There are hundreds of projects across the north looking for people like you to get involved - and we can guarantee they'll be grateful for your support 🌻

Here's just a couple of ways your new year's resolution could be achieved at a community garden! But there's so many more too... maybe you're looking to prioritize your mental health, connect with nature ore meet new people!

Studies show that new year's resolutions that involve other people are the ones most likely to succeed. So why not integrate your 2025 goal with your local green community hub?

Happy new year from The Northern Network! How are those new year's resolutions holding up? 😅

Invertebrates may mostly disappear from view during winter but they are still in our gardens hiding from the cold in dead wood, leaf litter, dark nooks & crannies or deep in the soil. Help wildlife thrive by avoiding unnecessary digging, clearing & leaf blowing during winter months.

How to grow Brussels sprouts All you need to know about growing Brussels sprouts, in our detailed Grow Guide.

Nothing says Christmas like sprouts! Have you grown your own this year? If not, head to the link to learn more about how to grow them – and when to plant them, so you’re ready for a festive feast: bit.ly/3OnhqoK

Who says you can’t have anything bright in your garden during the winter.

Please check out my latest article on using colourful winter stems to add some interest to a garden.

bournetogarden.substack.com/p/colourful-...

🌱🌿💚 #Greenheart

Whether you're a founding member of a community garden or just getting started on your volunteering journey, thank-you for your commitment to building a movement of resilient green spaces in 2024!

We hope you're able to take time to rest, eat delicious food and spend time with loved ones this December. As we head into 2025 we'll be reflecting on the amazing work our green community hubs have done this year making local people happier, healthier and more connected. ❄️

Today our volunteers helped to prune our summer fruiting raspberries.

This is when you prune out the old woody stems, leaving 6-8 of the new young stems that had grown that season.

🌱🌿💚 #GreenHeart #VegetableGarden

We identified & recorded different species at the site using iNaturalist. Capturing a snapshot of what wildlife is in the local community will allow us to see the biodiversity impact of improving this green community hub over the coming seasons. 🌱

Last week we were pleased to come together with people from a variety of Green Community Hub projects for a community Bioblitz at Westview Community Association!

BioBlitz events

These 24-hour events bring together volunteers and scientists to identify and document species of plants, animals, fungi, and more, contributing valuable data to the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas and other national databases

#BioBlitz #Communityprojects #Nature

📝🌻 Plan your 2025 garden!
Now is the ideal time to get planning for next year's planting. Sketch layouts, order seeds and research plants to stay organised and get the ball rolling with your garden projects.

🌳🌿 Plant bare-root trees & shrubs
December’s dormancy makes it perfect for planting bare-root trees. Choose a frost-free day and give them a strong start for spring growth.

🌨️❄️ Protect tender plants
Frost can be a killer. Wrap sensitive plants in horticultural fleece or bubble wrap. Move potted plants to sheltered areas and into greenhouses. Keep them snug to survive the chill.

🌱 Care for overwintering crops
Garlic, onions, and broad beans need a little TLC over winter. Keep weeds in check and cover crops with fleece during harsh frosts. A little effort now will ensure a bountiful early harvest next year!

🪶🐾 Install bird & hedgehog boxes
Winter’s tough for wildlife. Install nesting boxes for birds and cozy spots for hedgehogs. Place boxes sheltered from rain and facing away from harsh winds if you can.

With darker, colder days making themselves known as we head into December, it's time for many of us to mostly take a break from the garden. But if you're keen to get a head start on the next growing season, here are 5 #gardening jobs you can get stuck into...

Home Grown in Holmes Chapel YouTube video by Northern Network

Home Grown in Holmes Chapel, founded in 2010, brings neighbours together on Sunday mornings to grow fresh and share produce for everyone to enjoy. We caught up with volunteer Naomi to learn more about this fantastic project. 💚

A festive wreath adorned with pine cones, fluffy white pampas grass, eucalyptus leaves, and red berries, hung on a blue door.

Are you making a Christmas wreath this year? If you're looking for inspiration, head to our website for loads of ideas and step-by-step guides to making the perfect festive wreath for your home: bit.ly/4fNDgxp

Finally, we uplift the work of green community hubs. Hubs are inherently social spaces that reduce loneliness, enable community cohesion, foster a sense of belonging and make a positive impact on our environment. And we think that's something worth celebrating. 🌻

We also run events for our members, providing networking and peer support opportunities for projects from all over the North!

We know that funding is a huge issue for many hubs, so we do our best to support projects to access the resources they need. We scour the web for funding opportunities and signpost to these in our monthly newsletters, as well as providing in-depth guides on writing funding bids.

We also train and up-skill volunteers who run green community hubs, empowering green leaders and ensuring these vital spaces are here for the long run.

We produce resources on relevant topics, with a website packed with guides, reports and webinars, covering everything from worm surveys to risk assessments. 🪱

Thanks to players of the National Lottery, over the next three years, we're supporting the creation of 30 new green community hubs in partnership with members of the local community. But we don't just help create new hubs - we also support established ones.

Hi Bluesky 👋

We're the Northern Network, an initiative supporting community gardens and growing projects across the North of England.

Our vision is a future where:

💪 Every community is strong
🌱 Every neighbourhood is green and vibrant
❤️ Nobody is held back by their circumstances or background