Spring in your Step Social Sharing Day

Join us for a day focussed on People of Colour who work, volunteer and visit community growing sites, and those that are actively growing opportunities for communities in this sector.  

Aims:

To relax, have fun and share experiences with people doing similar work to you.

To explore what works for People of Colour when visiting, volunteering, working, accessing training, becoming trustees, and generally feeling at home and wanting to be involved in community growing spaces.

To show how community growing is not just about gardening, but offers a wealth of  roles including management, finance, art, events, science, food, media and more.      

Spring in your Step is organised by Calthorpe Community Garden and Black Rootz, and supported by Social Farms & Gardens.

Black Rootz is Ubele’s multigenerational growing project providing opportunities for Black and racially minoritised people to grow food for themselves, their families and their communities. Black Rootz was established in 2019 by a collective of Black growers in Haringey who recognised the need to organise to challenge the deep inequalities in the growing and food systems.

Founded in 1984, Calthorpe is a welcoming community garden in the heart of King’s Cross. Providing access to green space, food growing, combating feelings of isolation and loneliness as well as tackling food insecurity through regular community lunches and engaging activities for the local and wider community. 

This event is an excellent opportunity to connect with BPOC professionals from growing spaces across London to share ideas on attraction and retention strategies. 

The day includes peer-led discussions, talks by Calthorpe and Black Rootz, reflections, a seed exchange, a creative workshop and a delicious lunch provided by Calthorpe. 

The event will result in a network with a Spring in its Step, information sharing and a report on attraction and retention of People of Colour in growing spaces.

This event is generously funded by CACI and City Bridge Foundation.

*BPOC means ‘Black People and People of Colour.’

Mini timetable:

0930    Introduction and refreshments

1030    Peer Discussion – How do we attract and retain BPOC communities in our green spaces?

1200    Perspectives - Calthorpe and Black Rootz sharing their experiences of creating welcoming spaces for BPOC communities

1230    Discussion – What are the challenges or opportunities in attracting people into specific roles and activities in our organisations?

1400    Debrief

1500    Networking / Seed Exchange

1530    Close

Practical details:

When:  9:30am - 3:30pm on Monday 23rd March 2026 .

Where: Calthorpe Community Garden, Grey's Inn Road, Kings Cross, London.

Travel options: Walk. Bus. Bike. Tube. Overground lines into Kings Cross / St Pancras. 

Accessibility: This is an accessible venue with an accessible toilet. There is some moving between rooms, including on a garden path. We can pay London travel if you are disabled.

Cost: This event is free for staff, volunteers and trustees involved in community gardens, and people that want to find out more about the sector. 

If you live in London and childcare or travel costs are a barrier to participation, please email [email protected] as we have some funds for this.

Can I bring children and young people?: Please let us know. There is space to play at Calthorpe. 

Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.