Our Garden at Paganhill
Nestled at the side of the Pagan Hill Community Centre building is our Community Garden, lovingly tended by Steve. What started during the COVID-19 lockdown has blossomed into a green, productive space where fruit, vegetables and herbs are cultivated with care and shared with the wider community.
Why We Grow
The garden does more than produce fresh food. In high season, it supports our food bank, with much of the harvest being offered to families and individuals using our food bank. This helps provide nutritious, locally grown produce to those who need it most, reducing reliance on commercial supply chains and strengthening community self-reliance.
Community gardening also offers many wider benefits:
- It builds social connections, giving people a place to come together, work side by side, and belong.
- It supports mental and physical well-being – gardening is therapeutic, encouraging purpose, calm, and gentle activity.
- It’s good for the environment: by growing locally, we support biodiversity and reduce our food’s carbon footprint.
- It fosters learning: the garden can be (and potentially becoming more) a living classroom, where people can learn about sustainable growing, composting, and eco-friendly practices.
How It Began & How It Works
The garden was started by Steve during the lockdown, as a way to turn unused space into something positive and practical.
At present, Steve is the main gardener and caretaker. He plans, weeds, plants, harvests, and ensures the produce reaches the food bank.
While we don’t yet run regular gardening workshops, occasionally the Stroud Valleys Project (SVP) Froglets group uses the space for their activities, giving local children an opportunity for hands on learning and connection with nature. They also run Carers in Nature, a calm creative session especially for carers to get in touch with nature.
Could you help?
We believe this garden has real potential to grow – not just in greenery, but as a hub for learning, community and sustainability.
Looking ahead, there are many exciting possibilities:
- Regular community gardening sessions – to make the garden more of a shared space, not just a solo project.
- Workshops and learning events – on topics like sowing seeds, composting, or seasonal planting.
- More group use – beyond the SVP Froglets, perhaps other local groups, schools, or families might want to use the space.
- Garden improvements – raised beds, better water access, or even seating, to make the garden more accessible for all.
In order to make that happen, we need more hands, more ideas, and more people!
Do you live locally and enjoy gardening?
Do you have experience running workshops or teaching about growing food (plot management, composting, seedlings, etc.)?
Would you like to help expand what’s possible here – even if it’s just a few hours now and then?
If yes, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just curious, all are welcome to get in touch. Drop us an email at hello@paganhill.org.uk or pop into the centre and chat to Steve or one of the team.
Why Our Garden Matters
At its heart, the Pagan Hill Community Garden is a symbol of what a local community centre can do: transform a simple patch of soil into a place of growth, nourishment, and connection. It’s a way to weave sustainability into our daily life, support people who need food help, and build a stronger, greener community together.