Recorded: 20 November 2025
This Community of Practice session explored how growing can strengthen communities, improve food security, and connect people across North Yorkshire.
Highlights include:
- Council update: Jenny Thompson (Public Health) introduced the upcoming Community Grow Policy, designed to make it easier for local groups to access small pockets of council land for food growing or biodiversity projects. She also linked this to the wider Food for the Future framework.
- Grassroots innovation: Darren Mancrief shared the inspiring journey of Grow Scarborough – from pandemic beginnings to a thriving community garden, seed hubs in libraries, and local orchards. He emphasised the social benefits of growing together and the importance of locally adapted seeds.
- Research insights: David Stone reflected on barriers to community growing, including underused allotments, and the potential for better land management.
- Community connection: Amy Manuel (E50K, Catterick) highlighted how growing has become a tool for building relationships and sparking local movements.
- Discussion themes: Participants raised ideas around mapping available land, strengthening parish–community links, having a future focus on shaping a ‘how to’ guide of creating your own ‘growing’ scheme or project and learning from national pioneers like Incredible Edible.
The session was full of practical examples, heartfelt stories, and fresh ideas for scaling community growing across the county.