On the Plot – October: Two Years of the Garden of Weeden
This month marks a special milestone for the Grimsby Garden Centre, it’s the Garden of Weeden’s second birthday – our onsite therapeutic allotment!
Over the past 12 months, we’ve welcomed new volunteers, grown bumper crops, and added some brilliant extras to the plot that have made a real difference.
Our carrot planters have been a triumph, keeping the carrot fly at bay and giving us some of the best roots we’ve ever pulled. The greenhouse has transformed how we grow—allowing us to raise indoor fruit and veg, and giving us a head start on seed sowing for next season. We’ve also added extra raised beds in preparation for our “Adopt a Bed” scheme, which we’re excited to launch in 2026. Watch this space!
What is the Grimsby Garden Centre allotment?
The Grimsby Garden Centre allotment is all about growing good things – from fruit and veg to confidence and friendships! Being owned by Navigo, we're all about supporting mental health and giving people a chance to enjoy the benefits of gardening in a friendly, relaxed space. Like the garden centre itself, the allotment is all about community, wellbeing, and having a positive impact on local people's mental health.
Earlier in the year, we planted Swiss chard, tomatoes, cucumber, sweetcorn and pak choi. Now, as autumn settles in, we’re harvesting peas, pumpkins and the last of the tomatoes. All produce has been stored in the staff cabin, so volunteers and service users can help themselves, and they’ve certainly made the most of it!
Feel like your confidence, mental health and wellbeing would be boosted by spending time us at Grimsby Garden Centre? Fill out this short form on the Navigo website.
To celebrate the final harvest, we tucked into a cheese and cracker lunch, complete with homemade sweet chilli jam (from our peppers and chillies) and beetroot and apple chutney. The remaining jars were quickly snapped up by the team—proof that homegrown tastes best.
We’ve also been busy collecting and drying calendula and nasturtium seeds to raise funds for the allotment. We’ll be displaying seed packs at the garden centre till area, along with a little note about why the allotment matters. Each pack is available for a suggested donation of £1, and all proceeds will go towards buying wood chip to keep our paths safe and tidy.
Join the plot
If you feel like your confidence, mental health or general wellbeing could do with a gentle lift, spending time with us at the garden centre might be just the thing. Fill out this short form on the Navigo website.
Every time you shop at Grimsby Garden Centre, you’re helping us grow more than just plants – your support allows us to keep running projects like our therapeutic allotment, where people can connect, learn new skills, and improve their mental wellbeing through gardening.
