Rent a railway sleeper raised bed in Norwich!

30 October 2013

A Norwich community garden group is renting out nine raised beds made from new railway sleepers for people to grow vegetables in next year. The Grapes Hill group, which was set up in 2008 has five small raised beds that are fully accessible for wheelchair users and four larger raised beds. To apply you will need to become a member of the group. Rental for raised beds starts from £5 a year for a small raised bed, if unwaged, with prices increasing depending on size of bed and income. 

This year the garden welcomed a local children’s group that enjoyed using the garden on a weekly basis, while the young children learned a lot about sowing and nurturing their own vegetables. The run-down disused former play area near the city centre was converted into a community garden in 2011. The group is growing organic fruit, vegetables and herbs and ornamental shrubs and flowers to make the garden attractive to people and wildlife, and improve the poor air quality in the area.

What a fantastic way of encouraging children and 'new gardeners' into the wonderful world of growing vegetables and learning to love plants!