Reclaim the Commons Network
We are supporting a collective of community growing projects in the Belfast City Council area to improve communication between growers and decision-makers.
About the network
Social Farms & Gardens is the current secretariat for Reclaim the Commons in Belfast. Reclaim the Commons aims to improve communication between people developing community growing spaces and decision-makers.
In an urgent time, appropriate support for food growing is needed, both for biodiversity and health. Reclaim the Commons wants to see more community growing in Belfast, supported by policy and infrastructure. Through the network, people can help each other and make positive change.
Reclaim the Commons includes alley gardens and community gardens who we are collaborating with, learning from and supporting in 2024. Since forming in 2020, members have:
- Visited each other’s sites, sharing skills and resources
- Met with City Councillors to discuss community growing in the city
- Presented to the People and Communities Committee
- Jointly organised Belfast Garden Gathering and an open day of 11 community growing sites
- Taken action to make gardens more inclusive, diverse and continue to prioritise social justice
- Met regularly and organised a WhatsApp group to support each other and plan future action
Resources
> See a map of Reclaim the Commons Gardens
> Read the Belfast Garden Gathering Report (Oct 2023)
> See our other work in Northern Ireland
Contact us
The network is growing, and welcomes new members. To join and add your voice, please contact [email protected] for more information.
Events
Includes our own training events and workshops, and selected events and training run by organisations in the sector we think might be relevant. We aim to share the buzz and keep you informed.