the local authority. Having been employed by the council for 26 years and understanding the urgency to find thousands of pounds worth of savings, it came as no surprise to me that they intended to shut Robinswood Hill farm and make two members of my team redundant. It did, however, come as a huge shock to discover they were also planning to shut the city farm. I felt the farm fulfilled an important role within Page

the community of Tredworth without costing the city council a disproportionate amount of money. The farm had been directly aimed at an area of the city that had the least in terms of affordable family amenities. To lose this facility would have been a disaster. “The outlook was bleak and seemed to be only getting worse until, following an afternoon of disastrous budget cut meetings, I bumped into Imran and Reyaz who ran a local charity and kept beehives at Robinswood Hill. I explained the authority’s intention to shut the farm in Tredworth and, rather tongue in cheek, suggested their charity might like to take it on. To my amazement the next time I bumped into them by the beehives they wanted to know more. “I was absolutely overjoyed at their response and felt it offered a genuine lifeline to the farm. I knew very little about what the charity, Gymnation, did but was aware that it was a thoroughly

professional organisation. We agreed that I would talk to my line manager at the city council and get the two groups around the table to discuss matters further. “When the farm was first set up by the city council it had always been suggested that at some time in the future the farm would be ready to hand over to the Barton and Tredworth community. I reminded senior officers at the council of this original proposal which I felt this gave the city council an opportunity to hand over the city farm rather than to shut it down, if they considered the group to be appropriate. “The council required the charity - Gymnation and the Friendship café - to be vetted. I approached FCFCG Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Ian Egginton-Metters, for advice and he agreed to come and meet members of the charity as part of the vetting process. A report from the Federation went to the local authority cabinet meeting. I was later told that this report was instrumental in

Members

munity - St James City Farm

‘sealing the deal’ and, to cut a long story short, the city farm was transferred lock, stock and Cotswold sheep to Gymnation on 1 April 2011. “So what are the changes a year on? St James City Farm today is a vibrant, buzzing and exciting place to be - full of life for the future. The new management have raised grant funding to cover the cost of a new goat house, and a café facility, new office and shop - all currently being built in a futuristic starship enterprise control tower! “The changes were met with some trepidation from our regular visitors. Many of them, although relieved the farm was still open, had fears that the farm would struggle to survive with such a massive change in direction and management. Their fears have not been realised. The changes have been positive from the outset and accompanied by an entire change in atmosphere and feeling about the place – a sense of euphoria almost. It was immediately apparent that the farm would not

only survive but grow rapidly. The visitor numbers have increased beyond our wildest expectations. “The farm has changed from being a facility administered from local authority and an attraction that people visited and joined in if invited to do so, to a community managed farm which is far more welcoming. There is an overwhelming emphasis on participation from anyone and everyone. “In this new era at St James, one of the tangible success stories is the coming together of the different communities from the locality. Whether visitors are white, Asian, black, eastern European, or from Mars, we are one community within the confines of the farm. “We have a multitude of volunteers covering the entire age range from very young to very old – some less able than others - with a diverse range of interests. We’re involved with adult education, gardening projects, work experience, community

payback, therapeutic learning and all manner of training and restoring confidence and selfbelief. Five of our junior volunteers are applying for places at Hartpury Agricultural College this coming September, some of whom would never had the confidence to do this had they not had this facility at their disposal. For many, getting involved at St James City Farm has been a life changing experience. “From a personal point of view, working for the new organisation these last 12 months has been one of most fulfilling experiences of my working life. The changes that have taken place here have been immediate with a massive impact on both the project and the people who participate in it. But the biggest impact on me personally has been the way the Barton and Tredworth community - and in particular the Muslim community - have made me feel so overwhelmingly welcome.” www.stjamescityfarm.co.uk

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Kitchen Garden sows seeds at Grange Road allotment I

ngrid Galbraith, Horticultural and Training Director at Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind, describes the charity’s new allotment project at Grange Road, which has been initiated following the closure of some learning disability services in Tameside. “We were approached by the local authority to help develop the allotment and enhance activities for people with learning disabilities who are currently using the site, as well as to open it up for wider public use and develop links with other local initiatives. The charity already coordinates two allotment and gardening sites in the area: Kitchen Garden Baron Road which hosts regular open garden sessions and horticultural workshops for the general public, and an allotment and garden at a traditional day care centre. We felt our staff and volunteers were well equipped to take on this new challenge. “These developments will enable us to help support people with learning disabilities into an enhanced inclusive setting, by encouraging cross-allotment travel and sharing of good practice across the sites. Our current model of service delivery involves offering participants an insight into different activities whilst accumulating a personal diary of learning and experiences. We will adapt this model as necessary for our new participants through a process of planned transition. “Mind’s ambition is to ensure: • people are involved with activities appropriate to their skills and abilities • workers, volunteers and Page

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participants work together to achieve goals on the allotment current practice is adapted to develop communication with participants with limited skills and abilities. activity is meaningful, eg linking the growing of the produce to eating of the produce in the organisation’s cafes participants are supported to choose their preferred activities within the seasonal needs of the allotment individuals receive the support they need appropriate to both their learning disability and mental health needs.

“In a short space of time, we’ve already learnt that participants thrive on being given an opportunity involving responsibility. Some find simple tasks such as digging rewarding and we’ve acknowledged the need to work at the pace and level of the participants. Tasks that yield more immediate results such as quick growing plants and encouraging people to use

the food they have grown have both proved useful in keeping participants motivated. We’ve received positive feedback from volunteers who have found it very fulfilling working with new participants with additional support needs. “Our plans for the coming months include encouraging everyone to get involved in painting and DIY to help improve the overall environment around the allotment, inviting the local community to come along and get involved and the introduction of new roles, such as ‘trainees’ to engage participants in personal development opportunities. Another ambition is to attract young people with learning disabilities transitioning from education into adult learning disability services in order to provide them with an inclusive service for their adult lives.” For further information, contact Ingrid. ingrid@togmind.org Tel. 0161 330 9223

Members

Secret Garden celebrates lottery success O

pened by The Queen in 1952, Queens Park is situated just off the town centre in Swindon. With its two lakes and memorial garden, the park was developed by town planners when the town was expanding and is now registered with English Heritage. Originally, the park also contained a rose garden in one corner which had fallen into disuse and in recent years was closed off to the public as the paving slabs were being vandalised. Local resident, Paul Dixon, thought that it would be a good idea to bring the rose garden into use again. “It is such a beautiful space bordered by a mature yew hedge and tucked away and people have always been attracted to this ‘secret garden’. As I peered through the locked gates onto the lawn bordered by broken paving slabs I felt that it really ought to be restored and used by local people”, explains Paul. “I approached the parks manager at Swindon Borough Council with the idea of setting up a community garden. He was also keen on the idea, so we agreed to set up a group and get other people involved.” An open meeting was held at the council offices in November 2010. Twelve people joined the founding committee. The group used a model constitution supplied by

FCFCG and got a start up grant from the council to help with insurance and publicity. Change of use permission was agreed and a lease on the site negotiated. Gardening started on site in the spring of 2011, with the support of the council and the park’s gardeners who agreed to mow the lawn and trim the yew. Paul describes the progress made since then,“We were thrilled to have our own community garden and set to searching the internet and visiting local country houses looking for inspiration and ideas of how to develop it. In the end, studying the garden itself helped us make our decision. We cut borders in the lawn making four quadrants with lawn paths. In those four sections we now have an organic veg plot, a wildlife garden, an events area and a planned sensory garden. “The spring and summer of 2011 were dry and our first experience of working in the garden was struggling to remove dry hard turf. Despite the slow start, we managed a good first harvest of runner beans, tomatoes, courgettes and chard. We received a lot of support from the

local community with up to 15 people at regular garden sessions and employees of local companies volunteering to help plant trees.” The group applied to the Big Lottery Fund Community Spaces programme and in April 2012 they heard that they had got through stage one of the application process. That’s when the work really started. They employed a garden designer, drew up some initial plans and consulted Swindon residents through the press, schools, library and local community council. The detailed planning and research paid off - in August the group heard that they had been awarded £50,000. The group is currently working with a local landscape architect firm to draw up the final plans for the site. This will involve restoring the paving and creating disabled access, seating, a sensory garden, wildlife area and an area for growing vegetables. Volunteers will be involved in the construction work to create a pond, raised beds and paths. For more information contact Paul Dixon. p.dixon8@ntlworld.com

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Members

Incredible Welsh Community Growers

Community gardeners from South Wales recently travelled to West Yorkshire to visit the exciting food project called Incredible Edible Todmorden. The trip, organised by FCFCG, included visits to Todmorden’s Community Gardens, Bee Walk and Orchards. This remarkable town is addressing the problems of food poverty and security by planting fruit and vegetables in every planter, public garden, school, bus stop and verge. Local residents are encouraged to pick what they need free of charge when it’s ready. Imagine waiting for your bus and picking beans and tomatoes for tea while you wait! The local police and ambulance stations have created community beds at the front of their buildings which local groups use to grow their own food and flowers, while the doctors surgery has an orchard on their grounds along with an Apothecary Garden to encourage their patients to improve their diets by eating ‘an apple a day’. Page 10

Incredible Edible Todmorden has been featured in programmes such as River Cottage and has inspired towns and cities from all over the world with Incredible Edible groups springing up in London, Canada and Slovakia. It has also been a huge boost for the local economy and created a unique ‘Vegetable Tourist Trade’ as people from all over the world come to see what they’ve achieved – including from Wales! Community growers from Pembrokeshire to Monmouthshire travelled to Yorkshire to bring some great ideas back to Wales to improve the amount of local food available to everyone, particularly some of the areas hardest hit by the recession. Everyone came away brimming with enthusiasm and wanting to get stuck in straight away! The no-nonsense “just do it” attitude in Todmorden was infectious and the Welsh gardeners have been inspired to back to their home towns and try something similar.

Emma Williams, South East Wales Development Worker for the Federation said: “People all over South Wales are facing increasing food prices and a lack of fresh, local, affordable produce. Community gardens are tackling these problems by getting local people to work together, growing and sharing the harvest. Community gardens are open to everyone and a warm welcome awaits anyone willing to come along and join in. The great thing about community gardens is that you don’t need to know anything about gardening when you start - there are always people to help you and everyone learns and shares what they know and grow.” The motto of Incredible Edible Todmorden is “If you eat, you’re in!”After yesterday’s trip, South Wales is definitely in! For more information about Incredible Edible Todmordon visit: www.incredible-edible-todmorden. co.uk/blogs/from-the-vallies-to-thevalley

Members

The Growing Project lives up to its name The Growing Project, Cornwall, came about, as many good ideas do, as four friends sat round a kitchen table. They wondered if it was possible to combine running an organic veg growing scheme with working with vulnerable local people. Ruth Wilson describes what happened next. “I have a house on about an acre of land which wasn’t being productively used and was, at that time, running a supported lodgings scheme for young people coming out of care or prison, or who were homeless. Some of the young people really flourished when I got them to work outside with me and we wanted to see if that worked for other people too. “We started off in July 2010 as a small charity applying for grants for set-up costs. We raised £3,600By March 2011 we had recruited a few volunteers and started digging. We dug and we dug, into the weediest and stoniest ground ever, planting as we went. “We were awarded a £10,000 Lottery grant and that really got us energised. By July, we were starting to generate enough produce to run a weekly roadside stall and had 8 volunteers coming to 2 work sessions a week. “In December 2011, we started to build a huge commercial polytunnel. By the spring it was covered and home to raised beds built from timber reclaimed from a boardwalk at the local reservoir. We planted, planted, planted! We launched a small veg box scheme delivering to local homes.

Noticeboard Thought about Foodshare?

We plan to increase the number of deliveries as our capacity grows. It became clear to us that we needed our first salaried staff member to help us maintain momentum and grow and we were delighted when the Lankelly Chase Foundation awarded us a grant for 2 years to pay the salary of a Project Co-ordinator. “In particular, the post has been funded to help us expand from my back garden onto a larger (as yet unidentified) site, raising community investment capital if necessary, so that we can then build a sustainable community enterprise and plough our profits back into the community. “Daunted but not intimidated, we are setting about finding suitable land in the village and generating more local support and finance. More news to follow: meanwhile if any members have travelled this road and have lessons to pass on, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Wish us luck!” The project has also been supported through the Cornwall Community Food and Composting project, funded by Local Food, of which FCFCG is a partner. The community composting scheme is going really well and they’ve added extra bins to their original gateside collection point.

Foodshare is a national notfor-profit, 100% volunteerpowered charity which connects growers with local charities. Their aim is to encourage every grower to sow a bit extra, and share their surpluses with a local charity that feeds people. The main aims of Foodshare are: • Reduce the spiraling food bills of charities. • Produce locally-grown, seasonal and fresh produce to those that will benefit the most. • Reduce food waste by distributing surplus food to charities instead of landfill or compost heaps. • Reduce the food miles of charities. • Within schools, teach children about sharing through the Foodshare “Grow to Give” project. Your project could create a Foodshare bed to grow specifically for a charity or simply share your surplus. Or you could set up a Foodshare scheme in your area, and help co-ordinate a collection point for produce for other gardeners. Foodshare have produced guides to help you. www.foodshare.co.uk

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Members

A golden team effort at 14th City Ha

athed in glorious autumn sunshine, London’s community gardens and city farms put on yet another fantastic show for the public at Capel Manor College on 22 September. Our expert judges were kept busy with fabulous seasonal produce displays in the big marquee, all the more impressive given this year’s drought restrictions followed by a very cold June and non-stop rain all summer. Other displays included Shelf Life, an original idea from the Chelsea Physic Garden, had been taken up by Hammersmith Community Gardens Association in a quirky exhibit showing food plants growing in containers from products made from those plants. You could try this on your project: www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/ education/shelflife The horticultural marquee also included stands from Riverford Organics, Your Allotment magazine and the London Children’s Flower Society. The animal show was as popular as ever with the public as well as with the children and young people showing the animals. The lunchtime interval featured the London Vegetable Orchestra, a farm quiz, a dog show and a bird of prey flying display (once the small animals had been safely tucked away). Page 12

Food on the showground was provided by two community enterprises, Soupy Norman and Filling the Gap, with cooking demonstrations from Moa, a community nutritionist from the Phoenix High School. Freightliners Farm café provided lunch for our hospitality tent. There was a wealth of children’s activities in the Have a Go area, to keep the kids happy, including a chance to try blacksmithing. Judging over, it was time for the final parade of animals followed by the traditional tug of war competition, won by a mighty under-16s team from Freightliners Farm who keep the trophy for another year. Awarding the prizes, William Fraser, Chair of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association, commented: “Congratulations on an excellent show. Great atmosphere and great exhibits.”

Thanks to: • Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (a special thank you to William Fraser OBE) • Wrights Flour Mill, Enfield • Worshipful Company of Gardeners • RSPB • Chelsea Physic Garden • Roger Gayler • Jules and Jesse Mogilner for the camp kitchen • Capel Manor College • All our fantastic expert judges: Michelle Chappell, Joanne Challacombe, Ray Bowler, Redpoll Society, Dr Paul Bryant,Sharon Edwards, Tom Davis, Tom Wheatcroft, Julie Phipps, Hugh Ellacott, Alice Myers, Agnes Knoll, Tom Moggach • All who helped with the show set-up and take down, organising and running the event. A wonderful team effort.

C “

ity Harvest 2012, a judge’s verdict:

The competitors were a credit to each farm. They were polite and had bundles of enthusiasm with some of the children, especially in the young handler classes, demonstrating a wealth of knowledge of their entered animal. “I enjoyed immensely witnessing the support given to the entrants from their fellow attendees from their city farms. “Huge praise to all the organisers, as from our perspective the day ran without a hitch. We very much enjoyed meeting everyone organisers, show helpers, competitors, fellow judges and of course the array of animal species entered on the day.”

Events and networking

rvest Festival, London FCFCG members in this year’s show: • Olden Garden • Walworth Garden Farm • The Phoenix High School Farm • Bankside Open Spaces Trust • Newham City Farm • Stepney City Farm • Mudlarks Community Garden • Spitalfields City Farm • Freightliners Farm • Forty Hall Community Vineyard • Lambourne End • Deen City Farm • The Ladder Garden • Wellgate Community Farm • Hackney City Farm • Kentish Town City Farm • Hammersmith Community Gardens Association • The Woodlands Farm Trust

Prizes • Best display from a community garden - Forty Hall Community Vineyard. Best garden display from a city farm - Woodlands Farm Trust. Both received a plaque, certificate and £150 courtesy of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. • Best in show - Kentish Town City Farm received the Blacksmiths award (made on the day) for their magnificent pumpkin and squash display. • Best food display - Spitalfields City Farm received a copy of Tom Moggach’s ‘Urban Kitchen Garden’. • Mudlarks Community Garden won a visit for a group of volunteers to the Chelsea Physic Garden. • Best young animal handler - Ted Hunt from Wellgate Community Farm received a special prize of books from the RSPB. Well done Ted! • Horticultural Show Plate Spitalfields City Farm • Animal Show Trophy - Deen City Farm. Page 13

Management Prevention of ill health from animal contact - follow the code Local and other newspapers and media have reported seven recent cases of E coli 0157 at a local authority public park. The Health Protection Agency has also issued press releases.

Hand gels are not enough! The recent media coverage also contained some poor advice regarding hand gels. The use of hand gels alone is not to be encouraged. Your EHO may well even ban them from your site. These gels commonly typically contain 60% alcohol solvent but Ecoli 0157 has been shown in some instances to survive for considerable periods at 70% and

Trustees – the future of your charity in your hands © Reyaz Limalia

The code of practice preventing or controlling ill health from animal contact at visitor attractions contains information, guidance and case studies to help you risk assess your site. Following the code will help prevent visitors becoming ill - with all the negative impact this entails for those individuals and their families, and the negative publicity that follows for your farm. If cases do arise, you will be able to demonstrate that you have taken reasonable precautions.

higher concentration. Additionally, if hands are still dirty when the gel is used, the alcohol may not even reach all potentially infected parts of the skin. The danger is that the general public are given a false sense of adequately ‘cleaning’ their hands by a quick squirt of gel. Only thorough washing with running water is effective. Gels are better used in hospitals or other places where there is in expectation that hands are reasonably clean before using the gel. If you have any queries about assessing your site to reduce the risk visitor ill-health, or complying with the Code, (including who is regarded as a ‘visitor’), please get in contact. ian@farmgarden.org.uk

New pensions rules for charities employing staff The Pensions Regulator has published an online leaflet explaining new rules about pensions, which affect all charities that employ staff members. The rules will require all employers to make pension arrangements for employed staff and to contribute at least 3% of what is described as ’reckonable Page 14

Management resources

salary’ to the scheme as an employer contribution. The changes come into effect in a staged way but even the smallest employers, with 1 or more staff members aged 22 or over earning more than £5,564, will need to have arrangements in place by 2017 at the latest. www.thepensionsregulator.gov. uk

NCVO’s Charity Trustee’s Handbook is ideal for those who are, or are thinking of becoming, a charity trustee. It provides basic information about the responsibilities of trustee boards and straightforward advice on planning the work of the organisation, getting funding, and managing staff and volunteers. This edition also includes updates on the raft of recent legislation which impacts trustees.

New NCVO quick guides This new series includes a guide to finding free and lowcost sources of legal advice. Making key decisions without proper legal support can be risky. Charity law is very specific, and recent proposals underline the importance of accessing up-to-date advice. The guide covers areas such as getting a lawyer on your board, pro bono services, and issues to consider when using a solicitor. The second title in the series is Writing a Fantastic Funding Bid. It’s great as a beginners guide and useful for those of you who’ve applied for grants successfully but need a refresh. Both guides are available in the info zone of our website www.farmgarden.org.uk/ infozone

Resources

Inspire a generation of volunteers!

Community Futures - training courses

Community Futures is a programme of courses for community volunteers from all over the UK to learn new skills to help them and the communities that they come from to become more sustainable.

he Olympic and Paralympic volunteering programmes didn’t do everything right in terms of volunteer management, but the contribution of the 70,000 Games Makers was undeniably a great success.What can you take forward from the Games to ensure that volunteers are attracted to and stay with your project? Here are some top tips from Volunteering Bristol: • Big up your volunteers - The Games couldn’t have happened without the Games Makers and this point was made at every opportunity. Ensure that everyone in your organisation understands the role of your volunteers, values their contribution and finds frequent ways to say “thank you”. • Paint the big picture Make sure your volunteers understand what your organisation does, the value of its work and how their particular role fits into this bigger picture. • Embrace diversity - Encourage people to volunteer from all

wallks of life by being openminded, friendly and flexible. • Think short-term - As well as regular, reliable volunteers your organisation can benefit from setting up one-off events or short-term projects that may attract help from people who are between jobs or trying to juggle volunteering around other commitments. • Observe the 1-week rule - When a volunteer offers their services, they expect a prompt response. If phone messages or emails are not replied to, it looks bad and may put someone off volunteering for your organisation. The earlier you reply, the better (even if you don’t need volunteers at the time). • Pay expenses - When you are applying for funding or setting a budget, factor in the cost of volunteers’ expenses. Not all will claim, but make the offer anyway. It reflects well on your project and may attract people who have plenty of time but not a lot of money.

The courses are both fun and informative with a mix of theory and practical sessions which give you the chance to put to practice your newly learnt skills. On completion of the course participants can apply for a grant up to £500 to help set up a project in their community or to help an existing project to progress. The courses are taking place in Manchester at Trafford Hall, the National Communities Resource Centre, until March next year. There are a range of topics to choose from, including community allotments, setting up a social enterprise, setting up a food co-operative, working with young people, role of the treasurer and constitutions. Courses cost only £50 for the first community volunteer booking on and £20 for every additional community volunteer booking from the same organisation. This price not only includes the training but also all meals and refreshments during your stay and one night’s accommodation. Help with cost of travel is also available. www.traffordhall.com

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Funding, training and other opportunities

Could the Community Land Advisory Service help you? The Community Land Advisory Service continues to prove a useful impartial resource for community groups negotiating with landowners. Visitors to the website can search for information on topics ranging from localism to lease negotiations and from planning consent to public sector assets. Among the latest additions to this knowledge base are simpleto-use flowcharts which guide community groups through a series of questions to find out which lease (or licence) is most suited to them. Work also continues on the Landowners Guide, a publication which will act as a comprehensive primer for landowners thinking of turning over land for community use. Our team of advisors in England have also been putting together a series of training events and workshops (some as part of The Big Dig). Details are available on the website. Hands-on support: case study CLAS advisors continue to give hands on support to community groups and landowners wanting advice. Stepney City Farm recently received direct help from CLAS after the farm initially contacted the service for advice on how to sublet its new rural arts centre. This was a potentially complex subletting procedure because the farm is rented, not owned, and crafts people using it would be required to provide evening classes. CLAS advisors sent through its Heads of Terms Page 16

template and guidance, so that the farm could consider what they were going to let the crafts people have, what their obligations would be and who would be responsible for utility bills etc. Once the Heads of Terms were drafted CLAS discussed further issues that needed considering such as the right to sublet in the main lease and other legal points such as energy performance certificates and break clauses. During this period the lease for the farm was up for renewal, so CLAS studied the new tenancy and advised clauses to be added or deleted. Jessica Hodge, Farm Director at Stepney City Farm said the advice provided by CLAS was excellent: “CLAS did a very close reading of the draft agricultural tenancy we had been given, pointing out clauses we should be wary of as well as providing suggested wording for additional sections. They also advised on the most appropriate mechanism for us to sublet rooms in our buildings and provided heads of terms for the sub-lease model we opted for. All in all it’s been an extremely helpful service.” www.communitylandadvice.org. uk

Alec Dickson Trust This trust is passionate about volunteering and about young people making a difference. Individuals aged 30 and under and small groups of young people can apply for grants of up to £500 for projects that can demonstrate that through volunteering or community service they can enhance the lives of others, particularly those most marginalised by society. Preference is given to supporting innovative projects. www.alecdicksontrust.org.uk

B&Q Waste Donation Scheme This scheme, operated through B&Q’s stores, allows donation of its waste materials, for example slightly damaged tins of paint, off-cuts of timber, odd rolls of wallpaper and end of range materials, to community groups, charities and schools. The waste donation scheme is co-ordinated in store either by the environmental champion, duty or warehouse manager who will keep a Waste Donation Form on file for interested groups.

Community green spaces funding This guide from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), is intended to help voluntary and community organisations which are seeking funding. The document identifies the different grant schemes available and open to local groups, green spaces, allotment associations or trusts and also where to go to get help when looking for funding. Download for free from: www.communities. gov.uk/publications/communities/ greenspacefunding

Funding, training and other opportunities The Handy Guide To Planning 2012

People’s Health Trust

Produced by Urban Forum in association with Planning Aid, this guide forms a great starting point to understanding the complicated system of Planning in England and Wales.

The People’s Health Trust has launched its new Active Communities Funding Programme in 24 local society lottery areas across England, Scotland and Wales. The programme aims to close the gap between communities experiencing the worst health in Great Britain and the majority of the population, and it will fund projects that encourage community activism.

Available to download from: www.urbanforum.org.uk/handyguide

National Gardening Leave In this new leaflet the New Economics Foundation has put forward the case for a new, voluntary scheme to introduce a shorter working week, and for the rapid expansion of productive and pleasurable gardening in Britain’s towns and cities. Examples given include several FCFCG members and it makes a very interesting and persuasive read. www.neweconomics.org/ publications/national-gardeningleave

There is a six week application window for grants of between £5,000 and £25,000 to help with capital costs. Projects must make a positive difference to the local community over the long term and the total project cost should be less than £50,000. Projects should be designed by local people and bring communities together, creating a sense of belonging and encouraging local people to take ownership of activities and services that take place in their neighbourhoods. www.peopleshealthtrust.org.uk

SITA Enhancing Communities Programme The programme for community improvement projects can support projects in any of 90 funding zones around qualifying waste processing sites owned by SITA UK. The programme’s Core Fund welcomes applications for funding between £10,001 and £50,000 with 3 funding rounds each year. There is a fast-track process for applications for funding of up to £10,000, with 6 funding rounds each year. www.sitatrust.org.uk/communityfunding

Volant Charitable Trust Set up by the author J K Rowling, this trust support charities and projects that alleviate social deprivation, with a particular emphasis on women’s and children’s issues. www.volanttrust.com

InfoZone Don’t forget that as an FCFCG member you can access a wealth of online information resources via our website. Simply visit: www.farmgarden. org.uk/infozone

Enewsletter Containing funding and other opportunities, the enewsletter is sent out to members inbetween issues of Growing Places. If you would like to make sure you are on the mailing list, please send your email address to: ken@farmgarden.org.uk Page 17

FCFCG member services

Make the most of your FCFCG membership

s an FCFCG member you are part of the wider movement of community-managed green spaces that benefit from the support, representation and promotion FCFCG provides. This page summarises the key benefits available to you.

Support Services • Development staff and a pool of experienced Fieldworkers based across the UK provide practical help and advice on a range of subjects and issues. • Emergency information and support (eg for disease outbreaks such as bird flu). • Free financial advice session with our Finance Manager (subject to availability). • Access to specialist support networks and initiatives including the School Farms Network, Growing With Schools and the Allotments Regeneration Initiative. • Networking and training opportunities, including local networking and training events throughout the year on themes requested by our membership. These events are free or highly subsidised for members.

Publications and mailings • You will receive free copies of our quarterly members’ newsletter Growing Places, and copies of our Summer Public Newsletter and Annual Review. • Single hard copies of all our publications are available free to members on request. • Multiple copies of promotional publications such as maps and leaflets are also available. Page 18

• We will circulate your inserts for job vacancies, events etc free of charge in our postal mailings.

Travel Bursaries • Travel bursaries of up to £150 (when available) towards the costs of visits to other community groups in your area or to our training/networking events. For more details contact your local FCFCG staff member.

Online Services • You will have access to our comprehensive online resource centre in the members Info Zone on our website. • Copies of publications and newsletters are available to download. • Using FCFCG website’s online shop to market items for sale (in development). • Advertising and promotion for your events on our website. • Our site has specific regional or country pages with useful local information. • Regular e-newsletters and ebulletins to keep you informed of news, funding, training and information resources.

Other benefits • Information about a public liability insurance scheme designed specifically for allotments and community gardens (joining FCFCG does NOT mean you automatically have insurance cover). • Access to our exhibitions, digital presentations, photographs and videos. • Access to FCFCG grants and

bursaries (when available) and subsidised feasibility studies and consultancy services at discounted rates. • Members who receive visitors are prioritised to be featured in our popular map publications, highlighting city farms and community gardens in regions across the UK which are available free to the general public. • There are opportunities for FCFCG to raise your profile if you: host events that we run, have an article in Growing Places magazine or host a Seeing is Believing tour for policy makers. • Members can nominate someone to the FCFCG Board and put resolutions to the FCFCG AGM.

NCVO/SCVO membership NCVO in England and SCVO in Scotland are umbrella bodies providing specialised information, advice and support to the voluntary and community sector. All English FCFCG community members with an income of less than £10,000 per year are automatically eligible for free NCVO community membership. For details of NCVO benefits see: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/FCFCG All Scottish FCFCG community members with an income of less than £25,000 per year are entitled to free SCVO membership. For details of SCVO benefits see: www.scvo.org.uk Unfortunately, we do not currently offer a similar benefit for members in Wales and Northern Ireland.

FCFCG member services

Get in touch... F

CFCG has several offices throughout the UK through which we deliver our services to members.

Areas covered by our Development Workers Key: Northern Ireland Scotland

General enquiries

Wales

Staff at our UK office in Bristol can deal with general enquiries, press and PR, membership, finance, and requests for information and support. Our Chief Executive, Jeremy Iles, can also be contacted at this office.

South West

Tel. 0117 923 1800 admin@farmgarden.org.uk

Development staff across the UK Our development staff can provide specialist hands-on advice and have a knowledge of sources of information, support and funding in your area.

Midlands North England London East England

Northern Ireland Our Northern Ireland team are based at the offices of NIEL in Belfast. Tel. 02890 455 770 ni@farmgarden.org.uk www.farmgarden.org.uk/ northern-ireland

For details of individual staff in each team please see the relevant pages of our website.

England

Wales

North

Our Wales staff work from offices in Cardiff, Pembrokeshire, Newtown and Bangor. The team in Cardiff deals with general enquiries and can provide contact details for the other offices. Tel. 02920 235 535 or 225 942 wales@farmgarden.org.uk www.farmgarden.org.uk/wales

Scotland Our Scottish team are based at Gorgie City Farm, Edinburgh. Tel. 0131 623 7058 scotland@farmgarden.org.uk www.farmgarden.org.uk/scotland

We have four offices in England.

London and the East Our London team are based at Kentish Town City Farm. Tel. 0207 485 5001 london@farmgarden.org.uk www.farmgarden.org.uk/london

Midlands Our Midlands team are based in Coventry. Tel. 02476 675 211 midlands@farmgarden.org.uk www.farmgarden.org.uk/midlands

Our staff in the North of England are based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Manchester.

Projects and partnerships

Tel. 01207 562 317 or 0161 275 9725 north@farmgarden.org.uk www.farmgarden.org.uk/north

Tel. 02476 675 211 gws@farmgarden.org.uk www.farmgarden.org.uk/ education

South West

Community Land Advice Service (CLAS)

Our South West team are based in Plymouth. Tel. 01752 267 293 southwest@farmgarden.org.uk www.farmgarden.org.uk/ south-west

Growing with Schools (GWS)

England - Tel. 0117 966 9491 england@communitylandadvice. org.uk Scotland - Tel. 0131 225 2080 scotland@communitylandadvice. org.uk Page 19

Growing Places Membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; magazine - Issue 4 2012, November UK Office The GreenHouse, Hereford Street, Bristol, BS3 4NA Tel. 0117 923 1800 Fax. 0117 923 1900 admin@farmgarden.org.uk

www.farmgarden.org.uk News, events, job vacancies, how to set up a new city farm or community garden, members zone and online seachable database giving details of city farms and community gardens across the UK.

Copy date for next issue: 14 January 2013 We are happy to include items sent in by members, including news about your project, ideas and advice for other projects.

Please note:

Supporting communities to manage their local green spaces. Patron HRH The Prince of Wales Chief Executive Jeremy Iles Chair David Drury Charity no. 294494 Company no. 2011023 Scottish charity no. SCO39440 Printed using vegetable-based inks on recycled paper.

This newsletter can be made available in large type, Braille or on audio-tape. Tel. 0117 923 1800 FCFCG receives funding from many sources including: