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Who are Gosport Community Gardeners?

Gosport Community Gardeners (a Give Gain Grow project) are a lively 'food growing' community group open to everyone.
​We pride ourselves on an all inclusive community gardening group including those with learning differences and/or mental health issues, encouraging people to grow sustainable plants, fruit and vegerables at our allotment plot in Rowner, Gosport, Hampshire.

​Gardening has been proven to have both a positive effect on your overall health and well-being, as well as being therapeutic too.
We grow eco-friendly produce and plants, using socialising and horticulture to boost confidence and self esteem.

We are developing a community allotment plot in Rowner, Gosport.
Join the team for an afternoon of fresh air, exercise and socialising.

We offer the opportunity for people to benefit, through healthy outdoor activities in gardening and horticulture, including:
​
  • Growing your own fruit and vegetables
  • Enjoying being in and relaxing in a safe outdoor space 
  • Volunteering in the community
  • Taking part in creative workshops
  • Exploring the natural environment 
  • Re-purposing compost and recycling 
  • Volunteering on our Plant Stall - for fundraising and to sell produce and plants
  • Supporting other local projects and organisations

The Gosport Community Gardeners Aims are:
  • To boost self-confidence and self-esteem 
  • Encouraging physical activity 
  • Learning new skills
  • Sharing of experience and techniques with other members
  • Supporting people in making and maintaining friendships 
  • Helping to reduce loneliness and isolation 
  • Help motivate the next steps to a healthier lifestyle 
  • Encouraging healthier food choices

- Follow us on  Facebook, where we regularly update information on here: www.facebook.com/gosportcommg​

When and Where?
The group usually meet on weekday afternoons, 1-3pm

​Gosport Community Gardeners' allotment site entrance is just off Green Crescent, Rowner, Gosport, PO13 0BE.
 
...Find us on Google Maps here: ​goo.gl/maps/ydjTg3L5P6KKwSx57 - 
(link will open in a new window/tab in your browser.)
News & Updates from Gosport Community Gardeners - Allotment Plot 10a
Spring 2023 - April update on our recent Introduction to Growing sessions
Following on from our Growing Course sessions the past month, Volunteer Co-ordinator, Graeme has been very busy keeping these plants safe in the polytunnel.
The results have been a great success and we wanted to share these photos of the growing courgettes tomatoes and chillis
Thanks to everyone who took part in these sessions and a big thank you to Graeme for all your efforts..
​We are hoping to continue group sessions in the very near future.
Photo showing growing plants in our polytunnel (image)
Tomato, Courgettes and Chilli Plants growing in the polyunnel - April 2023.
Photo showing our Courgette plants growing in our polytunnel (image)
Courgette plants growing in the polytunnel - April 2023.
Pihoto showing Tomato plants growing in our polytunnel (image)
Tomato plants growing in the polytunnel - April 2023.
Our brand new Polytunnel arrives... November 2022
We are excited to announe the arrival and installation of our new Polytunnel! It replaces an old one which had seen better days, but rest assured this has gone to a loving new home, donated to a local good cause who were looking to develop their own garden space.
Our new polytunnel means we can accomodate more growing space for new volunteers to enjoy in the new year.

​Here are some photos... (click on any thumbnail to see larger image.)
Allotment site housekeeping and maintenance - August 22
Our Chair person, Catt has been busy doing some general housekeeping and maintenance. Tidying the shelter up, moving larger plants inside away from the hot sun for the time-being, weeding the flowerbeds, putting up some wire-mesh shading for privacy and shade on the fence next to the public walkway. Also, a gazebo has been set up while we are having this hot weather.​​ We want to add - what a superstar Catt was for working on the allotment on such a hot day too!
We present our very first on-line video guide series: 'Weeds and Seeds' (August 22)
We are proud to present our very first on-line video guide: Weeds and Seeds, a series of videos explaining the importance of both. Our very own superstar Chair person, Catt will feature in all of these videos. Remember, this guide is also applicable to gardens too.
Part 1: Weeds and Seeds Video Guide - here, Catt has gone to the allotment on (possibly) the hottest day of the year (13th August 22) where she shows us how to remove weeds, the best tools for the job and highlighting the need to remove all parts of the weeds roots, inlcuding taproots - make sure to get these out and bin them for compost.

​Part 2: Weeds and Seeds Video Guide - Catt standing in front of our wonderful Sunflowers, this time she will be talking all about seeds, explaining the differences between buds, flowers and  seedheads. Polinators play a crucial role here - important for any thriving garden or allotment. saving seeds for planting next year and more... Watch the video here...

​Part 3: Weeds and Seeds Video Guide - Catt explains about Poppy seeds, tomatoes, pumpkins, sweet peas and more... 

Volunteer Stories... in their own words

Don't just take our word for it... here, we will feature individual volunteer's own stories and experiences with Gosport Community Gardeners to inspire and motivate others to come and join us on our community allotment for all!
Volunteer Story #1: Ratu,  June 2022 - Allotment volunteer brings in his first harvest...
We are delighted to share one of our own volunteer's positive experiences with us since he began working on our allotment in late May...
Naval Marine Engineer and newcomer community gardener, Ratu has been growing vegetables at the plot. Ratu wanted to contribute something back to the community when he was on shore leave.

In his own words:
“Its been very fullfilling harvesting and sharing. Along the way, I have met fellow gardeners too, friendly indeed. So I thought to share some pics of my first harvest.”

Ratu has been a great help on the allotment and it's great that he is getting so much out of it. Our thanks to Ratu for his help and for this lovely testimonial on his first harvest.
Gosport Community Gardener, Ratu enjoying his first harvest on the plot (June 22)
Gosport Community Gardener, Ratu enjoying his first harvest on the plot - June 2022
Climate Café #Plant and Share event at Privett Pavilion, Gosport - Friday 20th May 2022
Here are some photos from the Gosport Climate Cafe Plant and Share event earlier today with our very own Chair, Catt and Volunteer Co-ordinator, Graeme on the plant stall...
Not the best weather but still had a good turnout and raised some much needed funds for the group... <3
A Fantastic up-cycled Wreath kindly donated by Sparkle Wreaths & Decor to Gosport Community Gardeners - May 2022
We have just had this superb fantastic all Gardening-related Wreath made for us by the lovely Sam at Sparkle Wreaths & Decor - thank you so much!!
It is a completely hand made and upcycled and repurposed garden hose making the centre of the wreath and we now have it hanging in pride of place on our Allotment shed door, and we think looks really great.
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Spring is on its way... New photos from our allotment - March 2022

Spring is on its way... some great new photos from our plot at Gosport Community Gardeners allotment - and a big thank you to our Head Gardener, Rachel Smithers for all of these fantastic photos! 🌱 🌿 🙏
... our animal friend, Mrs Fox is back too! 😅 🦊
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 July & August on the allotment... Summer 2021
Here are some photos we want to share from our very own allotment - back from July 2021.
These photos show some lovely Summer produce... 🎋 🥒 🌞
A very special thank you to our fantastic volunteer, Rachel who not only kept the allotment in such great shape, but also took these fantastic photos! 
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Just another update - this time with our rather splendidly tidy and very organised shed in the top left...  👌
Again, our thanks to Rachel for these fantastic photos and an interesting collage.
Thank you also for her continued dedication to keeping the plot so nice all year round.
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Allotment Antics from Wednesday September 9th 2020
Our lovely volunteer, Rachel re-painted the shed and our new Chair, Catt tidied the tunnel.. oh and not forgetting Mrs Fox had a biscuit or three...
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First Post-lockdown Allotment update... Summer 2020 
We're thrilled to be able to share some new photos with you all - yes, as lockdown easing over the Spring and Summer gradually took place, our volunteer Rachel has worked tireslessly to keep the allotment looking absolutely fantastic. We really can't thank her enough for all her time and effort she has put in over Spring and Summer 2020 to keep things ticking over...
We also had some beautiful vegetables growing...
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Tuesday 13th August 2019 - Planting some new seeds...
Volunteer, Rachel potted some new Strawberries for next year and picked some rhubarb. We wish to thank all our great volunteers for the hard work they put in to maintaining the allotment.
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Thursday 8th August 2019 - Allotment Update
Volunteers were busy on site watering, tending to plants and other maintenance tasks on site. As always we thank all our fantastic volunteers for their continued efforts and supporting the allotment plot.
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Tuesday 6th August 2019 - Tomatoes looking great...
Tomatoes are doing brilliantly and volunteer Rachel was on site keeping busy with different things on the allotment.
​As always our thanks to all of the super volunteers who help us out at any of our sessions!
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Thursday 1st August 2019 - A riot of colour on the allotment site...
Volunteers worked hard on our very colourful allotment again - Lester did some watering,  Nick and Rachel did some weeding and Lorna helped Tracy on other tasks. We want to thank our fantastic group of volunteers who give up their time and work hard on our allotment to keep it looking amazing!
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Tuesday 30th July 2019 - just a text update today...
Volunteer, Caroline ran the sesion today. She harvested some broad beans and  then volunteers did some weeding - due to poor weather the session finished slightluu earlier than usual. There will be more pictures in our next update!
Thursday 25th July 2019 - Summer at the allotment
It's been a lovely Summer this year and volunteers continue to work in the very warm weather - just keep hydrated folks, in fact that goes for everyone for during these warmer summer days. 
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Tuesday 23rd July 2019 - Weeding and Picking...
Volunteers were weeding and picking items from the allotment - we thank all our volunteers for their dedicated hard work.
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Thursday 18th July 2019 - Glorious Sunflowers at the allotment...
​Volunteers were busy on site with weeding and watering. Nick was busy finishing the table. Also, spot the bumble bee on the close-up of the glorious sunflower photo. We want to thank all our volunteers for their continued hard work and support on our community allotment.
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Tuesday 16th July 2019 - The Allotment's first carrot...
We welcomed a new volunteer, Chelsea to the group today. Volunteers did some weeding, watering and repotting plants and we had our first carrot!
Also, check out the awesome sunflower in the photos below.
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Thursday 11th July 2019 - A rainbow of colour at the allotment...
We just wanted to share the vibrant kaleidoscope of colours and variety of different plants at the allotment.
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Tuesday 9th July 2019 - Our vibrant allotment
Volunteers were busy  weeding, re-potting the patio peppers and more watering. Our thanks as always to our volunteers working at the allotment.
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Tuesday 2nd July 2019 - Keeping busy...
The goup were busy weeding, building a prop for the ornamental gourds and keeping the plants watered this week. Many thanks to all our volunteers' continued hard work.
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Thursday 20th June 2019 - Flowers in bloom...
The flowers, plants and fruit on the allotment are thriving and looking really lovely this summer. Volunteer, Nick has been busy building a potting table, Luara was busy weeding and Rachel did some watering. As always thank you so much to all our fabulous volunteers who make the allotment what it is, you're hard work pays off in spades... (yes, that pun was very much intended.)
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Tuesday 11th June 2019 - Allotment is looking radiant...
Some more great work from our volunteers on the allotment plot.. Thank you to all our fabulous volunteers who work on the plot each week... 💚Unfortunately, due to poor weather and rain showers, Thursday's session was cancelled this week.  Thank you to all our volunteers who work on the allotment.
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Saturday 8th June 2019 - Gosport Community Gardeners Plants raise funds for the group
Gosport Community Gardeners group would like to thank members, Rachel and Laura who did a plant sale at St. Mary's Church, Rowner earlier today and were able to raise a fabulous £81.61 towards funding the group.. Well done indeed!
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Tuesday 4th June 2019 - Produce picked from the allotment...
A slightly earlier finnish than usual due to the showery weather today. However, volunteers did manage to pull up some Elephant Garlic and put the Tomatoes in their place and we also pulled up some Spring Onions.. A great productive day! Our friendly neighbourhood Fox came by too... :-)
We thank our volunteers for their continued commitment and effort working on the allotment!
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Thursday 30th May 2019 - A busy day with a lot of volunteers on site...
A busy day - Nick planted some beans, Tracy planted some flowers.
Lorna and Anna also helped out on the allotment with various other tasks.As always - so many thanks to all our lovely volunteers who work hard on the allotment...
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Monday 27th May 2019 - Our  Spring Community Allotment Open Day  was a blooming success...

We had a great day for the Gosport  Community Gardeners' Spring Community Allotment Open Day and we were so proud of how the allotment was looking today thanks to all the volunteers' continuous hard work - it just wouldn't happen without you!

Members of the group met with the general public and showed them our community allotment plot at Rowner Allotments on Monday 27th May 2019.

We managed to raise £89 in funds towards helping us pay for shed repairs following a recent break-in at the allotments.
 Here are some photos from our open day...
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Tuesday 28th May 2019 - Straweberries are thriving...
The strawberries on our patch are doing really well as you can see from the photos below. Volunteer, Rachel prepared the raised beds ready for planting new things in them.
As always Thank You to our fab volunteers who maintain and keep the allotment looking lovely!
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Tuesday 21st May 2019 - Volunteers hard at work ahead of our Open Day...
Volunteers were hard at work on the allotment today, in preparation of making the allotment look at it's best ahead of our Open Day next Monday 27th May - look at these fabulous trays of plants they have done.  Thank you to all our fabulous volunteers who put the hard work in...
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Thursday 16th May 2019 - A lot of varied work by the team...
Volunteers, Lorna and Nick helping with the watering and Anna, Tracy, John and Jacqui potted some plants. Rachel also planted some sunflowers.
As always - so many thanks to our lovely volunteers for all their help on the allotment! A return visit from the local fox too...
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Tuesday 14th May 2019 - A surprise visitor on the allotment...
The allotment had a surprsie visit from a fox today. Volunteers continued their hard work and gardening - As always, so many thanks to all our great volunteers who help on the allotment.
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Thursday 9th May 2019
Gosport Community Gardeners welcomed a new volunteer today who helped us out - We appreciate all the help and hard work from our volunteers - thank you so much.
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Tuesday 7th May 2019 - Mulching the soil and more...
Our volunteers have been mulching the soil which helps conserve the soil moisture levels, promotes growth of plants and also helps to reduce weed growth. Then they repotted the tomatoes
and also did some repair work on the mesh tunnel.. 🌿 🌱

Our thanks to the dedicated hard work of all the volunteers who tend to and maintain the allotment..
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Thursday 2nd May 2019 - Allotment is simply thriving this Spring...
Another great day at the allotment with the volunteers helping out with the cauliflower plants, courgette plants and stwaberry plants - which will also be available at our Open Day for a small donation which would be very much appreciated. Thanks to all the hard work and dedication of our lovely Volunteers as always!
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Tuesday 30th April 2019 - A beautiful day on the allotment for some productive work...
Our volunteers, Rachel and Caroline planted some ornamental gourds today and then re-poted peas and the sweet peas.
Also see the Cherry Tomatoes, normal tomatoes, courgette peas and more we hope to have for sale at our Allotment Open Day event on Monday 27th May 2019!
​As always - many thanks to our wonderful volunteers for all their continued hard work on the allotment!
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Tuesday 23rd April - We have donated some courgette plants and cabbages plants.
Our thanks go to all of the volunteers who take part. Here are some photos...
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Thursday 11th April - Lovely Spring weather means the allotment is positively thriving...
You could really feel the Spring weather at the allotment this afternoon and it has benfitted the allotment no end - our thanks to new volunteers, Laura and Caroline helping out today too.  Thank you for  the hard work and help from all of our lovely volunteers, you do a fabulous job! Here are some  photos...
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Thursday 28th March - GGG Chair and Volunteer Chris's last day on the allotment...
​We say a fond farewell to volunteer and past Chair of Give Gain Grow - Chris Fernie as she does her last shift on the allotment - so many thanks for all her hard work and effort with the group over the past few years - we will miss you Chris, but we wish her well on a well-deserved retirement.
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Tuesday 26th March - Spring is coming and the allotment is looking all the better for it...
We simply couldn't do it all without the help of all our volunteers - so thank you to you all for your invaluable help!
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Thursday 7th March - Another lovely day for some gardening at the allotment..
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Tuesday 5th March - Overcast day, but that didn't dampen our spirits!
Some photos from earlier on this afternoon - Tuesday 5th March at the allotment - an overcast day did mean we left a little early, but look at all the lovely things growing out here... As ever - thank you ever so much to all our lovely volunteers...
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Tuesday 26th February - Spring-like weather...
A beautiful spring-like day with Give Gain Grow Community Gardeners making the most of the lovely weather on the allotment... 
​Some members also painted the shed.
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Tuesday 19th February & Thursday 21st February: Two contrasing days...
It has been a week of contrasts on Plot 10a this week with Tuesday 19th February being a beautiful warm early spring day.
The volunteers tidied the Polytunnel, planted up some trays of veg seeds and wound the spare hose onto its new reel! 
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Thursday 21st February was grey and chilly but still some good work on the plot.
Kerry gave the front of the shed a coat of wood preserver with Paul and Lester giving a hand.
The strawberry bed in the Veg trug has been cleared out and replanted. We also planted an amazing 25 pots of small strawberry plants.
Grateful thanks to all our volunteers 💚 💚
#allotment #gardening #gosport
Thursday 14th February: Giving some love to the allotment... ;)
 The group created a planting calendar for the year ahead. Chris, our current Chair of the group will be leaving us shortly as she prepares to explore the Mediterranean on her yacht. 
The calendar, together with a plan of the plot, will act as a visual reminder of which beds have been chosen for which crops.

We planted up some “Tomatoes from Tomato” pots (which need to be covered in soil if you’re going to try this at home)
It was so good to sit in the sun with Rachel and Kerry, going through the seed packets and talking through our plans up to the end of March.              -- Click on any thumbnail to see a larger image:
A special thank you to Heloise (project manager for Community Support at National Grid) who arrived at the Allotment holding 3 lightweight Kent & Stowe border spades to replace those taken in the break in, a truly wonderful surprise!
Tuesday 12th February 2019: Planting vegetables today...
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Thursday 7th February 2019:  Brrr.. a bit chilly on Plot 10a...
Still nice to be outside exercising and topping up our vitamin D on #TimeToTalk day, helping to remove the  #Stigma of #MentalHealth GivegainGrow #ReducingIsolation #InclusiveVolunteering #GoodMentalHealth #TimeToChange
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Tuesday 5th February 2019: Great working with our new volunteers from the #inclusion team.
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Great day with #Inclusion team volunteers helping at the allotment.
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More photos of the new volunteers from #Inclusion helping at the allotment.

Big improvements and changes at the Allotment site over Winter 2019 / Spring 2020...

Exciting new construction work has begun on site with the very generous help of volunteers from the National Grid which will be a complete overhaul of the allotment, introducing some fantastic new features including a new shelter building, new polytunnels, more accessibility for disabled users with a new wheelchair-friendly pathway and easier to reach planting beds for those with physical disabilities.
​Due to all of the uncertainty of the situation with the pandemic, we won't be re-opening the allotment to all volunteers until at least Spring or Summer 2022 at the earliest, all being well.

Please contact us for information about this project or to join us as a volunteer, please call us  on 07837 841186 or e-mail: givegaingrow@hotmail.com for more information.
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GcG Allotment site is being upgraded and will be closed over Winter 2020

| Give Gain Grow
| Gosport Community Group

​Supporting adults with learning difficulties or mental health issues.

Telephone:  
​07426 494118

E-mail:
​givegaingrow@hotmail.com

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