New Digital Map and Report Launched for Community Food Growing in the Vale

A new report and digital map have been launched following a study exploring the local needs associated with community food growing in the Vale. With support from Shared Prosperity Funding, in February 2025 Food Vale commissioned Social Farms & Gardens to map existing community food growing projects in the Vale of Glamorgan, explore the key barriers to participation/accessing community food growing projects and the additional needs that might exist for community food growing across the Vale. The study was informed by engagement with community growers, allotment associations, community orchards and local Town and Community Councils, as well as a ‘Community Growing’ workshop held on 21 March 2025 which brought together 30 delegates to discuss the future of community food growing in the Vale of Glamorgan. Key findings from the report include:

• 54 growing spaces were identified across the Vale
• 75000 square metres are currently being used for community growing
• Allotment waiting lists remain significantly long
• Across the Vale there are clear gaps in allotment provision
• Community growing spaces undertake a variety of activities from growing to sessions for particular target groups (e.g. adults with disabilities, college students), distributing produce and horticultural therapy.
• Common barriers and challenges include those related to management (e.g. leases/licenses, governance and admin); volunteer recruitments and retention; land access; finance for site/plot creation and management; and awareness of community growing.

The accompanying digital map intends to help signpost people to existing community growing spaces. Both resources can be accessed on our new Community Growing webpage. This work aligns with the new Vale Food Strategy 2025-2030 which includes the desired outcome that ‘People in the Vale will have more opportunities to grow their own fruit and vegetables, cook and eat together’, as well as contributing to the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s ‘Project Zero’ Climate Challenge Plan 2021-2030, which commits to “work with local communities to increase the number of allotments and community garden space”. Food Vale now hopes to work with key partners in order to identify ways in which the identified barriers and challenges can be addressed. If you are involved with an existing community growing space which you would like to be included on the map, please get in touch.