May ‘26

May has been another productive and rewarding month, with growing activities flourishing at Parklea and in local Early Learning Centres, new partnerships developing and continued progress in our Food Share project.

From sowing and harvesting fresh produce to supporting young children and families to connect with growing, the month has once again highlighted the importance of food, community, learning and sustainability in building healthier, more resilient communities across Inverclyde.

Growing Together at Parklea

The Parklea vegetable allotment has been a hive of activity throughout May, with five growing sessions taking place alongside the support of dedicated volunteers.

A wide range of crops have been planted and nurtured, including salad leaves, Little Gem lettuce, rocket, spring onions, leeks, onions, carrots, radish, kale (including Scottish Sutherland Kale), dwarf beans, runner beans, peas, courgettes, turnips, beetroot, parsnips and herbs such as parsley, dill, rosemary and chives. Alongside these edible crops, marigolds and nasturtiums have been planted as companion plants to help naturally deter pests.

The allotment is also home to an impressive crop of early, second early and maincrop potatoes, which are progressing well.

One of the highlights of the month has been harvesting fresh salad leaves, Little Gem lettuces and radishes, which have been shared with visitors and supplied to the Parklea Café. Being able to grow and share fresh local produce demonstrates the value of community growing projects, not only in producing healthy food but also in bringing people together through a shared purpose.

Learning Through Growing

As part of the Parklea WCS SVQ course, participants enjoyed a visit to Broomhill Gardens with Gary, where they toured the gardens and glasshouses and learned more about the work being carried out there.

Broomhill provides opportunities for people experiencing mental health challenges alongside volunteers, while operating a successful social enterprise selling high-quality plants. Participants were impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the staff, the quality of the plants and the welcoming atmosphere created by the team. Visits such as these provide valuable opportunities to learn from others while exploring the many ways horticulture can support wellbeing and community development.

Continuing professional development has also remained an important focus this month, with progress being made through RHS Level 2 Horticulture training. The knowledge gained through this training is helping to strengthen our growing activities and can be shared directly with volunteers and participants across our projects.

Supporting New Nursery Gardens

May saw the development of growing activities at two nurseries that we have not previously worked with.

At Blairmore Nursery, we spent time weeding and tidying the garden area before providing compost, seeds and plants. Children enthusiastically helped plant vegetable seeds into growing barrels, learning first-hand how food is produced. A second session brought together parents, carers and children to plant flowers to take home, helping to encourage growing beyond the nursery setting and into family life.

The event was made even more memorable when staff released the nursery's class butterflies, much to the delight of everyone attending. With around 40 people taking part and beautiful weather throughout the day, it was a fantastic example of families learning and growing together.

We also had the opportunity to work with Kings Oak Nursery, transforming their garden space with compost, seeds and flowering plants. Around 20 children participated, bringing tremendous enthusiasm, energy and curiosity to the session. Their excitement reinforced just how valuable these early growing experiences can be in helping children develop positive relationships with nature and healthy food.

Community Partnerships and Sustainability

Collaboration remains at the heart of everything we do.

This month we met with Sabrina and Grace from Inverclyde Climate Action Network to provide an update on the Food Share project, which was initially supported through their grant funding. It was encouraging to hear their continued support for the project, and discussions also explored future opportunities to work together to strengthen sustainability and climate resilience across Inverclyde.

We also spent time at Branchton Garden alongside Chris from Inverclyde Council's Invergrow team, helping with maintenance and development work. Community gardens such as Branchton play an important role in bringing people together, and the project is currently looking for volunteers. Anyone interested in getting involved would be warmly welcomed.

Food, Health and Building Knowledge

Understanding the relationship between food and health continues to be a key area of focus.

This month, ICFN staff and Community Chefs participated in training delivered by Dominika Bugajska, Community Nutritionist with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, focusing on diabetes and diet. The training will help inform future cooking classes designed to support people in making positive dietary changes and understanding how food choices can improve health outcomes.

With Inverclyde experiencing some of the highest rates of diabetes among young people in Scotland, providing accessible food education and practical cooking skills has the potential to make a meaningful difference within our communities.

Food Share Continues to Grow

The Food Share project continues to redistribute surplus supermarket food to organisations and families across Inverclyde, helping to reduce food waste while supporting those who can benefit from additional food resources.

Thanks to recent social media promotion, we are delighted to have welcomed several new volunteers to the delivery team. Their support helps ensure that surplus food reaches community organisations and families who can make good use of it.

While this additional support is greatly appreciated, we are always keen to hear from anyone interested in volunteering and becoming part of this growing community effort.

Looking Ahead

Overall, May has been a successful month of growing, learning and sharing. From nurturing nursery gardens and community allotments to strengthening partnerships and supporting healthier eating, the impact of these activities continues to reach people of all ages across Inverclyde.

As we move into the summer months, preparations are already underway for further cooking activities and Movable Feasts events, creating even more opportunities for people to come together, learn new skills and enjoy good food in good company.