Last Wednesday marked the first in‑person Community Growers Network meet‑up of the year. It felt like an important moment to regroup and join forces as we face both the opportunities and challenges of 2026.
The network has been meeting since 2023 and is now reinvigorated by a largely new group of growers coming together. The aim is to explore how we can work collaboratively to best serve our communities — providing fresh, agroecologically produced food, supporting nature recovery, and delivering volunteering, education, and wellbeing programmes.
It was important to take stock of where everyone currently is, particularly as many growers had taken a significant battering from Storm Goretti the previous week. Across the county, growers have been affected in numerous ways, losing polytunnels, trees, sheds, and other vital infrastructure. The hours required just to get back to baseline are considerable, and there is a huge amount of work ahead before the growing season can properly begin.
Sharing experiences proved invaluable, and a number of funding options and strategies were discussed. Each winter, some growers are impacted by storms, with polytunnels often bearing the brunt. These essential structures are largely uninsurable, yet they are critical to a grower’s year — protecting high‑value winter crops, producing food during the hungry gap, and enabling us to enjoy heritage tomato varieties throughout the summer. Polytunnels are also frequently multipurpose spaces, used for education, workshops, and a place to have crib!
Storm Goretti was unusually extreme. Instead of one or two growers being affected, almost everyone experienced damage, with many losing multiple tunnels. Kehelland Trust, Soul Farm, and Bosavern Community Farm were among those hardest hit. Thousands of pounds’ worth of damage has been caused at sites that provide not only food, but also essential services to their communities.
If you are able to help, donations can still be made here:
- https://www.gofundme.com/f/kehelland-trust-storm-recovery-fund
- https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-soul-farm-survive-after-storm-goretti
We then moved on to the exciting topic of collaborative funding. Matthew Thomson shared his extensive knowledge and connections, introducing the National Lottery’s new Climate Action Fund, with a focus on food security. This fund has the potential to provide long‑term support and could help communities like ours in Cornwall deliver real and lasting impact on food security and beyond.
The Community Growers Network was first convened by Lord Teverson following a report from Sustainable Food Cornwall, which highlighted the significance of community growing schemes and their value to local communities. Support was subsequently secured from Cornwall Council’s leadership board to help these organisations build capacity and feed more people.
Food provision is only one part of what community growers offer. As a network, we all understand how vital community growing is to the wellbeing of our neighbourhoods. It’s not just about providing fresh, healthy produce — it’s about cultivating wider benefits that strengthen our communities as a whole, including:
- Improving health and wellbeing through access to nature, meaningful volunteering opportunities, and active community involvement
- Supporting nature recovery through sustainable, agroecological practices that care for the land
- Creating educational opportunities and helping local people gain new skills and confidence
- Offering informal support by signposting services and being present for those who need a listening ear
The current financial and funding climate is putting immense pressure on growers. They have become linchpins of community wellbeing and nature recovery, yet this vital work is often underfunded. While new opportunities are starting to emerge, working collaboratively will be essential if we are to realise their full potential.