Our 'Incredible Edible' gardens are open to all, with free food to pick and take home!
Anyone who lives, works or plays in St Albans is welcome to be a part of them, and we hope that they'll
- bring local people together
- help us to share and teach growing skills
- help pollinators and other wildlife
- enhance the city centre
- provide free food!
COME AND GROW!
Please come and help us plant and
maintain our Incredible Edible community gardens at our monthly sessions! Drop
in for a little while, or stay all session.
No previous experience is required - we can teach
you all you need to know, and if you have any questions always ask.
Please bring your own gardening gloves if you have them, but we have a few pairs in case you don't.
Please be sure to read the safety notice on the site when you first visit.
Children are welcome, but please supervise them at all times.
We'd prefer that you didn't bring dogs to the gardens, but if you must then please don't allow them to foul.
PLANT INDEX
Our Plant Index is now available here,
giving details on the plants we grow at our Incredible Edible gardens. They include lots of uncommon low-maintenance, perennial and 'permaculture'
edibles.
INCREDIBLE EDIBLE CIVIC CENTRE
This small garden includes a rich mix of berries, rhubarb, veggies and herbs, plus some edible flowers and lots of low-maintenance perennial (and wild!) veggies you might not have seen before. Find the garden adjacent to the Alban Arena and close to the Council Offices in the Civic Centre (off St Peter's Street).
INCREDIBLE EDIBLE RUSSELL AVENUE
This plot, next to the Russell Avenue car park, is larger than the Civic Centre garden and more accessible for the less-mobile, with raised beds at a suitable height for wheelchair users. This garden includes more familiar vegetables, a wildlife area and a flower border for pollinators. Much of it is shaded by trees, giving us the opportunity to create an edible forest garden filled with wild and shade-tolerant veggies and many perennial edibles. Read more about forest gardening in our blog post here.
DONATIONS
Our Incredible Edible gardens are funded entirely by donations, and we need contributions each year for plant feed, compost, seeds and plants, as well as occasional new projects and developments.
If you would like to donate via Paypal, please use the button below. You can also make cash donations at any of our sessions, or contact us to arrange a transfer.
OUR SPONSORS
Some local businesses have very kindly given us money or goods to help us get started on the gardens; huge thanks go to the following, and we ask you to support them as they've supported us!
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Local groups, schools, churches and others are welcome to use the garden - get stuck in! Contact Naomi at the email address at the bottom of this page if you'd like help or guidance on what you can do when you're there.
DOWNLOADS
Here you can download the plans for the gardens, and various safety information.
Civic Centre garden plan
Civic Centre safety notice
Garden diseases awareness sheet
Manual handling awareness sheet
CONTACT US
The gardens are owned by St Albans District Council and managed by Naomi Distill on behalf of FoodSmiles St Albans Ltd. In case of any problems, or if you have any questions about the gardens, please contact Naomi at incredible@foodsmilesstalbans.org.uk