What’s growing in Redruth?
Redruth is blooming with community projects that are transforming the town. From high-street planters to flourishing orchards and thriving community gardens, local initiatives are bringing people together through a shared love of growing fresh produce. Madison James spoke to some of the people making Redruth greener and more connected.
Grassroots Garden
Based in Radnor, Grassroots Garden is more than just a market garden - it’s a movement. The CIC was founded with the mission to improve access to high-quality local food, educate the community about the origins and cultivation of our food and address pressing issues such as food insecurity and biodiversity loss.
Grassroots Garden is a growing space equipped with polytunnels, an edible forest garden and ‘no-dig’ veg beds. It operates as Redruth’s first Community Supported Agriculture scheme, offering weekly vegetable bags, workshops including fruit tree grafting and kimchi making, as well as volunteer days to get the community growing together.
Locals can subscribe to their weekly veg boxes, designed for those who want “no chemicals, just food”, and are told to expect wonky carrots, bulging beets and bountiful brassicas.
We spoke to founder Daniel Sarginson, who’s passion for sustainable food production began over 15 years ago - “Rather than being annoyed by our insecure food system, which favours profits for major supermarkets and corporations over the resilience and the health of the soil and those who eat the nutrient-depleted veg, I decided I would plant seeds and trees, learn the necessary skills, and find out about the alternatives.”
He soon realised there was a possibility to “change the world and our communities, for the better”, and with support from the National Lottery Community Fund, Redruth. Town Council, People’s Postcode Lottery, CN4C and some wonderful volunteers - Grassroots Garden came to be.
The response from the local community has been overwhelmingly positive: “Many of them regularly share recipes of their culinary creations, which change as we journey through the growing seasons together.” Sustainability is at the heart of Grassroots Garden, with a focus on ‘regenerative agriculture’ - farming that simultaneously improves the environment. “Regenerative agriculture is taking a step back, and looking at ways we can treat and respect the soil as a living system, and not use it like a Petri dish full of chemicals.”
Whilst prepping for any curveballs in the future, “If the food system ever has more shocks that are worse than Brexit, COVID or whatever is around the corner - we’re ready with the skills, the seeds and the community to get growing together”, Dan also has big ambitions.
“My dream is to produce and store enough seeds to feed the whole of Redruth. We have many plans for breeding locally adapted seeds, creating more perennial edible growing areas and integrating livestock.”
A soon-to-be-launched online shop system will also support the future of Grassroots Garden. Dan would love to hear from people who want to get involved in the garden or would like to enjoy some weekly veg bags.
To do so, email grassrootsgarden@protonmail.com or visit https://grassrootsgarden.co.uk
Resilient Orchards
Resilient Orchards Cornwall is a Community Interest Company on a mission to restore traditional orchards, promote fruit growing, and build stronger, more sustainable communities. Starting out at Trenoweth Estate, they work in and around Redruth planting trees with the community.
We spoke to Michelle Lawson, who is one of three voluntary directors. “We want to empower people, including children, to care for and make use of their local community orchards for enjoyment, access to local fruit, learning and community connection. This includes the full orcharding calendar from tree planting and care, to blossom walks, fruit harvesting and apple pressing to wassails.” They also offer a professional orchard service.
Their most recent projects include planting 10 more fruit trees in East End Park, a bird nest box making session at Market Way and community planting days in Trefusis Park.
With around 80% of traditional orchards lost in the South West since the 1900s, the organisation is working to reverse the decline. “The UK grows only 14% of our own fruit and vegetables. We want to reverse what has happened and hope to play a small part in ensuring this important habitat is restored for both the humans and the wildlife that depend on it.”
Resilient Orchards Cornwall is taking a hands-on approach to food security: “In Cornwall, we need to become more self-sufficient. Commercial growing offers no control, whereas community growing ensures local control, involves all ages, and helps build long-term community resilience. The more fruit and vegetables we can grow ourselves, the better.”
In Redruth, the Trenoweth Community Orchard has brought people together. “There is a lovely community of people who have designed, created, and continue to care for Trenoweth Community Orchard. We are a diverse group all pulled together thanks to this orchard and have become firm friends.”
Resilient Orchards run pruning workshops regularly with members participating for different reasons, “Some for social connection, some for community action, some for practical skills and fun, others for the knowledge they are doing something positive for the future.”
Locals anxious about climate change and food security benefit from the workshops: “Being able to get involved in practical, positive action locally empowers us, connects us directly with our food sources & our neighbours and allows us to work towards creating sustainable communities rather than feeling there is nothing we can do.” Looking ahead, Resilient Orchards have big ambitions: “We’d like to see a lively community of orchardists, fruit growers, and community fruit initiatives across Cornwall.”
The goal? A sustainable, self-sufficient Cornwall with local control and accessible fruit. Everyone is encouraged to get involved—“families and individuals can plant, mulch and water new trees; schools can hold apple pressing sessions with students or plant an orchard; organisations in Redruth can see if there is space for a fruit tree or bushes.” Without the help of dedicated volunteers, Resilient orchards wouldn’t be possible.
“We’d like to thank all our directors, orchard volunteers, supporters, partners, and those who have donated money.”
To get involved, visit https://www.resilientorchards.org.uk
Incredible Edible
Incredible Edible is striving to show how disused plots of land can be turned into sources of healthy food by local communities. Founded in 2008 in Todmorden by Pam Warhurst and Mary Clear, the initiative began with the simple act of planting vegetables in unused public spaces to spark conversations about sustainable futures.
The movement operates with three main focuses: ‘Learning’ - Integrating food-based education. ‘Community’ - Strengthening communities by growing and celebrating local food. ‘Business’ - Supporting local food businesses. Since its inception, Incredible Edible has grown significantly, with over 150 groups in the UK working towards healthier, greener futures through community-led food initiatives, with the tagline “If you eat it, you’re in!”
One of those groups is Redruth, who joined the network in 2024, and told us all about their recent work. The first step of the project was to install a raised bed planted with free food in a prominent spot on the high street. “The first planter has been made, and we’re now planting seeds in manageable supermarket crates that will be put into the planter once grown on a bit, and we’ll add a sign to it inviting others to join in for phase two - finding more places to plant free food in the town!”
The possibilities for growing spots are endless: “More planters on the high street, under trees in the parks, on grass verges near houses, or in gardens and walls available to pick. There are acres of potential veg-growing spots within our town.”
Locals are excited by the progress - “All of the conversations we’ve had with local residents, council and organisations about the project have been incredibly positive and we look forward to finding change-makers, community-minded organisers, growers, builders, artists, and any others who would like to be involved.”
Community projects are gaining momentum nationwide and are particularly important for places like Redruth, which has been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis. “Redruth is a special place with a real mix of people. We have a lot of potential to come together and connect over something as universal as food in a positive way that brings the best out in a community and at the same time, we can re-learn the lost art of growing food from each other, increase our food security, and make Redruth a bit more beautiful (and edible).”
There are lots of ways to get involved. “Anyone can get a crate, fill it with compost, and plant seeds in it to go in a planter. We have lots of spare seeds, and anyone is welcome to plant some seeds or perhaps participate another way, like making leaflets, posters, speaking with people, or social media.”
Alternatively, at Grassroots Garden every Thursday, there are weekly volunteer days to help plant the seeds for the first planter. Soon, some ‘walkabouts’ will be organised where volunteers can help in finding new spots for the next planters.
It’s still early days, but there’s a lot to come. The best way to learn more is via their Facebook page, ‘Incredible Edible Redruth.’
