Support communities take action
Access AfSL resourcesA not-for-profit community interest company making it easy to save money and eat green in Didsbury, Burnage, Old Moat and Chorlton.
Location:
Didsbury and surrounds,
Duration:
July 2011- present
A scarcity of local fruit and veg growing opportunities in Didsbury gave Amanda Woodvine of ‘Didsbury Dinners – Community Cooking’, the inspiration to set up a community food growing project. In July 2011 a community orchard was planted at TocH Rugby Club on Stenner Lane, assisted by keen volunteers from Didsbury Greening and Growing Group, and funded by sales proceeds from the Didsbury Dinners cookbook. New Local Project Manager, Stacy Duggins, with her public health background and passion for the health benefits of home grown food, joined to run the growing project from November 2011 until autumn 2012.
Taking steps to achieve a 2012 target to establish five new community gardens/orchards, a local estate agent assisted by suggesting land for growing on Barlow Moor Road. Weekly gardening sessions have since transformed this previously overgrown land into ripe fruit and veg growing ground! Didsbury Dinners have also set up landshare opportunities in Didsbury and Chorlton.
In November 2012, Didsbury Dinners established a new community orchard in Fog Lane Park, with 420 trees, including fruit and nut varieties. The group is still collaborating with local organisations, aiming to create a further eight community gardens, orchards or landshares in 2013.
To celebrate the great success of the project, the team enjoyed a community BBQ at the Fletcher Moss Community Orchard in June 2012. One of the volunteers says the project is: “Very chilled and friendly. Felt very welcome. Fantastic.” A further celebration of Didsbury Dinners work, called the Didsbury Food Trail, took place from 22 to 23 September 2012. A programme of open days, sustainable cookery demonstrations, talks and music took place at seven sites throughout the area (see Didsbury Dinners website for more details). The Food Trail will be repeated in September 2013.
Partner organizations & Funders:
•Didsbury Dinners Cookbook
Volunteering Opportunities:
To help with growing projects, Didsbury Food Trail, or to join the advisory panel, email: [email protected]
Contact Name(s):
Amanda Woodvine (Community food growing)
Email:
Project Website: www.didsburydinners.wordpress.com
Project Blog site: didsburydinners.tumblr.com
Project Facebook Page: /didsbury.dinners
Project Twitter Feed: @didsburydinners@didsfoodtrail
