Lavender Place Community Gardens

Food4families is in partnership with Thames Valley Police to create a temporary community garden on the site of former Civic Offices til they are re-developed in 5 years.

Study of the Victorian maps of the area that was demolished to make way for Civic Offices, Courts and Police Station show that there were many courtyards with edible connotations: Wine Court, Lavender Place, Cherry Court, Plum Court, Grape Passage. This may be indication of small holdings. Lavender Place was just where the herb garden will be.

See the concept design plan and document.

Work commenced in June 2018, with an area being mown, raised beds constructed by Activate Learning from Reading College, and a herb garden laid out by Deenway Montessori School, all supervised by Food4families with help from members of Reading Food Growing Network. Fruit trees and bushes have been planted in pots, and vegetables added to the beds.