Around 15 volunteers and partners gathered at the Community Garden this week for a focused work session – and it was one of our most productive days yet.

With the support of Bicester Green Gym, GHVDC, Poplars Construction, and discounted coffees kindly provided by Esquires Coffee, the team managed to build three new compost bins, prepare and weed the school’s allotment area ready for handover in the spring, and move topsoil into the first completed growing bed.

That bed is now home to three plum trees, two currant bushes, rosemary and a selection of fragrant herbs – the first proper planting in what will become a productive and welcoming space for the school and wider community.

While the main team worked on construction and soil preparation, some of the school children joined in to harvest the last of the vegetables planted last year. It was a nice reminder of what this space is ultimately about: learning, growing and sharing.

The compost bins, built from reclaimed pallets, mark another practical step forward. As the garden grows, being able to compost our own material on site will make the project more sustainable and self-sufficient.

There’s still plenty to do, but days like this show the momentum building. What was recently bare ground is steadily turning into a working community garden – thanks to collaboration between local volunteers, partner organisations and the school.

More updates to follow as the next phase takes shape.