Welcome to the Growing Community Toolkit!
The Growing Community Toolkit is a free resource for community groups and volunteers in Sussex. It’s created by community volunteers to provide the accurate and practical information you need to set up and run a community group or community garden. You’ll find everything from getting insurance to growing carrots!
We’ve organised the Toolkit into 12 subject areas, or ‘modules’, to make it easier to find what you’re looking for. You can also use the search tool in the menu bar above. The Toolkit is aimed at groups working outdoors, in public spaces and community gardens (although everyone is welcome) and is supported by live events and workshops. Join our mailing list to be notified of new content and events or contact us if you have any questions. We’ve got more live workshops coming soon – watch this space!
Upcoming workshops
If you can’t attend, don’t worry! Check back here as we’ll be updating the website with videos and new content from the workshops. Alternatively, find out about booking a workshop for your organisation
Ready Steady Grow!
- Learn to grow your own vegetables from seed
- Sow your own seeds and take them home
- For all skill levels and abilities – everyone welcome
- Free refreshments!
Led by Master Horticulturalist Dan Ori MCIHort . We’ll be growing seasonal veg such as beans, peas, potatoes, onions, salads, carrots and radishes. Get top tips for successful vegetable growing and bring your problems and questions!
Friday 28th March: 10am – 12pm
Booking link:
To find the Peverells Community Garden: The Community Garden is adjacent to Raymond Close in Seaford. BN25 3DW. We’re located behind The Cabin in the top left-hand corner of the play park.
By car: via Raymond Close (Off Barn Rise). The Garden is behind the playpark at the top, left-hand corner. You can also access the Garden from Lexden Drive via the alleyway.
By bus: the Garden is a 10 minute walk from the 12A bus route and a 2 minute walk from the 119 bus route.
This event is kindly supported by Lewes District Food Partnership
Maintenance and care
Date: Thursday 27th March
Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Where: Denton Island Community Garden
To book your place email OVCAtraining@southdowns.gov.uk
Supported by Ouse Valley Climate Action Fund / National Lottery Community Fund
Online resources
Setting up and running a community group
This module covers key topics to help you get started, including legal structures for community groups, essential policies and procedures, fundraising strategies, and where to find additional support.
Mental health friendly communities
Workshops and resources to foster understanding around mental illness and how to make everyone feel safe, welcomed and supported in their volunteering roles.
Water and watering
Covers key topics such as collecting rainwater, planning for efficient water use, tips for watering wisely, reducing watering needs, making the best use of mains water and drought resistant plants.
Helping wildlife in community gardens & public spaces
Covers key topics such as: an introduction to biodiversity, creating mini meadows, wildlife-friendly plants and where to go for more information.
Tools and equipment
This module includes a masterclass on keeping your gardening tools sharp and clean, as well as information on a new gardening tools lending library.
Fruit trees and community orchards
This module will cover planning, planting and pruning of fruit trees and community orchards, and includes a masterclass on apple and pear pruning.
Getting people involved
This module looks at how to recruit and retain volunteers, as well as how and where to publicise your group and activities.
Growing vegetables, herbs and soft fruit in community spaces
Everything about how to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit in community spaces or in your garden.
Compost, soil, fertilizers and growing in raised beds
This module is all about compost and composting, understanding soil, soil additives and how to grow successfully in raised beds.
Finding, understanding and protecting your space (in development)
Module covers: land ownership; understanding a site in terms of sun, shade, wind etc; how to protect your space in the long term.
Looking after your space (in development)
This module will cover how to look after your space: keeping your site and volunteers safe; making sure tasks get done; daily, monthly and yearly planning; how to run a workshop or session.
Plant profiles (in development)
This module will help you with ‘right plant right place’. Master horticulturalist Dan Ori will share his top plants for local conditions, as well as advising where to go for more information and how to purchase plants ethically. (Content in development)
Tree planting and tree care (in development)
In this module we’ll look at everything you need to know when planting trees in public spaces: from how to get permission, how to choose appropriate species, where to buy trees and how to care from them.
The Growing Community Toolkit is led by GIA (Gardening In Action) CIC. Our thanks to the Sussex Community Development Association Making It Happen and the Lewes District Community Fund for supporting this project
