How to create a gardening group
Last updated: 8 April, 2021
Gardening groups are great because they:
What you need
Tools (forks, spades, trowels, secateurs, gloves)
Wheelbarrow
A secure place to keep tools
Access to a water supply
A space with a mixture of light and shade
Permission to use the space
Public liability insurance
A design for your garden (could just be a rough drawing)
Plants, flowers or seeds for growing vegetables
Access to toilets
With the climate emergency going on I'd never recommend people use mains water to water their plants. We should be talking water butts and watering cans, drip irrigators and water conservation methods.
Setting up the group
1Find out if there are any other gardening groups in your area
Explore groups on Co-operate and ask around. You might find there are other groups you can join up with.
2Ask people if they’d like to help
Start with your friends, then do a call out on social media or put some posters up in your community.
3Organise a meeting to discuss next steps
Get everyone who’s interested together in a local space (like a pub garden or the local park).
4Work out whether you want to create a community garden or garden in lots of different places
Setting up a community garden in one place is easier because you only need to ask once for permission to use the space.
5Ask the community about the kind of garden they’d like
The community will use the garden you create so make sure they’re involved from the start. Use an online survey or a social media poll.
6Decide what kind of garden you’ll create
Based on your survey results, decide whether you’ll create a garden with vegetables, flowers and plants, or a combination.
7Ask for support from other groups and local businesses
Get advice on finding support from local businesses and community groups.
8Get insurance
You can get public liability insurance from most insurers. This will cover your legal liability from accidental damage or injury. It also includes damage or injury to a member of the public or their property.
I'd suggest people look at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) 'Greening Grey Britain' scheme, and the federation of city farms and community gardens who have great info on public liability for small groups.
Choosing a space
1Find a suitable space for your garden
Look at:
woodlands
allotments
school land
derelict land
2Do a soil test and check how much of the space is in light or shade
Find out if your soil type is clay, sand, silt, loam, peat or chalk. This will help you choose the right plants for your garden.
3Ask permission from the local landowner
Contact your local council to find out who owns the land at gov.uk/find-local-council.
4Do a risk assessment of the space
Use the Health and Safety Executive’s risk assessment template.
5Clear the garden of weeds and rubbish
Get your gardening group to wear protective gloves.
6Look at gardening magazines for inspiration
Ask your volunteers to find designs that inspire them. This will help you create your own design sketches.
7Take photos at different stages
You’ll be able to see all the progress your gardening group has made. You can use these photographs to share in the community and let them know how you’re getting on.
8Create an indoor space
It’s important to have somewhere to go when the weather isn’t great. Think about getting a shed or greenhouse.
I must admit we have done a lot of guerrilla gardening. Clearing spaces and putting in plants without permission. If it improves the area, we believe nobody will complain. But relationships with local councillors are invaluable as they have influence to get things done and grant permission to garden on council owned land.
When your garden is ready
1Hold an open day for people in the community
Invite people to come and see your garden. Have a BBQ or picnic depending on what time of year it is. Make sure some of your volunteers are there to chat about what you’ve done.
2Share your story
Celebrate your success with others in the community. Share your story and we’ll include it on Co-operate.
Make it for everyone
Look for other local groups near you who run gardening groups and see if they will let you borrow their equipment for your first one or join with the other groups to create a tool sharing library.
Useful websites
Share your story
Do you have a story about how your community has come together to support each other?
We'd love to share your story on our website to encourage other people to get or offer support.