How a raised bed helped Garforth neighbours become a community

What started with a single raised bed on a grass verge in Garforth has grown into a movement spanning around 25 groups across Leeds, helping people connect with their neighbours, improve their wellbeing and rediscover where their food comes from.

According to Dan Robinson, founder of Incredible Edible Garforth and a driving force behind the wider Incredible Edible Leeds movement, the project’s success has little to do with vegetables and everything to do with people. He explained: “While we connect people with where their food comes from, the real secret of the project is that it’s not really about food, it’s about people and bringing people together.”

Dan launched Incredible Edible Garforth in 2019 after seeing first-hand how a simple community growing project could transform a neighbourhood.

He recalled how a raised bed planted on a grass verge outside his home quickly became a focal point for local residents.

“It strikes up conversation, people take from the bed, but then they go back to it and they might plant some of their own things in it, so all of a sudden, it just kind of becomes this community asset,” Dan added.

What followed surprised even him. Residents began caring for the surrounding area themselves, creating a stronger sense of ownership and pride in the community.

While growing food remains at the heart of the movement, Dan described how food-growing projects bring people outdoors, increase confidence, reduce loneliness and help residents build relationships with others in their community. Reflecting on the wider benefits Incredible Edible has had on communities in East Leeds, Dan added: “The biggest shift has been around tackling negative mental health through a food growing initiative.”

Among the projects Dan is most proud of is a veg library outside a medical practice on Main Street in Garforth. The library allows residents to share seeds, tools, pots, growing magazines and produce with one another, helping remove barriers for those interested in learning how to grow food.

On that same street is a striking mural featuring edible flowers found in Garforth. Created by community artists, the artwork has helped brighten an area Dan said was once “a bit of a concrete jungle.”

Looking ahead, he says exciting projects continue to emerge across East Leeds, including work in Seacroft through the new Let’s Grow East Leeds initiative.

For communities interested in starting their own Incredible Edible project, Dan says that he and his team are keen to support local projects and help them overcome any challenges they have to getting started. He explained: “We’ve been able to break down barriers, connect people and get some good stuff happening. When someone contacts us for the first time, we go meet them, and say to them, ‘show us your area’. Tell us what is working, what is not working. Let’s celebrate what you already have, and then let’s help you to get started from there.”

For Dan, that remains the real purpose of Incredible Edible.

Not growing vegetables, but growing stronger, kinder and more connected communities.

If you are interested in connecting with Dan or his team, visit: edibleleads.org.uk or email grow@edibleleeds.org.uk.