Call for volunteers to help keep Biggleswade Community Gardens blooming great
Biggleswade Community Gardens is looking for volunteers as it heads into its autumn season – and provides a lifeline for families in need of green space.
Its main site sits opposite Northfields Community Centre, where you can find all manner of fruits, vegetables and flowers growing – from aubergines and pumpkins to potmarigolds and spinach.
People are free to come and help themselves to its produce – grown by the community, for the community – with the garden project changing even the youngest of lives.
Ginny Smith, 48, who visits with her son, George, said: "We don't have a garden anymore, so this is our little garden. George loves coming out watering. This is his little playground.
"On Fridays and Saturdays it's our turn to water. He's quite a good gardener.
"We've recently been growing tomatoes, and we've planted parnsips. We want some for Christmas dinner."
The Chronicle visited the Northfields site this week and met its founder, Rhiannon Barrow, and a few of her fellow volunteers – Ginny, five-year-old George, and town councillor Andy Skilton.
George was in his element – spotting snail shells, looking at ladybirds, and collecting calendula.
Meanwhile, the garden was looking "wild and free", as Rhiannon described it, after September brought some much needed showers.
"Just a little bit of rain changes everything, it's amazing," smiled Ginny.
In August, the Chronicle reported that the garden's kiwis, blueberries, cranberries and runner beans had all been devastated by the harsh heatwave.
But thanks to the kindness of the community – who rallied to supply water during the hosepipe ban – the gardens fought back.
The team is now looking forward to the autumn season, with oregano, thyme, tomatoes and spinach ready to harvest – and plans inspire new members to join.
Councillor Skilton said: "When I first started getting involved I'd just moved to Biggleswade.
"We're a group of mates who get together and socialise – and who love gardening; I've now dug up my front garden and turned it into a vegetable patch."
And the team reminded people that you don't have to be good at gardening to volunteer – "just come along for a chat and a cup of tea!"
Rhiannon moved to Biggleswade in 2021 and started a 'seed swop' a year later.
She then revitalised the community gardens project in 2023 after its Chestnut Avenue group had stopped due to the pandemic – whilst also establishing its Northfields site.
She said: "My impetus for setting up the garden was because I believe people have a right to access land and grow food for ourselves.
"Food prices and going up like crazy, so are energy prices. We never want to charge for food."
Volunteers can give their time at any of the three sites – Northfields, Chestnut Avenue, or the Des Ball Bulb Bank.
Email Rhiannon at [email protected] to find out more or visit: biggleswadecommunitygardens.org.
A monthly gardening session is held every second Saturday at the Northfields site from 10.30am until 12.30pm. The next one is this Saturday (October 10).
The team wished to thank Amplius Housing for the use of its community centre and everyone who supported them during the recent drought.
A fundraising quiz for the gardens will also take place at The Rose pub on November 2 – more details to follow.