2026 is set to be a big year for Reinventing Borde Hill, as we work towards the launch of our Community Growing Garden this autumn, which is Phase One of the project. The Community Garden will be a biodynamic, welcoming and accessible space where families, schools, local groups and volunteers can get involved in sowing, growing, harvesting, cooking and sharing food together, allowing our local community to experience the proven mental and physical wellbeing benefits of connecting with nature.
Located alongside our Market Garden at Sugworth Farm, the Community Growing Garden will transform a previously unused space into a vibrant, inclusive haven for learning and wellbeing through nature connection. It will feature accessible paths, raised beds, outdoor cooking areas, and spaces to gather and relax, making it easy for people of all ages and abilities to take part. In its first year, we will also plant an edible hedgerow and a heritage orchard, enhancing biodiversity and creating new habitats for wildlife.
The Community Growing Garden will also be the home of our Propagation Project, an important initiative that will ensure we can protect our nationally important collection of plants and trees for generations to come, and will see a new polytunnel used for the propagation of our rarest and most special plant species.
Like our Market Garden, the Community Growing Garden will follow biodynamic principles, taking a holistic, nature-led approach to growing fruit and vegetables, and working gently with the rhythms of the land and the seasonal cycles. Where possible, we will use site-grown materials in the construction of the Community Garden, following sustainable best practices to ensure that we minimise both waste and our carbon footprint.
The first step towards realising the Community Growing Garden is to raise £200,000 through financial gifts or donations in kind for materials. For further details about how to support the project through donations or volunteer support, please visit Reinventing Borde Hill.
The Reinventing Borde Hill project will connect communities with the restorative power of nature, and the launch of the Community Growing Garden this autumn will be a significant step forward – helping us to support our community, enhance biodiversity, and build a sustainable future for everyone.
