April ‘25
What an incredible spell of sunshine we've had! While we've all enjoyed the warm, dry days, it also serves as a reminder of the changing climate. ICFN believe that encouraging healthier eating and taking local climate action go hand in hand. Whether it's through growing food, sharing meals, or reducing waste, small steps make a big difference.
Here’s how our work supports both healthier communities and a healthier planet:
No-dig gardening helps lock carbon in the soil, supports soil life, and reduces water loss.
Growing fruit and veg supports pollinators, captures carbon, and cools the environment naturally.
Reducing food waste keeps methane out of the atmosphere and redistributes nutritious food where it’s needed.
Promoting plant-based meals reduces meat consumption and helps cut methane emissions from livestock farming.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can all make a difference locally, visit Inverclyde Climate Action Network.
🥔 Potato Week 2025: A Celebration of Growing and Eating Well
This year’s Potato Week was our most successful yet! We were delighted to see so many people eager to grow their own food. Over 300 potato growing kits were distributed to nursery schools, community gardens, and local groups, and we already know we’ll need even more next year. Big thanks to all the ICFN partners who held mini events and distributed potato kits to their communities - Belville Community Garden, Broomhill Hub and Gardens, Branchton Communtiy Centre, The Drying Green (RIG Arts), Craigend Resource Centre and Parklea Branching Out. We were told that the kits went really quickly and there were even queues! We couldn’t make the week the success it is without the help and support of all the partners and we were really glad that it brought people into the gardens and centres.
Potato Week is a brilliant way to get people thinking about where their food comes from and how easy it can be to grow healthy produce—even in pots at home. It also opens the door to conversations about eating more vegetables and getting involved in local growing projects.
🍲 A Moveable Feast at Craigend
Our Moveable Feast at Craigend Resource Centre brought people together to eat warming, nourishing vegetable soup, lentil shepherd’s pie and apple crumble. Swapping lentils for meat gave us the perfect opportunity to talk about alternative protein sources, healthier meals, and their environmental benefits.
But it’s not just about the food—it’s about connection. Events like this help reduce isolation and loneliness, bring families together, and create a welcoming space where people can share healthy meals and a good chat. The food was well received and the sense of community was fantastic. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
🌿 Sowing Seeds at Parklea
With the help of loyal volunteers, seed sowing was a major focus at Parklea this month. We planted everything from tomatoes and courgettes to peas, pumpkins and herbs—preparing for a season of fresh, local food. These seeds will support not only Parklea’s growing spaces but also nurseries, community groups, and shared gardens across Inverclyde.
We’re always looking for more hands to help with sowing, planting, and growing. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, we’d love to hear from you.
🌱 New Growth on the SVQ Allotment Course
We have really enjoyed being part of the SVQ allotment course at Parklea, delivered with Gary Rankin from West College Scotland. It has been a hive of activity this month! We have created new growing beds, planted seeds and wildflowers for the bees, and by the end of the month, we were already celebrating picking our first salad leaves!
If you’re interested in gaining a qualification in horticulture while getting stuck into hands-on growing, get in touch.
🌸 Garden Fun with Local Family Centres
We had a wonderful time working with children at Gibbshill, Bluebird and Newark family centres. Together, we tidied their gardens and planted flowers, herbs and seeds. The children remembered so much from previous visits and shared their excitement about worms, seeds and growing things.
These outdoor learning sessions are a joy to be part of, and we hope they sow the seeds for a lifetime of healthy eating and connection with nature.
🥬 Rescuing Food, Feeding the Community
We continue to support Belville Community Garden with weekly food collections from Lidl. After Easter, there was a huge amount of surplus fruit and vegetables—food that might otherwise have gone to landfill. Instead, it was shared with the community and used in Belville’s weekly meals.
Branchton Community Centre also works hard to collect excess food for redistribution. It’s a great way to reduce waste while making sure good food goes to good use. If you’d like to help with food collections or deliveries, please get in touch!
🤝 Tackling Food Insecurity Together
Our food growing and sharing activities are not just about sustainability—they’re also about helping people through the cost of living crisis. Whether it's through access to fresh, homegrown produce or shared community meals, we help provide practical, low-cost ways for families to eat well. By growing more of our own food and redistributing surplus, we're supporting food security and reducing the pressure on household budgets across Inverclyde.
ICFN link with local community chefs to deliver FREE healthy, ‘cooking on a budget’ workshops across Inverclyde- if this is of interest to you, or you would like to train as a community chef yourself, please get in touch
☕ Coffee Grounds to Compost Gold
A big shout out to Alchemist Coffee Bar @alchemist.greenock in Greenock for saving their spent coffee grounds! We collect them weekly to enrich compost at our community gardens. Coffee grounds help speed up composting and boost the nutrients in our soil—another small act that supports both food growing and sustainability.
From seeds to soup, everything we do is about creating stronger, healthier communities—and a more sustainable world. Whether we’re helping families grow their own food, reducing waste, or inspiring the next generation of growers, our goal is to make a lasting difference. We are trying not just to improve lives today, but to build a better future for generations to come.
