Local Gardening Groups
Education and Charities
As one of the oldest secular intentional communities in the UK, and an educational trust, Braziers Park is a continuing experiment into the advantages and problems of living in a group. Community members share responsibility for running the mansion house (a Grade II* listed building), 55 acres of land, an organic kitchen garden and facilitating courses and organising events, assisted by visiting volunteers from around the world.
| Location: | Ipsden, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 6AN |
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| Contact details: | Sarah, Grower Email: admin@braziers.org.uk |
| Web site: | https://www.braziers.org.uk/ |
| Facebook: | https://www.facebook.com/BraziersPark |
British Islamic Gardens (BIG) is a not-for-profit organisation based in Reading. Run solely by volunteers, we are creating garden spaces around mosques that grow in harmony with the environment, encouraging community cohesion without compromising on sustainability.
| Location: | Aisha Mosque and Islamic Centre, London Road, Reading RG6 1BW |
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| Regular meeting arrangements: | Place: Aisha Mosque and Islamic Centre, London Road, Reading RG6 1BW Time: Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday 10am - 12noon |
| Contact details: | Telephone: 07534 404200 (please text) Email: info@bigardens.org |
| Web site: | http://bigardens.org/ |
Five A Day Market Garden is a community supported project open to people of all ages and abilities. We are a not-for-profit community supported project which aims to engage the rural and urban community by: - growing and selling affordable, healthy, naturally grown produce - educating children, adults and older people within an outdoor therapeutic environment, with a focus on art, nature and fruit and vegetable production - encouraging people to get involved through volunteering - offering a unique team building experience to corporate organisations
| Location: | The Street, Englefield, Theale RG7 5EL |
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| Contact details: | Yvonne Redgrave, Secretary Telephone: 07555 184343 Email: info@fiveaday.org.uk |
| Web site: | https://www.fiveaday.org.uk/ |
| Facebook: | https://www.facebook.com/5adaygarden/ |
Everyone can learn the magic of growing their own fresh vegetables and salad, right in their own neighbourhood. F4F has a network of community gardens and allotments that run regular drop-in sessions. They can organise a beginner's growing session for you, and help you set up some small veg beds. And they run short cookery courses to turn all the fresh vegetables into tasty meals.
| Location: | Reading |
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| Contact details: | Email: food4families@risc.org.uk |
| Web site: | https://www.food4families.org.uk |
| Facebook: | https://www.facebook.com/Food4FamiliesReading |
Green Health Thames Valley is a small charity that provides support with mental health challenges through a tailored programme of horticulture-based activities, with a focus on intensive support. Our clients are members of the local community who are recovering from or at risk of mental health difficulties, social isolation and socio-economic exclusion.
| Location: | The Well Centre, Next to 29 Dawlish Road, Whitley RG2 7SD |
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| Regular meeting arrangements: | Place: The Well Centre, Next to 29 Dawlish Road, Whitley RG2 7SD Time: Tuesday and Thursday 10am to 12noon and 1 to 3pm |
| Contact details: | Telephone: 07450 334 091 Email: info@greenhealththamesvalley.org.uk |
| Web site: | https://greenhealththamesvalley.org.uk/ |
a) Recycling and prudent use of environmental resources b) Education in the field of horticulture c) Social inclusion through group horticulture projects d) Raising awareness through training, local actions on global warming concerns
| Location: | Reading |
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We help people to learn new skills, regain lost skills and improve mental and physical health in our beautiful garden in East Reading. If you are living with disabilities or facing mental or physical health issues, gardening can help you feel better about yourself. Here at Ridgeline Trust, we provide structured gardening sessions where you and the garden can grow together.
| Location: | 25 Whiteknights Road RG6 7BY |
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| Contact details: | Penny Walters, Service Manager Telephone: 07535 636018 Email: admin@ridgelinetrust.org.uk |
| Web site: | https://www.ridgelinetrust.org.uk/ |
| Facebook: | https://www.facebook.com/RidgelineTrust/ |
The Conservation Volunteers help hundreds of thousands of people each year to reclaim local green places. We are a charity that has been established for 53 years. Our work supports, encourages and celebrates volunteers and volunteering, focussing on helping people give some of their time, skills and enthusiasm to create and sustain environmental action with local communities.
| Location: | Reading |
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| Contact details: | Buffy Harris-Jones, Senior Project Officer Telephone: 0118 956 8959 Email: volunteer-reading@tcv.org.uk |
| Web site: | https://www.tcv.org.uk/southeast/volunteer-south-east/day-projects/berkshire-biodiversity-action-team |
Thrive is a leading UK gardening for health charity who help to improve people's physical and mental health through gardening. At our centre in Reading we offer calm, safe spaces for people to connect with nature and with others through group gardening sessions facilitated by a trained practitioner. Therapeutic gardening makes a huge difference for people from a wide variety of demographics, health conditions and disabilities. We also provide gardening information on our website, ideal for those new to gardening and for those who want to know about the physical and mental health benefits of gardening. For enquiries about attending our Centre in Beech Hill near Reading please call 0118 988 4844.
| Location: | Beech Hill, Reading |
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| Contact details: | Helen Beer, Client Services Coordinator Telephone: 0118 988 4844 Email: trunkwell@thrive.org.uk |
| Web site: | http://www.thrive.org.uk/ |
| Facebook: | https://www.facebook.com/thecharitythrive/ |