The Friends of Bedfords Park are a determined bunch of people who have revived and recreated a growing Kitchen Garden from the ruins of a completely derelict walled garden. They struggled for 11 years to get the worthiness of our project recognised by the local Council. After we applied for a Local Food Growing grant that enabled repairs to the infrastructure and work on safety measures to be carried out, the local Council, at last, recognised that not only would an important historic and socially valuable community asset be restored, but the functions that a community food growing project would be bringing :- social cohesion, physical and mental health and well being, addressing obesity issues and those of poor local diet. Increasing plant knowledge, creating a pleasant revitalised historic space to be enjoyed by all visitors to the Park. Keeping people fit and improving their horticultural and social skills. Learning how to harvest and prepare vegetables and fruits, herbs and floral products such as ' hand tied country bunches' and lavender bags. The emphasis on biodiversity and caring for our environment on a local and global level is always a priority. Our food is grown without artficial or chemical herbicides, pesticides or fertilisers. We make our own Comfrey feed and try to live with our natural pests! We harvest daily in the season and produce is sold from site - so really fresh conserving vitamins and minerals and with no polluting food miles. Everything is grown by volunteers, with love - from seed to shop! It is very hard work but wee know that it is appreciated by all who visit our glorious garden.
