Last week, National Gardening Week encouraged more people across the UK to get outside and into their gardens. Sheffield has once again proven that it’s a city fertile with opportunity, not just for green-fingered individuals, but for an entire movement rooted in community, resilience, and change.
Over the past year, ShefFood and its partners have been delving deeper into the question: what does food growing really mean for a city like Sheffield? Through a collaborative research project led by one of our key partners, Regather, “Mapping the Past, Present and Future of Urban Horticulture in Sheffield”, they have uncovered a complex picture of potential, challenges, and hope. The message is clear: collective action in urban horticulture could significantly transform Sheffield’s environment, economy, and health.
The project, developed in collaboration with the University of Sheffield and researchers in Canada, set out to map food-growing activity across the city. Using digital tools, public surveys and workshops, and even “dig-alongside” interviews with commercial growers, the team identified 113 existing growing sites and many more with untapped potential.
These included school gardens, private plots, market gardens and community farms – a growing network of spaces that, when brought together, paint a vivid picture of Sheffield as a city capable of producing much more of its own food.
It’s not just about where we grow; it’s really about how we can make a difference! By analysing satellite data and using the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the researchers have discovered underused green spaces that hold great potential for food cultivation. They’ve taken into account factors like public ownership, land gradient, nearby supermarkets, and levels of deprivation, creating a thoughtful roadmap for transforming Sheffield into a vibrant city of growers!
There’s so much potential out there, but the research has pointed out some important challenges we need to address. These challenges include limited access to land, lengthy waiting periods for allotments, and inadequate funding for essential training programs. It can be disheartening to see efforts undervalued or even go unpaid. Additionally, cultural and class-related inequalities, along with extreme weather and constraints on time and resources, add to the complexity of the situation.
The conclusion is unavoidable: we can’t expect a flourishing food system without support. We need joined-up thinking, stronger infrastructure, and policy that values food growing not as a luxury, but as a necessity. Follow Regather or ShefFood to find out more once the project is published later this year.
Despite the challenges, exciting work is already underway. At the newly revived Norton Nurseries in Graves Park, The Food Works Sheffield has begun its first growing season. This collaborative farm is the perfect example of what’s possible when local food production is prioritised.
By growing food together right here in Sheffield, the Food Works farm cuts out long supply chains, slashes emissions, and ensures fresh produce is available for local people – all while creating opportunities for composting and volunteer involvement. It’s a model for what sustainable food systems should look like. And you don’t need your own farm to help. The Grow a Row initiative, also run by Food Works, invites gardeners and allotment holders across Sheffield to donate part of their harvest to feed the city. Whether it’s herbs, carrots or courgettes, even a single row can make a huge difference. And if you’ve got more than you need, you can also “Repurpose Your Surplus” – a scheme that transforms leftover produce into delicious meals for local communities.
Both schemes show that grassroots action, when coordinated and valued, can scale into something much greater. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, this collective effort helped deliver over a million meals. That’s the power of joined-up growing. If you’d like to get involved in volunteering or redistributing your surplus head to thefoodworks.org for more information.
Urban food growing isn’t just about food – it’s about futures. When we cultivate space to grow, we’re investing in: public health – through better nutrition, physical activity, and mental wellbeing; the economy – by opening up training, green jobs, and local enterprise opportunities; and the environment, by reducing food miles, waste, and emissions.
This is more than a gardening trend. It’s a movement for systemic change – a way to reconnect people with food, land, and each other. At ShefFood, we believe in collaboration. That’s why we’re calling on new growers, community leaders, educators, allotment holders, policy-makers and residents to join our Growing and Composting Working Group. Help us expand projects like these and grow a more resilient horticultural industry in our city.
Together, we can push for better land access, stronger networks, and sustainable models that support both amateur and professional growers. We can turn the insights from our city-wide map into action – planting seeds today for a more resilient, fair and tasty tomorrow.
Whether you’re a beginner gardener, a passionate food grower, or simply someone who cares about Sheffield’s future, we want to hear from you.
To join the ShefFood Growing and Composting Working Group, visit www.sheffood.org.uk or email [email protected].
