SPRINGVALE COMMUNITY GARDENING

Springvale Community Garden is a vibrant community asset which is becoming increasingly well known for the opportunities for volunteering as well as excellent seasonal vegetables, fruit and plants.

The garden occupies a 4-acre site on both sides of the River Don in Springvale, Penistone. People who haven’t visited for a while will be amazed at the progress on the site.

Run entirely by volunteers, the garden is a registered charity with the aim of providing:

• Education about growing and healthy eating
• Conservation of the diverse habitat on the site
• Purposeful Recreation – opportunities to get actively involved in a worthwhile and enjoyable project.

The Main Garden

The main garden is on the north side of the river and accessed from Sheffield Road in Springvale.

Restoration work began on the Garden in the summer of 2008. Gradually volunteers have cleared the site and created…

• a unique Physic Garden – a demonstration garden of medicinal, culinary and other useful plants.
• raised beds, greenhouse and polytunnels for vegetable growing
• an orchard
• a gorgeous flower border
• an orchard
• a wildlife pond and dipping platform
• beehives producing local honey
• bug hotels and other wildlife habitats
• a small plant nursery and shop selling freshly picked produce and preserves

Riverside Nature Area

The garden is split into two parts –

This Riverside Nature Area is a hidden gem accessible from the bottom of Don Street in Springvale. It is around an acre on the bank of the River Don and is designated as a nature haven.

Springvale Community Garden hold this land in trust for the benefit of the community.

Volunteers have worked hard to improve access and to create a picnic area. There is a path leading down the bank, across the marshy area and along the riverside until it climbs up again.

Anyone is free to visit and it is open access.