Droitwich Lido Forest Garden - A Sustainable Community Project
Over by the cricket pitch in St Peter’s Fields, Droitwich, is a fenced area that looks a bit wild. It is usually full of birds and insects and, if you look a bit closer, you will notice a few flowers and odd-looking plants amongst the trees, long grass and nettles. This is the beginnings of an edible forest: a food-growing system based on the structure of young woodland, with plants grown in harmonious guilds and layers. It is designed to be low-maintenance, extremely resilient and very productive.
The project has been funded by Droitwich Spa Area Partnership, Wychavon District Council and Growing with Schools.
It is designed to create a legacy for the town for decades to come (the oldest forest garden known is 2000 years old!). Planting started at the garden in March, with a dedicated group of local volunteers putting in some fruit trees and shrubs. Planting started at the garden in March, with a dedicated group of local volunteers putting in some fruit trees and shrubs.
“We’ve taken a small group to Ryton’s Organic Gardens to add to their knowledge and inspire planting for this autumn. We all have different experiences of gardening and are learning so much by our involvement, not only about growing but about nutrition and cooking as well.” says coordinator Keeley Thomas.
Children are encouraged to get really stuck in. Local schools and Kingfields’ Day Centre’s gardening group have grown seedlings for the garden. Chawson First School have visited the garden with Year Three and returned to put in their own garden design, based on what they learned and can now come back to pick their own strawberries, herbs, cardoon and chard!
Anyone can get involved, with regular work sessions every Saturday from 10.30 am. The work is light and there’s always something interesting to have a go at, from making jam to grafting fruit trees. It’s a great place to hunt for bugs, watch the birds or explore all the different crops. The plants grown aren’t just the usual annual vegetables: there’s plenty of rhubarb, raspberries and currants, but there’s also kiwi vines, honey berries, goji berries, medlars and quince, etc.
If you would like to find out more, visit the garden or get involved, contact Keeley Thomas (project coordinator) on 01905 774277 or e-mail