Our mission is to cultivate health, social connection, skills, fairness and climate action in our local and wider communities. We do this by gardening and cooking good food, bringing people together, sharing knowledge, tackling disadvantage, acting for the environment, and working in partnership with others.

This focus on wellbeing and tackling disadvantage is at the heart of everything we do. It’s why community gardens can play such an important role in supporting healthier communities.

A place to grow

Tullibody Community Garden began with a simple idea. Local people wanted access to fresh, locally grown produce, and the Tullibody Healthy Living Initiative helped turn that idea into reality.

In 2014 the first turves were turned, and volunteers began shaping the space into a shared garden for the community. When the original project closed in 2019, volunteers stepped forward to keep the garden going. In 2021 we became an independent charity, ensuring the garden could continue to support the community long into the future.

Today the garden is about far more than growing fruit and vegetables. It is a welcoming space where people can connect with nature, build friendships and improve their wellbeing.

Supporting wellbeing through community

Many people come to the garden for the simple joy of gardening, but what they often find is something more.

A recent community survey found that 88% of volunteers joined to garden, 76% to socialise and make friends, and 73% because it’s fun.

For some people the garden provides gentle physical activity and time outdoors. For others it offers routine, purpose and connection. Around 65% of our volunteers live with a disability or long-term health condition. The garden offers a supportive environment where people can take part at their own pace.

In 2025 alone, volunteers contributed 2,905 hours of time, creating an estimated £16,000 in social value for the community through their work in the garden.

Healthy food and shared skills

Access to healthy food is another important part of wellbeing.

With the help of our volunteers, Community Cook and Community Gardener, we grow fruit and vegetables which are shared with the community by donation. Alongside this, cooking sessions and workshops help people, who don’t cook at all, learn the skills to start cooking using fresh veg and ingredients on a budget.

In 2025 we ran 28 community events, welcoming 671 participants from across Tullibody and the wider Clackmannanshire area. These included tattie planting days, arts and crafts sessions, chutney-making, Halloween events and wreath-making workshops.

Nature, climate and wellbeing

Spending time outdoors and connecting with nature is increasingly recognised as important for both physical and mental health.

At Tullibody Community Garden we also work to care for the environment by improving soil health, supporting biodiversity and adapting the garden to climate challenges such as flooding. Pollinator planting, composting and sustainable growing methods help us create a greener, healthier space for the community.

Looking ahead

A major milestone for us came recently when we secured a 25-year lease from Clackmannanshire Council, giving us the stability to plan for the long-term future of the garden.

With support from partners including Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface, we are now developing a business plan to expand what the garden can offer our community.

As Scotland’s Good Food Nation plans develop, we hope community gardens like ours will continue to play an important role in supporting healthier, more connected communities.

Growing wellbeing together

For us, good health and wellbeing isn’t just about physical health. It’s about feeling connected, valued and supported. The garden is a place where people can step outside, meet others, learn new skills and take pride in growing something together.

If you would like to find out more, you can contact us at communitygardentullibody@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page to see upcoming activities and events.

About the author

Winnie Anderson is Chair of Tullibody Community Garden, a volunteer-led charity based in Tullibody. The garden brings people together through growing food, sharing skills and creating opportunities for connection, learning and wellbeing across the local community.