The Kemble Community Gardens project began in 2008 when a group of people came together wanting to turn an overgrown plot of land into allotments and gardens. With the help of Travis Perkins using mini diggers, they cleared the land while preserving trees and wildlife. Experts from the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust taught the group permaculture no-dig methods. By summer 2008, individual plots had begun to grow food. The group created ponds, built a rainwater collection system, and planted an orchard. They held workshops teaching gardening skills and involved local school children and the community. The gardens provide a space for social activities and continue expanding.

1. KEMBLE COMMUNITY GARDENS The story so far …

2. In the beginning … Early spring 2008 the site was impenetrable – a wonderful wilderness covered in brambles and trees. A group of people got together, wanting allotments and community gardens. We spoke to the Parish Council, who spoke to the Cotswold District council who own the land …

3. Cutting the brambles by hand! One lone woman begins the task with an ancient machete! We decided to preserve all the trees plus some areas of brambles too. The site has many birds and slow worms.

4. Luckily, Travis Perkins heard about us and offered to join forces to give us a hand! Using mini diggers, they speeded up the process without compacting the ground or disturbing the wildlife too much.

5. Alison Ensor from Glos Wildlife Trust led a workshop for us in the permaculture no-dig method. We planted potatoes through cardboard, then covered this with manure and straw. The potatoes broke up the soil for us with the help of our friends the worms, saving us the task of back breaking digging!

6. The no dig beds with potatoes planted in them – spring 08 – it worked!

7. Building a rain water harvesting compost bin under the guidance of Alison Ensor

8. Our first rain water harvesting compost bin – there is no tap on the site so we have to harvest the rain water.

9. By summer 08 after a lot of hard work, the first individual plots had begun to flourish.

10. Kemble Primary School took on their own plot and started to tend it on a weekly basis

11. Three Kemble school children who have taken on their own small plot.

12. We had a workshop to create ponds to attract predators to eat up menaces such as slugs. By spring 09 the ponds were full of tadpoles, plants and pond life.

13. Our work parties are very friendly and sociable and we always stop for tea and flapjack or cake! There is a real sense of community.

14. BBQ made from stone on site by Averil – it works well and tea has often been brewed on it!

15. Iced ponds – winter 09

16. We began clearing an area of land by hand for an orchard in spring 09. There were already some old apple and plum trees there which we pruned.

17. We planted apple, plum, pear, hazel and soft fruit in the orchard – in Spring 09. Lots of people turned up to help.

18. Planting one of the apple trees.

19. We encouraged the younger generation to come and meet the cider apple tree! They started to clear their own patch in a corner of the site where they may build a shelter.

20. The nose cone from an old aircraft was discovered on the site and has now been turned into a water feature with flowers planted around it!

21. Alison Ensor led us in a permaculture workshop on poly planting, stacking, mulching and companion planting in April 09. We then set up research beds to experiment with these techniques.

22. What next? Here are some ideas we have had … Willow structures Shelter building for the teenagers and adults More ponds More fruit trees Planting a hazel hedge – thanks to Debs’ advice Workshops for children and adults Building a low impact round hut with grass roof Building a clay or brick wood-fired oven Thinning some of the woodland – again Debs’ advice Involving marginalised groups in horticultural therapy

23. The End? But really just the beginning – WE HOPE! Thank you for watching!