Growing & Composting
Develops resilient practices from farm to fork and beyond, which reduce emissions and waste levels to feed tomorrow and today.
All Things Green
Building a fairer, healthier, and greener food system for Sheffield means rethinking how we grow and manage our food from the ground up. Climate-resilient growing practices not only protect crops from the increasing challenges of extreme weather, but they also strengthen our communities by making fresh, locally grown produce more accessible. By investing in local food growing, we reduce reliance on long supply chains, cut carbon emissions, and build a food culture rooted in sustainability and fairness.
Composting is just as vital in this transformation. Instead of sending food and garden waste to landfill, composting returns valuable nutrients to the soil, supports biodiversity, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It closes the loop in our food system, turning waste into a resource that helps new food grow. Together, growing and composting are powerful tools that allow Sheffield to tackle the climate crisis, improve health, and create a food system that works for everyone.
Latest News & Events
8 million pumpkins!
Halloween is the season of ghosts, ghouls, and… food waste? While dressing up, carving pumpkins, and enjoying spooky treats is part of the fun,…
Mapping Sheffield’s Growing Future
Sheffield is a city known for its greenery. From parks and woodlands to community gardens and allotments, opportunities to grow food are all around…
How Food, Nature and Community Support Mental Health in Sheffield
Every year on 10 October, World Mental Health Day invites us to reflect on how we care for ourselves and one another. Mental health…
McDonald’s Tries Again: Drive-Thru Plans Resubmitted for Lowfield
Despite withdrawing their original application earlier this year, McDonald’s has once again submitted plans for a drive-thru restaurant on land north-west of London Road…
What the Government’s New National Food Strategy Could Mean for Sheffield
In July 2025, the UK Government launched a major update to its National Food Strategy, setting out a long-term vision for a healthier, more…
Future of ShefFood: Review July 2025
The ShefFood Steering Group has recently commissioned an independent report to explore the future governance, structure, and long-term sustainability of ShefFood. This vital piece…
Growing in Sheffield Map
Search for different types of Sheffield-based growing spaces by type, area or organisation name. Use the map or scroll to see a complete list. Use the filter in the bottom right-hand corner of the map to see different organisation types. Use the buttons on the left-hand side of the map to search for specific locations or addresses. This map was made possible thanks to The University of Sheffield and Regather Co-operative.
Search for Location
Organisation Type
Alexandra Road Community Garden
Organisation Type: Community Garden
Address: 157 Alexandra Road, Heeley, Sheffield, S23EH
Phone No: 07980185337
Website: https://www.facebook.com/people/Alexandra-Road-Community-Garden/100094108639990/
Anne’s Community Garden
Organisation Type: Community Garden
Address: Little London Rd, Meersbrook, Sheffield S8 8UB (Behind B&M Bargains on Chesterfield Rd)
Website: https://www.instagram.com/annes_community_garden/?hl=en
Email: [email protected]
Archer Lane Allotment
Organisation Type: SCC Allotments
Address: Archer Ln, Sheffield S7 2BU
Phone No: 0114 2500 500
Website: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/parks-sport-recreation/allotments
Archer Lane Allotment and Home Garden Society
Organisation Type: Allotment Society
Address: Archer Ln, Sheffield S7 2BU
Website: https://www.archerlaneallotments.org/
Email: [email protected]
Resources
The group believes in the power of partnerships and collaborations to achieve our goals, which is why we invite individuals and organisations ranging from community and commercial growers to academics, policymakers, schools and everyone in between and beyond to join us!
Go Green
Growing & Composting
General Information and resources on food growing & composting
Volunteering
Get involved with growing in your community
- Food Works Farm
- Green City Action community allotment
- Regather Farm Volunteering
- Want to add to this list? Get in touch
Organisation & Business Resources
Information & resources for organisations and our partners.
Eco Actions at Home
Steps you can take for a greener life
Places to Grow
Success in Sheffield So Far…
While our goal is about moving forward, it’s also important to celebrate the fantastic work that has been achieved so far for food provision in our city.
- Nature-friendly urban and peri-urban farms and market gardens are recognised by Sustain’s ‘Fringe Farming’ programme as leading the way in increasing local food production, building food security and tackling the climate crisis.
- Researchers and innovators, such as The University of Sheffield’s Institute for Sustainable Food, are working hard to secure the future of Sheffield’s nature-friendly, low-carbon food production, from mapping suitable growing land to experimenting with innovative food-growing methods.
- Sheffield City Council has formally recognised the role of land use change in achieving net zero and the need to make more space available for food growing. Meanwhile, many landowners are successfully partnering with communities to make space for growing.
- The Growing and Composting Working Group meets regularly, bringing people together to share ideas and knowledge, support each other, and work together on campaigns for nature-friendly growing.
- Various organisations are working hard to embed growing in our educational institutions by helping local schools to create and care for nature-friendly food-growing spaces.
- Nature-friendly food production in South Yorkshire employs nearly 100 people, and work is ongoing to expand this by supporting new entrants into farming and horticulture.
- Locals consume more local produce thanks to collaborations between growing projects and shops, restaurants, veg box schemes, social eating spaces, food banks, and pay-as-you-feel marketplaces across the city.
Join Our Working Group
This working group drives and supports strategy, research, learning and projects that cultivate better growing and composting in Sheffield. The group’s ultimate goal is a better food system for the city, and aims to achieve this by:
- Placing national policy around sustainable food growing into a Sheffield context
- Championing agroecological growing projects and enterprises to start-up and scale-up via education, training, and good jobs at all levels; and financial and business support;
- Increasing the availability and accessibility of land for growing in Sheffield;
- Driving research and innovation in sustainable and space-efficient urban and peri-urban growing and composting techniques;
- Supporting and promoting the reduce, reuse, and recycling of food, green ‘waste’ and other organic wastes;
- Placing the food system at the heart of Sheffield’s shift to decarbonisation.
If you’d like to get involved or learn more, please come to one of our working group events or get in contact with the team.
