Community Growing in Cornwall

A new report from Sustainable Food Cornwall and Exeter University reveals that community food growing schemes are flourishing in Cornwall but urgently need access to more land, funding and skills in order to expand and thrive.

It concludes that existing growing schemes succeed against the odds as they overcome barriers including a shortage of land, inadequate funding, short-term leaseholds, lack of infrastructure and equipment.

The report was undertaken by a joint working group set up by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership Board with Sustainable Food Cornwall and the university’s Environment and Sustainability Institute

Download the full report using the links below.

BBC Spotlight visited Camel Community Supported Agriculture in Wadebridge, one of more than 60 community growing schemes in Cornwall. In this short film, reporter Scott Bingham talks to volunteers and discusses the community growing study with one of the report’s authors, Professor Jane Wills.

Tamar Grow Local (TGL) is a ‘not for profit’ Community Interest Company (CIC) set up on co-operative principles for the benefit of the community.

This structure allows trading and has the ability to create a number of more specialist co-operative ventures under its umbrella to meet demand.

It covers the Tamar Valley, which includes the market towns of Tavistock, Launceston, Callington and Saltash.