Growing Resilience: Digging deeper

This case study focuses on the organisation of a community growing network to promote climate resilience and raise social capital.

Stephen Jones

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September 1, 2025
3 min read

Summary

The Growing Resilience project, launched in 2015, aims to enhance food security and community preparedness in Northern Ireland by connecting community growing groups. This initiative fosters collaboration, sharing of agricultural skills, and builds social capital to help communities prepare food systems shocks that are expected to increase due to climate change.

Introduction

Social Farms & Gardens (SF&G) is a charity that promotes community farming and growing across the
UK. This initiative was funded by the Big Lottery Fund, with the last phase running from 2019 to 2024, and based off a pilot initiative completed on behalf of Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens.
The main objective was to enhance food security and community preparedness in Northern Ireland.

Aims

Support community growing volunteers to connect and share skills, building confidence and support
Organise networking forums and practical skills workshops across Northern Ireland
Deepen resilience and sustainable working in an ever-changing financial landscape
Develop to cover all local Council areas depending on need

Key Actions

Creation of a network of community growing groups and partner organisations as direct beneficiaries of the project
Independently functioning network design, so that it is not limited by SF&G’s resource availability
Enables groups to engage in policy change to allow the network to expand and develop
Facilitates the sharing of skills and building of social capital, enabling communities to cope under food provision uncertainties caused by climate change and other crises impacting the global supply chain (e.g. COVID-19, conflict)

Project structure: Social Farms and gardens

Impacts

The project facilitated practical skills development while fostering a stronger sense of community and place. Under climate pressures, the need for these growing partnerships will become more necessary. SF&G produced sector needs and recommendations in their project report
The networks successfully engaged with local councils and policy change through various means. For example: meetings with elected representatives, presentations to committee, participation in Community Planning, creating their own manifesto for Stormont elections, responding to consultations and producing the Belfast Garden Gathering report with recommendations to Belfast City Council, which were taken onboard).
The team who delivered this project now work for Community Garden Support, supporting regenerative community food growing across NI. They are currently seeking funding to continue this work.

Outcomes

Published a resilience report to summarise sector need and recommendations for Northern Ireland
Expanded the project into Newry Mourne and Down, Derry City and North Belfast
Worked with 20 gardening groups in Fermanagh & Tyrone, Strabane, Bann, North Antrim and Antrim
Brought people together with well-attended networking forums in Omagh and Belfast
Facilitated skill sharing on topics like soil health, fermenting goods and community composting

“Community gardening makes a unique contribution to community development. It provides a communal space for people to come together to socialise and enjoy growing healthy fresh food. When we slow down to the pace of nature, we relax; giving real health benefits to our physical and mental wellbeing. When we grow food in a community space there are huge social benefits for ourselves and our community. We see it all the time – that little bit of magic that happens when people are brought together in these spaces; and sometimes we see that the simplest projects are achieving the greatest impact to personal and community health and wellbeing. This programme nurtures and sustains these groups, helping them to thrive into the future.”

– Patricia Wallace, Northern Ireland Manager, Social Farms & Gardens

Citation

Social Farms & Gardens. Case Study – Social Farms & Gardens: Growing Resilience, Digging Deeper. Northern Ireland, July 2025. Climate Northern Ireland. https://climatenorthernireland.org.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Case-Study-Social-Farms-Gardens.pdf

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Social Farms and Gardens Case Study (2024)

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Northern Ireland

This is a vibrant community of practice where local leaders, researchers, businesses, and residents share ideas, tools, and stories to make Northern Ireland climate-ready. Join us to swap resources, ask questions, and co-create a fair, thriving future for every corner of Northern Ireland.

Scotland

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Wales

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England

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Published: September 1, 2025