A Bristol community group hopes to raise £20,000 to develop a ‘food forest’ for local people.
Generation Soil CIC aims to provide fresh, nutritious food once the market garden is up and running, with the help of its team of urban farmers, compost experts, food justice advocates, and land regenerators.
It has launched a crowd-funder to raise £20,000 towards the two-acre plot, which will be used to buy tools, a utility vehicle and polytunnel, build compost bays and a watering system, and plant native trees and seed the food forest.
Founder and director Alex Montgomery said: “The Covid-19 pandemic reminded us how vital access to nutritious food and green space is for our health and well-being.
“But today, food insecurity continues to rise, with over 3 million people in the UK using food banks in 2024, up from just 26,000 in 2009. Meanwhile, supermarket food is getting more expensive and lower in quality.
“We’re offering a nature-based, community-led solution, and we need your help to raise £20,000 to bring it to life.”
What is a food forest?
A food forest is a diverse planting of edible trees, shrubs, and perennial plants that mimics natural ecosystems. It produces food while regenerating soil and supporting wildlife.
Alex said: “We’ve been given an incredible opportunity. Thanks to Roots Allotments, we’ve secured two acres at Leigh Woods Meadow, just outside Bristol. The soil is compacted and nutrient-poor, but we’re ready to show what’s possible with compost, care, and community.”
Generation Soil CIC plans to use the crowdfunder to pay for:
- Compost bays which turn food waste into living soil
- Native trees & shrubs to restore biodiversity
- A sustainable watering system
- A seedling nursery
- Tools & storage
- A polytunnel to extend the growing season
- A utility vehicle
Alex concluded: “We’re building more than just a garden. We’re creating a resilient, local food system for Bristol, a biodiverse ecosystem above and below ground, an educational space to reconnect people with the land, and a thriving example of how communities can regenerate together.”
