Eco Garden's 10 Years Helping Out

A Methodist church community garden is celebrating ten years in operation – helping to draw local people to the church and cut down on carbon emissions. 

Toddington Methodist Church, in the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District, started the organic garden on an underutilised piece of ground behind the church in 2016. 

Essentials like compost bins, plant posts, greenhouses and paving slabs were all donated or paid for by local businesses, organisations, and grants. 

A small team of volunteers grow edible produce that is freely available for all to harvest, cutting down on food waste and providing a valuable community service.

There are also seating areas for people to enjoy the peace and quiet plus a mud kitchen for the children. The paths are suitable for wheelchair users and there are some raised beds for easier access.

Volunteers work the land and spend time clearing the waste ground of rubbish before its transformation. 

A statement from Toddington Methodist Church said the unused land proved an ideal opportunity to establish the organic garden. 

It read: “Our church is already a notable community centre, hosting many activities to which all are invited, such as holiday clubs and pudding clubs. 

“Building on this, we wanted to establish somewhere safe for people to come and grow/pick organic produce in the village.  

“The land wasn’t being used as it was overgrown and filled with rubbish, but we recognised it had lots of potential as a community asset. 

“Not everyone has the time or ability to grow fruit and vegetables, and we enjoy passing on our knowledge to others. We have had many young and old volunteers join us.”

The garden has even been of use in hosting services, with a new ‘muddy church’ service instituted where the congregation gathers outside. 

The statement added: “As we are organic, we have lots of bugs and butterflies in the garden as well as the occasional hedgehog.  

"We hold some services and muddy church in the garden in the summer and also open for the village open gardens.  

“We provide fruit and vegetables and have two thriving herb patches, and people attending pudding clubs often pick fruit and herbs to go in their recipes. We grow wildflowers elsewhere in the grounds for pollinators and have bird boxes in the trees.

"We offer a quiet spot for people to stop and enjoy nature as well as providing free, fresh produce.”

If you are interested in trying some of the produce, people can visit the garden at any time to pick what they choose. 

A basket of freshly picked vegetables is left in front of the church for anyone to pick up.