Growing Community Through Forest Gardening

What is this project about?

‘Growing Community Through Forest Gardening’ allows the local community to help create a ‘forest garden’ in Murton, Gower. A forest garden is a ‘designed agronomic system based on trees, shrubs and perennial plants… mixed in such a way as to mimic the structure of a natural forest’. It is one of the most stable and sustainable types of ecosystem within our climate and is part of Down to Earth’s ambitious sustainability plans that also support local volunteers’ health and wellbeing.

Participating in the sessions will give people a range of skills and experience, such as understanding how to grow organic food sustainably, how to create composting systems, learning about different plants and their benefits and wider land management skills, as well as improving health and wellbeing by being in the fresh air and meeting new people.

Who is this project for?

The project is aimed towards anyone over 16 living locally to Murton, Gower who would like to volunteer.

When?

The volunteer sessions run every fortnight on a Saturday. Asylum seeker and refugee groups meet midweek.

Dates for 2022:

Saturday 25 June

Saturday 2 July

Saturday 23 July

Saturday 13 August

Saturday 10 September

Saturday 24 September

Saturday 8 October

Saturday 22 October

Saturday 5 November

Saturday 19 November

Saturday 3 December

 

Times:

10:00am – 14:30pm

Where?

We will be based at Down to Earth’s Murton site:
72a Manselfield Road, Murton, SA 33AP
You can find the site location here

What do you need?

You need to be able to get to the site, wear comfortable clothing that is okay to get dirty (and suitable for Welsh weather!) and, if you have them, please bring along steel toe-capped boots. All tools and other protective equipment will be provided.

Volunteers should also bring a packed lunch but we provide the tea and coffee!

Who is funding this project?

This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government, and supported by Swansea Rural Development Partnership at Swansea Council.