In the Lee of Dartmoor: A Community Garden Growing More Than Food - Okehampton Community Garden

Tucked beneath the rugged sweep of Dartmoor, where granite tors rise above gorse and bracken, a thriving community garden has taken root — a space created not just for growing food, but for growing connection.

The garden began in 2012, after the closure of a local allotment site left residents without a place to cultivate. Okehampton United Charities stepped in, offering a field they owned; half became new allotments, and half was transformed into what is now a flourishing community garden. What started with a small steering group has evolved into a volunteer‑run, not‑for‑profit haven dedicated to wellbeing, biodiversity, and togetherness

A Garden for Everyone

Open every day, the garden welcomes visitors of all ages. Families gravitate toward the sandpit, mud kitchen, toys and picnic benches, while others come to sit, breathe, and enjoy the calm. At its heart stands the Heartspace pavilion, available for private hire, with proceeds supporting the garden’s upkeep.

Throughout the year, the garden hosts a lively calendar of events: wassailing among the young fruit trees, the Eden Project’s Big Lunch, apple‑pressing days, and seasonal open events that draw in the wider community.

Growing Food, Flowers, and Biodiversity

Volunteers cultivate an impressive range of produce — potatoes, radishes, parsnips, artichokes, beetroot, lettuces, kale, runner beans, herbs, gooseberries, currants, cranberries, and fruit from pear, plum, and apple trees. Although not certified organic, the garden follows a strict no‑chemical policy, relying instead on good soil care, composting, and wildlife‑friendly practices.

Biodiversity is woven into the garden’s design: wildflower patches hum with pollinators, bug hotels shelter beneficial insects, and a hedgehog house offers refuge to nocturnal visitors. A well‑organised composting system — three bays and a tumbler — keeps nutrients cycling back into the soil.

Harvests are shared with volunteers first, with surplus donated to local initiatives such as the community fridge, community kitchen, and wellbeing café, or sold to raise funds.

The People Who Make It Thrive

Around six long‑term volunteers form the backbone of the garden, supported by a wider group of roughly a dozen helpers. Recruiting younger volunteers remains a challenge, despite Okehampton’s vibrant community life. Chairperson Jeanette Chilcott notes that changing jobs, shifting priorities, and new housing developments make it difficult to maintain momentum and visibility.

Yet the garden offers roles for every interest and ability. Some volunteers prefer hands‑on gardening; others make jams from soft fruits, help with harvesting, or take on practical tasks. The garden also hosts a regular Reiki Exchange and drumming workshops, with donations feeding back into the project.

A Place of Peace and Purpose

For many, the garden is more than a growing space — it’s a sanctuary. People drop in to walk dogs, chat with neighbours, or simply sit among the beds and borders. Treasurer Morwenna Brady captures the spirit beautifully: “It’s always rewarding. It makes you very aware of the passing of the seasons. It’s healthy, but the social side is a big part too. Enjoying a cuppa after some hard work, sitting on a bench in the garden, feels wonderful.”

In the shadow of Dartmoor’s wild beauty, this community garden stands as a testament to what can flourish when people come together — not just vegetables and flowers, but resilience, friendship, and a shared sense of belonging.

Okehampton’s Community Garden: Growing Food, Biodiversity and Connection

At the edge of Dartmoor, Okehampton’s community garden has flourished since 2012, transforming half of a donated field into a vibrant, volunteer‑run space. Open daily, it offers families a welcoming place to play and relax, while events such as wassailing, apple pressing and the Big Lunch help weave the garden into local community life.

Volunteers grow an impressive range of fruit, vegetables and herbs using chemical‑free methods, supported by wildlife‑friendly features including wildflower areas, bug hotels and a hedgehog house. Produce is shared among volunteers, with surplus donated to local food initiatives.

Despite a core group of dedicated helpers, the garden continues to seek new volunteers — especially younger people — to support everything from growing and harvesting to jam‑making and practical tasks. For many, the garden is as much about wellbeing as it is about cultivation: a peaceful green refuge where people can connect, contribute and enjoy the changing seasons.