Presteigne Community Garden
Great plans for 2025
Thanks to our committed volunteers the garden progressed a huge amount in 2025, with new infrastructure going in and more ground cleared. The greenhouse has been in operation this year and also our newly completed polytunnel has produced an abundance of tomatoes and cucumbers. We were very grateful to receive further funding from the National Garden Scheme which has enabled us to replace the dilapidated shed, createe raised beds filled with new top soil and cover our winter crops with a protective cage. We have welcomed members of the local Scout group who came on several visits throughout the season and helped with various tasks.
With financial support from Tyfu Powys in 2024 and the NGS in 2025 we have really been able to progress the restoration of the kitchen garden into a productive space and further our aims of improving resilience in food production, eating healthily, being economically viable and making locally grown food accessible to all.
What is it?
Presteigne Community Garden is a space for people to enjoy and grow produce.
Our space....
Presteigne Community Garden is a communal space being created at The Rodd for the benefit of the people of Presteigne.
at the Rodd....
The area to be developed has previously been cultivated as a kitchen garden. The space has now been made available to the community and is full of growing potential.
as it is now.
The land has been unused for a while now and has become overgrown so it's going to take a while to regenerate it into a productive growing space but with the support of a team of volunteers the area is gradually being transformed.
Gallery
Making progress...........
The amount of crop we harvested in 2025 was considerably more than 2024 which meant we were able to donate to the Presteigne and Knighton Foodbank and The Circle organisation that meets in Presteigne. Garden volunteers were also able to take advantage of the wonderful produce that was grown. With more space now prepared a functioning greenhouse and polytunnel we hope to do even better in 2026.
An Introduction
Radnorshire WIldlife Trust came to visit us and produced a short promotional video of how we got started.
Where is it?
The Sidney Nolan Trust - The Rodd
The Rodd is located in NW Herefordshire, a stone’s throw from the England Wales border and just one mile from the centre of Presteigne. It encompasses Rodd Court, a Jacobean manor house, which was the last home of Sidney and his wife Mary, an outstanding group of 17th century farm buildings that house the gallery, workshops, and offices and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and orchards. Rodd Farm and estate extend to 250 acres of farmland, semi-ancient natural woodland and the Hindwell brook.
How does it operate?
Presteigne Community Garden is an area of land that has been made available for use by and for the benefit of the local community. At present the project to initially develop the space is being led by an enthusiastic group of volunteers but we hope more people will become involved as the project progresses. All aspects of being able to offer the space to anybody interested in growing produce is being researched including funding, insurance and resources.
- The main aim of the group is to establish, manage and maintain a garden which will be used to grow edible produce.
- Management and organisation will be carried out by a core group . A small group at the moment but we very much welcome new members.
- The main aim of the group is to establish, manage and maintain a garden which will be used to grow edible produce
- In the future it is envisaged the garden may also be used as a social space and also as a space that encourages and nurtures wildlife.
- Any produce grown will be shared within the community via local groups or “events” with some possibly being sold to cover running costs. This would be at an affordable level.
- There will be no paid members of the group it will be run entirely by volunteers led by a core group.
- As this is a new venture within Presteigne the way it will operate will evolve, however it is envisaged that there will be specific ‘task’ days with the aim of carrying out core maintenance work ( especially in the initial stages)
Progress and updates will be posted regularly..........keep watching this space.