The Directory
It’s easy to know what you’re against in a dysfunctional, unsustainable and increasingly dystopian world. Railing against the world we have to endure may make you feel better but…does it lead to positive change? We know that the political, economic and social system we inhabit is rapidly heading towards its use by date and that we have to bring about radical change if we’re going to survive. There are many ways of bringing about the change that’s needed. What this directory is about is what can be done in the here and now to boost sustainability, community cohesion and neighbourhood resilience in an increasingly volatile world. It’s about building the new world we need and want in the decaying shell of the old one we currently endure.
National: Projects, resources & campaigns
Food Finders Hub — your gateway to fresh, local food straight from the source
Welcome to Food Finders Hub — your gateway to fresh, local food straight from the source. Explore nearby farms, connect with dedicated growers, and support sustainable agriculture. Together, we can reduce food miles, strengthen communities, and celebrate the people who nourish us.
Growing at least some of your own food in tune with the natural world is one of the most empowering and life-affirming experiences out there. For money saving, for food security, for positive climate action, for wellbeing....just because it feels so incredibly, incredibly good.
Growing the Commons is a collaboration between organisations and individuals developing tools, ideas and practices that can help grow a commons movement to catalyse a transition as transformative as that from feudalism to capitalism. It’s sorely needed.
Local Futures is a pioneer of the worldwide localization movement.
Our focus is on ‘going local’ as a key strategy for restoring ecological, social and spiritual wellbeing. Our films, books, podcast, blog, toolkits, webinars, and conferences are helping to build an international movement for systemic change.
We work with specialists to host a knowledge bank on self-provisioning and the commons. Browse our 250+ topics for introductory information, articles, opinion, interviews, advice and signposting.
People’s Land Policy: Land Reform from the Ground Up
The People’s Land Policy is a project to develop discussion and debate about what kind of land reform we need. By bringing together a range of people to discuss land and the issues that affect them we hope to contribute to the building of a broad-based, radical movement for land reform.
We support groups campaigning for social and environmental justice to thrive and win. Whether you are a community campaign or a national network, we can help you organise in a more strategic, effective and empowering way.
Social Farms & Gardens is a UK wide charity supporting communities to farm, garden and grow together.
We believe in the power of nature-based activities and community. Our 3,500 members bring nature into people’s lives every day. Through projects and partnerships, we work with communities for people and the planet. We’d love you to join the movement too.
Are you tired of ‘the problems’ and want to be more solutions-focused? Do you seek to live compassionately without the unnecessary exploitation of people, animals and the environment? Are you concerned about climate change and future generations? Create the change you wish to see in this world with permaculture!
The Blackthorne Trust - cultivating a love of the land
The Blackthorne Trust enables people to grow into more sustainable ways of living, for the benefit of us, the land, and the more than human world.
The Phantom Planter - Facebook
Challenge You To Phantom Plant A Tree! Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place.
We are campaigning to bring a Right to Roam Act to England and Wales so that millions more people can connect with the natural world.
Avon: Projects, resources & campaigns
Campaigns
BATH
This network is a ‘movement‘ run by the students of Avon, which champions a more sustainable future with mentors supporting the students to ensure they have a sense of agency.
Save Combe Down Allotments – Facebook
64 cherished plots on the edge of Bath, given notice to quit in 2025 after 130 years.
Campaigning to enable walking, wheeling and cycling for all ages and abilities.
BRISTOL
Bristol Allotmenteers Resist! – Facebook
We are a group organising to push back against Bristol City Council’s proposed excessive allotment rent increases and new rules.
Save Brislington Meadows – Facebook | Save Brislington Meadows – X
An important wildlife habitat in Bristol under threat of development from Homes England.
A community committed to protecting its Village Green and last green space, with access for all and a respect for its history, wildlife and natural beauty.
KEYNSHAM
A group to support the introduction of improved safety measures for active travellers in and around Keynsham, for the benefit of all vulnerable road users including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. We are currently running a campaign to improve safety on Charlton Road.
‘Friends of’ groups
AVON
Your Park Bristol and Bath enables everybody to benefit from green spaces because they are vital to our health, wellbeing and quality of life.
BRISTOL
Friends of Arnos Court Park – Facebook
Local residents working together to promote and protect our beautiful park.
Hampstead Rd, Brislington, Bristol BS4 3HJ.
Friends of Eastville Park – Facebook
Eastville Park is a large Victorian park with a range of facilities 2 miles north-east of Bristol city centre. Built around the turn of 19th Century in response to a ‘Cry from the Poor’ appeal for open air respite from the pollution created by local industries and a need for leisure space, the park has a rich and fascinating heritage.
Friends of St George Park – Facebook
A group for people who care about St George Park to share ideas and news about the park.
Church Rd, Whitehall, Bristol BS5 7AA.
It’s very simple; we love the park and we want to protect and take care of it for now and future generations. We promise to do that inclusively, ensuring that every person no matter what age, creed, colour or gender, feels welcome to visit the park and enjoy all it has to offer.
Redcatch Park, Bristol BS4 2RF.
A vast area of species rich calcareous grassland and lowland meadow, with riparian woodland along it’s borders and a thriving stream. In the south of Bristol just 2.5 miles from the city centre. It’s been long known as a designated site of nature conservation interest (SNCI), amongst the urban landscape of south Bristol between Knowle West and Bishopsworth.
Amenity groups
BRISTOL
The Pollinator Pathways Project is a community-led, volunteer-run project that aims to ‘clean and green’ alleyways. It creates mini wildlife corridors in urban environments, and creates a space for the community to enjoy.
Community gardens, city farms, organic gardening & food
AVON REGION
We work with farms around Avon and Somerset to harvest or collect surplus fruit and veg that would otherwise go to waste. This is then redistributed to charitable food projects who are supporting people experiencing food insecurity. We’ll find a home for any amount of produce from farms, growers, allotments, orchards, gardens or other organisations!
BATH
Alice Park Community Garden (Bath)
Alice Park Community Garden gives locals the tools they need for self reliance. It models community resilience and food self sufficiency, essential in today’s rapidly changing world by sharing skills and knowledge while encouraging volunteers and visitors to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
Alice Park Cafe, Alice Park, Gloucester Road, Bath BA1 7BL.
A list highlighting food clubs and pantries available in Bath and North East Somerset provided by organisations offering affordable food or emergency food parcels for those who meet the qualifying criteria.
Bath Allotments Association - Facebook
Where Gardening Meets Community.
We are an independent organisation that supports allotment holders and leisure gardeners in the area.
Situated on a beautiful 37-acre site, Bath City Farm is a working Farm, that’s also a much loved charity and a popular visitor attraction. We provide education, training and therapeutic activities to people in the local community.
Kelston View, Whiteway, Bath BA2 1NW.
Bath Community Kitchen | Bath Community Kitchen – Facebook
Bath Community Kitchen (BCK) uses communal meals and cookery workshops to improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing in Bath and surrounding areas.
Our vision is for more people in Bath to have opportunities to cook and eat together, to have access to delicious, healthy and affordable food, and be equipped with the skills to cook well for themselves, creating lasting change in our community.
Bath Organic Group’s garden opened in 1990 as a demonstration garden for organic methods. The garden, which is run by volunteers, is open on Saturdays and Tuesdays between 10 am and 1.00 pm. Visitors are welcome to visit and look around, have a cup of tea and a chat. Volunteers, both beginners and experienced gardeners, help maintain this half-acre of beautiful, productive and (reasonably!) well-maintained fruit and vegetable garden.
CropDrop is a project coordinating the redistribution of allotment produce to community organisations in Bath & North East Somerset.
CropDrop is coordinating the redistribution of fruit and vegetables from bountiful allotments and growers. Volunteer drivers transport this untapped resource to charity projects that provide food, alleviating food poverty across Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES).
We are a volunteer run cooperative project and community allotment based in Bathampton.
Holcombe Lane, Bathampton, BA2 6UW.
We connect communities, reducing loneliness and food poverty – working with thousands of volunteers and surplus food to help everyone who needs us. By creating welcoming spaces for people from all walks of life to meet, eat and have conversations, we are supporting people’s health and mental wellbeing.
Growing more of our own food, buying more ethically, reducing food miles, and living more locally.
Following the first lockdown period in 2020, Grow Batheaston was formed by an enthusiastic group of Batheaston residents. We launched a raft of projects, attracting another wave of local volunteers.
Grow for Life - Transforming lives through gardening
Our purpose is to nurture people so that they flourish.
We provide social and therapeutic gardening sessions for people affected by low confidence, anxiety, depression or isolation.
We are a team of 5 new entrant landworkers and organic farmers.
We steward a 15.5 acre agro-ecological farm called Weston Spring Farm.
Our mission is simple: to produce planet friendly food at a fair price to our communities.
OrchardShare is a community group, run by volunteers who work to conserve and maintain orchards to supply locally grown apples around Bath, UK.
Transition Bath - Community Growing
Transition Bath is cultivating little unused spaces around the city. The main community growing focus is Smallcombe Nuttery in Horseshoe Walk, but we also maintain a community garden in Park Street and a space in Gravel Walk.
I run a small urban farm on the eastern edge of Bath, with approximately 1/4 acre in vegetable production, and a similar amount in top/soft fruit.
I practise organic growing techniques, and focus on building soil to improve yields and bolster plant resilience.
BRISTOL
Alive has been running social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) sessions in care homes and community gardens across Bristol for over a decade.
Mixing gardening and green craft activities and with a strong focus on the social side of STH, we’ve witnessed first-hand the profound difference it can make to people’s lives.
Blaise Community Garden | Blaise Community Garden – Facebook
Set up in 2013, we are a community food growing project. The Victorian walled garden and glasshouses are looked after by our volunteers. we are always looking for new people to join us!
Church Lane, Blaise, Bristol.
Bristol Area City Farms and Community Gardens (PDF)
Bristol Living Soil is a composting collective based at St Werburghs City Farm, dedicated to regenerating our soils, rebuilding community and sharing knowledge.
Garden Folk CIC is a creative and collaborative community of artists, growers and local people working to cultivate connections with the land and seasons around us. Running seasonal fairs together we nourish and sustain all folk as we sing, dance, garden, create and celebrate our way towards a more resilient future.
Watercress Farm, Boiling Wells Lane, Bristol.
We’re open to the public 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm.
Our playful barn is free to all and open 9am – 4pm (the farm opening hours). You can enjoy a hot drink and a snack at the Hay Bale Café in the trailer in the playful barn. It’s open 9am – 4pm Saturday, Sunday and Monday each week (with the occasional special opening for holidays).
We run wellbeing groups on weekdays.
Lampton Avenue, Bristol, BS13 0QH.
A welcoming and open space the garden gives local residents a space to grow, connect, and volunteer. We welcome all members of the community to the garden to share in growing edible plants, being in nature and promoting healthy eating through shared meals.
Hillfields Park, Thicket Avenue, Bristol BS16 4EP.
Inns Court Kitchen & Wildlife Garden
The fruit and vegetable growing at Inns Court Community & Family Centre is managed by Edible Bristol. The gardening is done by volunteers, and a morning’s work usually ends with us sharing a cooked lunch.
Inns Court Community and Family Centre, 1 Marshall Walk, Bristol BS4 1TR.
Bringing local people together to learn, socialise, share skills and support physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Redcatch Park, Knowle, Bristol BS4 2RD.
Royate Hill Community Orchard – Facebook
News & thoughts from Royate Hill Community Orchard/Allotment.
Volunteer work-parties every Saturday!
Royate Hill Allotments, Bristol.
Sims Hill Shared Harvest – Facebook
Member-owned community supported agriculture project in North Bristol.
Sims Hill, Feed Bristol, 181 Frenchay Park Road, Bristol.
Located in the heart of Bristol, St. Werburgh’s City Farm has been a vital part of the local community for 45 years, helping to strengthen connections between land, animals and people.
The Coexist Community Kitchen is a non-profit cookery school in Easton, Bristol. Our main aim is to use food as a vehicle to support people who experience social marginalisation in our society. We believe everyone should have a space to share food, learn new skills, and build meaningful connections. We see food as the simplest way to help create a stronger, healthier, and more joyful society.
The Golden Hill Community Garden (Horfield)
We are a community garden in Horfield, Bristol (map here). We are open every Wednesday 10-4 and welcome anyone and everyone to come and get involved, get growing, drink tea and share the harvest. Our site is accessible including our toilet.
Trinity’s Community Garden is a thriving, tranquil, nature-rich green oasis right in the heart of the city of Bristol. Together, we are building a resilient, connected and sustainable community.
KEYNSHAM
Keynsham Community Fridge – Facebook
Food waste is an enormous global problem but what can we do locally about perfectly good food being put in landfill? One answer might be a Community Fridge.
Savour Cafe, 20 Temple Street, Keynsham.
Keynsham Community Veg Plot in the Park – Facebook
Just to the side of the cafe in Keynsham Memorial Park you can find the Community Vegetable Plot. We have regular dig in days when anyone can get involved.
Somerdale Shed and Community Garden | Somerdale Shed and Community Garden – Facebook
Somerdale Shed and Community Garden (The Shed) is a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending. More importantly, the Shed is about social connections, companionship and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter. Activities at the shed can vary, but you can usually find crafting (e.g. making jewellery or sewing), gardening, woodworking, repairing and restoring. The shed typically attracts older people (men and women), but we have younger members too.
SOMERSET
Welcome to The Community Farm. We are an organic, not-for-profit farm overlooking the beautiful Chew Valley Lake, near Bristol and Bath.
Join us on the farm for events, courses and volunteering and get local, organic food delivered right to your door.
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
On our site in Winterbourne we produce locally grown nutrient dense, chemical free fresh food with low food miles to our local community, including to food banks and community cafes. In addition to growing annual vegetables we have a food forest, wetland meadow, children’s play equipment, poly tunnel, herb garden, bee hives and rewilding area.
Community groups & resources
BRISTOL - NORTH
Advocate for the community of Barton Hill &surroundings. Fighting against inequality in the most deprived area in UK. Led by local women & an army of volunteers.
Bristol Somali Forum (BSF) is an umbrella organisation that promotes the unified voice and interest of Somali-led organisations and their community in Bristol.
Eastside Community Trust is a community-focused charity that brings people of all ages together through places, activities, and opportunities to connect. We are passionate about building a healthy, happy, and inclusive neighbourhood where children can play, communities feel empowered, and everyone has the chance to thrive.
BRISTOL - SOUTH
Inns Court Community & Family Centre
Welcome to the website of The Inns Court Community & Family Centre. We are the charity that runs the Community Centre based in Marshall Walk – the home of Boing! Inns Court, The Sprint Community Transport and the Inns Court Community Café.
Inns Court Community and Family Centre, 1 Marshall Walk, Bristol BS4 1TR.
Knowle West Alliance is made up of residents and local organisations working together. The Alliance was started by five founder organisations – Filwood Community Centre, The Park, Re:work, Knowle West Health Park, Knowle West Media Centre and now partners with many more people, groups and organisations across the estate. Together we are building and supporting positive action in Knowle West. Everyone is welcome, find out how you can get involved here.
TRESA (Totterdown residents) | TRESA (Totterdown residents) – X
TRESA brings together residents in Totterdown with the aim of improving and protecting our local environment and to promote a vibrant cultural life.
KEYNSHAM
Keynsham Community Hub is a community centre on Queens Road which welcomes all Keynsham residents. We provide a space for people to meet, learn and share.
Renewables, recycling, repair and reuse
We’re a not-for-profit community energy business. We tackle climate change through clean energy generation, energy efficiency measures in homes and support for community projects.
BRISTOL Repair Cafe – Facebook
What do you do with a chair when the leg has come loose? With a toaster that no longer works? Or a woollen jumper with moth holes? Toss it? No way!
You can repair it at a Repair Café near you!
Our purpose is to provide affordable, clean energy to communities in Keynsham.
As a Community Benefit Society, we raise funds in the local community to install local, green energy projects and use our surplus profits to help reduce your energy bills.
Our energy projects offer community investment opportunities as well as reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.
Share and Repair is a small, but fast-growing charity in Bath and North East Somerset. Our aim is to help local people and communities reduce carbon, waste and landfill to improve the environment we live in and save money.
Second Floor, Redbridge House, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, BA2 3EW
Networks
A movement for river Avon action & landscape regeneration.
Collaborating for bioregional transformation of our land, river and food system.
Resources
Bristol is a city loved by many for its community spirit, green spaces, city farms, vibrant nightlife, and DIY and independent culture.
For these fundamental elements of Bristol to survive and thrive, we must nurture resilience in our community through grassroots democracy and networks of mutual aid.
The Bristol Commons is a growing network of individuals, organisations and community groups aiming to support each other and create systemic change.
We raise money to support communities most affected by inequality who are working to create a more just, equal and sustainable world
Shift Bristol is a not for profit organisation providing innovative and immersive training in building skills and practices for community-centered regeneration and resilience. We have over 20 years experience of teaching hands-on accessible skills, design systems, and collaborative approaches. We invite you to find your passion, challenge yourself and take positive action.
Commoning is a way to bring things like land, housing, energy and leisure facilities into community ownership.
Those things are managed together as a community to make sure they remain available for future generations.
Once in the commons, it’s owned by the Stroud community forever, and there’s no debt, shareholders or private landlords to pay.
Timebank Plus - building healthy communities
We are a small, friendly organisation which offers people in South West Bath and surrounding areas opportunities for involvement in their local community. We encourage our participants, as and when possible, to contribute in whatever way works best for them.
86 High Street, Twerton, Bath, BA2 1DE
Transition Bath - Eco Groups Near Bath
We act largely by developing and supporting locally-based projects. For example, we have supported projects as diverse as renewable energy generation, the development of organic growing and the reduction of carbon emissions in schools.
Social centres
Base for Anarchy & Solidarity in Easton
14 Robertson Road, Easton, Bristol BS5 6JY
Tree planting
Avon Needs Trees - Lower Chew Forest
A 422 acre woodland project between Bristol and Bath and our biggest yet.
Lower Chew Forest is on a scale like nothing we’ve ever done before. We’ve committed to establish up to 100,000 trees and shrubs within a mosaic of habitats including wetlands, miles of hedgerow, and species rich grassland.
More Trees started planting trees across Bath and North East Somerset in 2008. In 2021 we took the important decision to grow our own trees, trees grown from seed collected from our own local ancient and semi-natural woodlands helping to meet the increasing demand for local tree planting projects.
Trusts
Grow Wilder - Avon Wildlife Trust
Avon Wildlife Trust has a vision to establish Grow Wilder as a special place that engages and inspires local people and communities to support nature’s recovery. Through demonstration, learning, and events, Grow Wilder connects people with nature, to restore and conserve natural habitats in Bristol and beyond.
Our other blog, social media and archived blogs
The Thurrock and Basildon Heckler
E-mail
atthegrassroots@protonmail.com