New project launches mapping community food growing spaces in the Vale

The Vale was once known as “The Garden of Wales” for its favourable growing conditions. Yet anecdotally, we know that people in the Vale are lacking opportunities for communities to get involved with growing their own food. The project, delivered by Social Farms & Gardens, is the first step in a wider effort to understand the local needs associated with community food growing in the Vale. It will map existing community food growing spaces in the Vale of Glamorgan, including community gardens, orchards and allotments. It will also involve community outreach to explore the key barriers to participating in/accessing community food growing projects, and what additional needs might exist for community food growing across the Vale. The project will produce a user-friendly map to help signpost people to existing community growing spaces, as well as incorporating a workshop to gain input on next steps. Findings will help inform a long-term strategic plan for community food growing locally. This work aligns with the draft Vale Food Strategy 2024-2030, in which one of the key outcomes is that ‘People in the Vale will have more opportunities to grow their own fruit and vegetables, cook and eat together’. It will also contribute 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”. If you would like to be a part of this study, please get in touch with Lisa from Social Farms & Gardens. This project is funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund, part of the UK Government Levelling Up Agenda