Our next events

  • Saturday 23rd August, 11am-12:30pm at The Almonry
  • Saturday 20th September, 11am-12:30pm at The Almonry
  • From then on, events will be every month (except December when we’ll take a break), but we’re still working out the dates; we’ll let you know as soon as we have definite dates for you. Note that we may be moving to a new location at some point in the future; if we do then details will be here and on our Facebook Page

What is “The Growing Network”?

We aim to provide a focal point for local growing enthusiasts to meet, socialise, exchange food, materials and knowledge. Our objectives are:
1) To help alleviate loneliness
2) To improve local resilience to climate change, cost of living crises and possible scarcity of food by giving people the skills, tools and knowledge to grow their own food.
3) To foster community cohesion and promote kindness, altruism and sharing because no money is involved, everything is given freely
4) To make growing healthy food more accessible to all, and thereby
5) To improve the health of participants 
The events are based on a model which has run successfully in Beckley and Bexhill for several years, their tagline being “Bring what you can and take what you need”. Those established groups have a strong community aspect.

The group formed in March 2025, and had it’s first event in June 2025

I’m interested! What does an event look like?

We’ve had 30 to 40 people at the first few events, lots of chatter about gardens and growing in general, tea and cake, and of course bringing & taking veggies, plants, seeds, etc. We advertise as being open 11am-12:30 and people pop in and out throughout that time.
Volunteers from A Touch Of Gentleness provide a lovely hand massage for free, and have proved popular.

In the winter months when there’s less growing going on, we plan to have speakers presenting on a range of topics, and perhaps something seasonal like Christmas wreath making.

Have I heard that name before?

Growing Networks are appearing across the south-east of England, the nearest ones in Beckley and Bexhill have been running successfully for a few years. Details on their activities can be found here.
We got to learn about the Growing Network concept when their founder Jo Morphy gave a talk at a Battle Assembles meeting in March 2025, a few of us thought it would be great to start something similar in Battle.