Growing Alternatives - lessons from 10 years of Woodlands Community Garden

Monday, November 30, 2020
7:00 PM 8:30 PM 19:00 20:30

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Ten years ago when our Community Garden was first created, we couldn't have imagined how much has grown out of us transforming a derelict gap site into a community resource. Nor would we have anticipated the twin challenges of living through a pandemic and dealing with a climate emergency. Join us to reflect on some of the challenges, successes, and opportunities from our first 10 years - and see how we can continue together grow alternatives.

A follow up event to COP 26 Coalition Global Gathering, building on the conversations started during the Growing Alternatives session. If you didnt attend the Global Gathering you are still welcome to join, as it will begin with a recap of the main presentation. We'll be exploring themes around People, Land, Resources, Climate Emergency and the Covid Pandemic. And there will be plenty of time for both Q & A and discussion.

Since 2011 Tim Cowen has been the manager for Woodlands Community Development Trust, a Glasgow based environmental charity. Here he’s overseen the development of their highly successful Community Garden and Community Café, as well as the creation of Woodlands Workspace, a community building and events space.

During the Covid pandemic, Woodlands Community have reconfigured and expanded their frontline services, including a new neighbourhood food service and nature recovery project.

But what's it really like running a successful community garden and food project in Glasgow?

The session will - highlight challenges around funding, access to land and of the difficulties of both sustaining and scaling up local food initiatives - explore the importance of holistic responses - linking up food, gardening, nature, social and mental health support - question what we can learn for the climate movement from the way that communities, funders, local and national government’s have responded to the Covid pandemic - and ask what opportunities are there for environmental and community groups in Glasgow learn from similar initiatives overseas.