Drove Road Community Garden

Drove Road Community Garden CIC is a not-for-profit company with a three-year plan to firstly transform a two-acre plot of this area of the South Downs into a thriving, regenerative community garden.
Our aim is to improve local food security, restore the depleted soil, and provide a welcoming space where people can connect, learn, and thrive.
We will grow healthy, chemical-free food using natural and regenerative methods that improve biodiversity and soil vitality.
Produce will be shared among volunteers and local outlets, with any surplus donated to the Woodingdean Food Hub to support people facing hunger or poverty.
Our project is rooted in the village and will benefit residents of Woodingdean and nearby areas, especially those experiencing isolation, low income, or poor mental health.
Our Volunteers will gain new skills, build confidence, and enjoy the wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature and meaningful community activity.
We will partner with like-minded local organisations involved in organic growing and conservation to share knowledge and resources.

We also plan to explore the viability of growing flowers as a local cash crop to support sustainability.

To promote the project, we will engage with the community through local events, schools, social media, and partnerships with existing local services and companies.
We will evaluate our impact by tracking volunteer engagement, food distribution, biodiversity indicators, and community feedback.
This is a new initiative, generously supported with land donated by a local farmer and support from the National Lottery.
We are indebted to Brighton and Hove Food Partnership, Brighton and Hove City Council, Knight Frank and the South Downs National Park for all their assistance and help.

While rooted in proven regenerative practices, the garden itself is a new and ambitious project designed to have long-lasting benefit for local people and the environment.
The site under cultivation adjoins the Drove Road with the first of the beds laid in March 2026 and the fencing up in April 2026.

Supported by the National Lottery