SCGN Events
Future Events
SCGN's current events programme has come to an end and we will be seeking new funding to enable us to arrange other activities. We recommend joining our Facebook page and/or following our Eventbrite page so you receive notification of future events and activities.
Previous Events
On 21st March 2024, SCGN members paid a visit to the newly formed Blackhills CSA for a tour of the site and a short workshop on how to set up a no-dig bed. We were very impressed by how much has already been achieved in such a short time and found Jon and Aoife's passion, commitment and approach so inspiring. It was a great learning and networking experience.
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On 22nd January 2024, SCGN held a visit to Penllergare Valley Wood. We met in the brand new Woodland Education Centre and started with a discussion workshop, led by Bwyd Abertawe, to contribute ideas for a five year plan for improving the food system in Swansea.
The Penllergare Valley Woods manager then gave a short presentation about their work, particularly the walled garden restoration project, before heading of for a site tour. The walled garden was extremely impressive and we were also lucky to be amongst the first to look around the new main visitor centre. |
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On 7th November 2023, Cae Felin CSA hosted the SCGN network again with demonstration workshops and wildflower planting. Activities included: • Field scale no-dig demonstration • Tool sharpening demonstration • Wildflower planting & seed sowing activity |
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On 2nd October 2023, we headed for Summit Good CSA in Dunvant for a juicing workshop, led by Kate Davies from The Orchard Project followed by a tour of the Summit Good site by Josh Pike, with a particuloar focus on the work of the Pettallica Flower Farm. |
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On 23rd September 2023, SCGN Annual Gathering and AGM were hosted by Climate and Community at their site in Manselfield. Those attending enjoyed a very relaxed event with lots of great discussion throughout the day. Bob and Jules provided an inspiring and thought-provoking introduction to the project and lead workshops on willow growing, willow craft and scything. We were also joined by officers from our close partner organisation, Bwyd Abertawe who introduced the Swansea Food Charter and invited us to make pledges to support the transition to a more sustainable and fairer food system in Swansea. |
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On 26th June 2023, SCGN organised a visit to Big Meadow CSA in Llangennith, Gower. The event included a site tour and workshops on managing the apple trees and crop rotation. Everyone that joined us was taken by the amazing location and impressed by what the group had managed to establish and achieve in such a short time. |
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On 13th June 2023, SCGN organised a visit to Coeden Fach's new site in Clyne Park, Swansea. Kate Davies gave an introduction to the community Ttree nursery's history, purpose and activities and then led a tour of the site. It was very interesting to learn about how they grow a range of local provenance trees and engage with volunteers and schools. |
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On 11th March 2023, SCGN organised a visit to the new Cae Felin CSA in Morriston which included a tour around the large site and an overview of future plans. Volunteers from Climate&Community led a coppicing workshop and Cae Felin staff and volunteers invited visitors to help with tree planting. Despite the rainy weather, those attending had a great time and we look forward to returning as this impressive project develops over the coming years. |
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SCGN supported an Introduction to Permaculture and Networking Evening event at the Environment Centre on 20th October 2022 in collaboration with a Peas Please grant funding recipient and local permaculture experts. This was followed up on 29th October with a Permaculture in Action visit to a private garden just outside Swansea where we were treated some amazing practical insights and inspiration. |
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On 17th October 2022, SCGN held its annual gathering and AGM at Summit Good in Dunvant. This was attended by about 30 people - many involved with a wide range of different projects from across Swansea. The activity packed day included a tour of the amazing site and a number of workshops on vegetable storage, dry flower management, orchard care, nutrition testing, and wild plant paper making. The event was made possible through funding from Welsh Government's ENRaW grant (via Swansea Council) and the Peas Please initiative. |
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On 6th July 2022, SCGN organised a scything workshop hosted and delivered by Climate & Community at their Murton site. This provided a great learning experience with Jules and the team leading attendees through the basics of the scythe and its maintenance, including using scythes on their community project site. |
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On 23rd March 2022, SCGN held one of its popular cafe night network events - this time hosted by Shared Plate in Mumbles. Great food and great conversation were shared by those attending. |
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A few SCGN events were held in 2020 and 2021, despite the difficulties and limitations posed by the pandemic.
However, we haven't yet been able to add details and photos for these.
However, we haven't yet been able to add details and photos for these.
On 13th July 2019, SCGN held a full and inspiring day at Spring Mills, funded by Fund for Wales. The event included a presentation on AgroEcology by Tom O’Kane (from Cae Tan CSA and the Landworker’s Alliance), which led on to small group discussion on Local Food Resilience. Workshops included Organic Growing by Neil Barry and Designing a Community Garden using Permaculture Principles by Witchhazel Wildwood. There were also updates by local groups about their current projects and a fantastic lunch sourced from the gardens and prepared by our hosts Beth and Jo. Highlight of the day was a visit by the Popcycle Lolly bicycle after lunch!
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In 2018 and early 2019, we ran a new series of café nights which were a great success with delicious dinners created by our guest chef Laura Fawcett using local ingredients where possible. The cakes were a particular favourite!
At each event, local groups gave an update on their projects and some of the evenings also included short films. In July 2018, Coeden Fach hosted a pizza evening for our AGM with fantastic wood fired oven baked pizzas from Simon J's Pizzeria. |
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On 10th June 2017, SCGN shared a celebration day event with Swansea Community Farm. There were lots of practical workshops, interesting talks, local produce stalls, family fun activities and even singing and dancing! The SCGN AGM was also held at the event. |
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An interesting free workshop event was held by SCGN on 22nd May 2017 at Gaia’s Garden in Waunarlwydd. It included a tour of the amazing site and practical workshop activities such as building a Hugelkultur compost moud and making compost teas. It also provided a great chance for people to share ideas and chat about growing issues with other members of the network. |
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On 18th October 2016, SCGN held an Apple Day at Coeden Fach Tree Nursery. Almost 30 people joined the activities, including 3 pupils from Bishop Gore School who took a very active role in the juice making, led by Jo from Spring Mills. The Coeden Fach team put on a lovely spread of homemade apple cakes and bread and gave a tour of the site. Everyone left with bottles of juice and a smile. |
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Swansea Community Growing Network is collaborating with Sustainable Swansea to develop a Green Map of community growing projects in Swansea. A consultation event took place at the Environment Centre on 13th September 2016, to explore the use of Green Maps and how such a resource could help in promoting community growing.
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Swansea Community Growing Network's 2nd AGM and Annual Gathering, held on 7th May 2016, was again hosted by Spring Mills and involved a programme of talks, workshops and networking opportunities. There was a workshop, led by the Store More project, which included chopping vegetables to make coleslaw for the superb lunch. Other activities on offer included a herb walk, a beekeeping workshop and short films in the solar cinema. |
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SCGN, in partnership with the Friends of Hafod Park and Communities First, provided a practical training session in making raised beds, suitable for community gardens. This event took place on 5th March 2016 in Hafod Park's new Community Garden and was led by Lea Halborg. |
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A full day SCGN event that took place at Swansea Community Farm on 19th October 2015 was really well attended - over 30 people - and was a very practical and exciting experience. Beth and Jo from Spring Mills Community Garden introduced the new StoreMore Project and we tested the apple press to produce loads of juice. We also went through every step in the breadmaking process with Kate from the Farm - harvesting and threshing wheat, winnowing and milling grain, and kneading and shaping the dough. |
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A morning training workshop was held at Cae Tan, Ilston, Gower on 29th September 2015 called "Working with the Local Community". The event included a tour of the Cae Tan site and a talk about their work with local communities and schools plus workshops on 'Setting up Animal Co-ops'. It was a beautiful sunny day and the event was really well attended. Everyone was impressed with the work of Cae Tan, Gower Power and their associated projects. |
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Our Annual Gathering and AGM event took place on 25th April 2015 at Spring Mills Community Garden. There was a great turnout and a really interesting and inspiring programme of workshops and discussions. The hospitality and food was fantastic. |
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