Warren Carter

This year has been another busy one, with some much-needed infrastructure projects to make the garden more accessible and improve our working environment. The large elms along the boundary have made growing decent crops almost impossible in one part of the garden, so we planted a mini orchard, thanks to the support from Stephan from Brighton Permaculture Trust – and a wildflower area which will give an even warmer welcome as you come through the gates. In summer, thanks to… Read More »LOOKING BACK 2025

A community garden that supports adults with learning disabilities and children struggling at school, has a new outdoor kitchen area, thanks to funding from the National Lottery. Cutting the ribbon will be Daley Thompson, described as the greatest all-round athlete this country has ever produced, and a recent contestant in Celebrity Big Brother. His partner’s son volunteers at the garden.The Moulsecoomb Forest Garden & Wildlife Project offers cooking skills, gardening and outdoor education opportunities, and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.Cook… Read More »COOKING UP A STORM

By Becky Warnock I was lucky enough to spend the summer working at the garden as part of a commission from Photo Fringe. I was invited to work with the people who attend the garden to think about their relationship to nature and the work they do together. I ran some activities and workshops to get know everyone better and share some skills in photography and drawing. In my work I often engage with community groups to think about the… Read More »Photo Finish

There’s been plenty to celebrate during Moulsecoomb Forest Garden’s 30th anniversary year. Our little garden oasis has grown from a half-abandoned allotment site into a wildlife haven that supports adults with learning disabilities and children struggling in mainstream education. And it’s home for an abundance of wildlife who ungratefully dig the place up and scoff the food we grow. Highlights of the year included our annual open day, which turned into a special Forest Garden Birthday celebration in July. We… Read More »LOOKING BACK 2024

The annual Harvest Festival at Moulsecoomb Primary has been a regular event for years and a celebration of our work with the school.The perfect opportunity for Year 5 children to learn how to cook the food they have grown in the schools vegetable beds, turn apple and pears into juice then serve up free to everyone in the playground at the end of the day. It’s a great way to start the new academic year. Anna and Karen from Cardamom… Read More »Cooking the Harvest

As the months of hard graft pay off with an abundance of food, the forest garden harvest isn’t just shared with our volunteers enjoying their workday meals but by all the extra visitors we have at this time of year. Our 30th Anniversary Open Day was packed to the rafters with friends old and new but it was just one example of what we do. Summer is a time when we really get to celebrate our links with Moulsecoomb Primary… Read More »30 years of summer time at the garden

It was a busy end to a busy year. We packed out the Bevy pub for our Annual General Meeting followed as ever by music and dancing. We had over 40 people at our Christmas lunch where Jo and her team served up a hot roast dinner on open fires and army ovens. Then finally it was all aboard the Santa Bus for its 20th year anniversary as we made our way around Moulsecoomb raising money for charities like ourselves.… Read More »LOOKING BACK 2023

Words at Keith’s tree planting celebration event at our garden Running a small charity, we are often asked by grant funders to explain our ‘outcomes’ . What they are asking in a roundabout way is what difference have you made with our money. There isn’t a parellel universe where I can see what would happen if our community garden didn’t exist. But I can tell stories. One of them is of about Keith Wilkinson who we are all here today… Read More »Keith Wilkinson – a legacy to be proud of

Another open day, this time in the boiling heat on a teachers strike day. Let’s just say it was manic – and a little bit magical. The idea of our annual open day isn’t about raising money (thankfully the Fonthill Foundation and Pebble Trust sponsored it) or even raising awareness – although of course we’re more than happy if both these things happen. What it’s really about is to give those we support the chance to be in charge while… Read More »OPEN DAY 2023

I know it’s not about the numbers but here’s a few figures that shine a light on what we do. It cost just £7,580 a month to keep the Forest Garden going. For that we deliver: Two weekly workdays at the garden which over 50 people attend. Everyone gets a tasty, nutritious home-cooked lunch to say thank you for volunteering Outdoor one-to-one education for pupils struggling at school at the garden as well as working with 32 pupils a week… Read More »LOOKING BACK 2022