Inclusive Community Gardening at Galloways

8 members of the Galloways gardening group smiling and proudly showing an award.

Meet the Galloways Garden Club

Back in 2018, a patch of overgrown land behind Galloways was little more than weeds and unused space. Today, it is a vibrant, welcoming inclusive community gardening project, developed through dedication, teamwork, and care.

Jim Towersey, who leads the Galloways Garden Club, explains:

“Back in 2018, there was a lot of land at the back that was completely overgrown. Someone said to me, ‘Do what you like with it,’ so we decided to give it another go — and it’s lasted a bit longer than six weeks this time.”

What started with just four people and a shared idea has grown into a thriving community gardening project with fourteen members, ranging in age from their twenties to their eighties. The garden now includes polytunnels, greenhouses, vegetable beds, flowers, sheds, and improved pathways — all created through patience, consistency, and collaboration.

Reflecting on what the Garden Club represents, Jim says:

“It’s everything really — community, wellbeing, pride in the area, and looking after the environment. It’s all of those things rolled into one.”

A Garden for Everyone

The Galloways Garden Club is built on inclusion and accessibility, including for people with visual impairment (VI). Activities are adapted so that everyone can take part safely and confidently, whether through guided support, working alongside others, or choosing tasks that suit individual strengths.

The garden offers a sensory-rich outdoor environment, where touch, smell, sound, routine, and teamwork are central. Clear pathways, familiar layouts, and shared tasks support confidence and independence while working outdoors.

Speaking about inclusion, Jim explains:

“Everyone does what they can here. It doesn’t matter your age or ability — if you want to be involved, you’re welcome.”

For many people — including those with visual impairment — the Garden Club provides meaningful opportunities to:

Build confidence and independence
Learn practical life skills
Improve wellbeing through time outdoors
Reduce isolation and strengthen social connections
Take pride in shared achievement

Jim has seen this impact first-hand. He says:

“We’ve seen people come in who wouldn’t mix with anyone at first, and over time they’ve gained confidence, made friends, and really come out of themselves.”

Growing Confidence, Skills, and Opportunity

The Garden Club allows people to learn at their own pace, with members supporting one another and sharing skills. In some cases, the confidence developed through gardening has helped people take positive steps beyond Galloways.

Recalling one such moment, Jim explains:

“One young woman left us because she got a job. She even sent us a thank-you card — that meant the world to us.”

Growing More Than Food

A wide range of vegetables is grown throughout the year and shared among members of the Garden Club. This reinforces teamwork, responsibility, and a sense of reward for effort.

As Jim puts it:

“They put the work in, so they reap what they grow.”

Any surplus produce is offered to visitors in exchange for donations, which are reinvested into the Garden Club to support ongoing costs such as compost and materials.

Britain in Bloom – RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood Award

Outstanding Level 5 (2025)

In 2025, the Galloways Garden Club achieved Outstanding Level 5 in the Britain in Bloom – RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood Award, a nationally recognised programme run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

The award celebrates community-led gardening projects that demonstrate strong environmental responsibility, inclusion, and positive impact on local people. Judges recognised not only the quality of the garden, but also its welcoming and inclusive James Towersy holding an RHS Britain in Bloom Outstanding Level 5 award in the Galloways garden. approach.

Speaking about the achievement, Jim says:

“To receive the Britain in Bloom RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood Award at Outstanding Level 5 in 2025 is something we’re incredibly proud of. It shows that all the hard work, commitment, and teamwork really has paid off.”

For Jim and the team, the award reflects more than horticultural success.

He adds:

“It’s not just about how the garden looks — it’s about the people, the teamwork, and the pride everyone takes in being part of it.”

Looking Ahead

While achieving Outstanding Level 5 is a major milestone, the focus of the Galloways Garden Club remains firmly on people. The team continues to welcome new members, strengthen community partnerships, and ensure the garden remains an inclusive, supportive, and accessible space for everyone — including those with visual impairment.

Summing up what the project means to him, Jim says:

“Seeing people grow in confidence and take pride in what they’ve achieved together — that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

From an overgrown patch of land to a nationally recognised, inclusive, award-winning community garden, the Galloways Garden Club shows how opportunity, support, and community can help people thrive.