Nurturing Cutteslowe
Year of Project: 2022
Location: Cutteslowe, Oxford
Collaborators:
Stream: NatureConnect
With thanks to: The National Lottery Communities Fund
The Story
The Cutteslowe Gardening Centre served as a much-loved community hub in an area with high levels of loneliness and child poverty, before closing suddenly in 2022. Located in the heart of Cutteslowe Park, the site had huge potential to become a hub for community, nature, and wellbeing activities.
Following the closure, a new group made up of local people, including former staff and beneficiaries of the project, came together to develop a new social enterprise and community growing project called Cutteslowe Greenhouse. The group invited The Nature Effect CIC to support community engagement, develop a volunteer network, and help bring a new vision for the site to life.
The project focused on three key aims: building capacity for community engagement and outreach; organising seasonal events and skills-sharing sessions that benefit local people; and providing mentorship and support to help the new organisation become an independent, sustainable community group.Impact
A Community Engagement, Events and Communications Coordinator was recruited in July 2023, bringing local knowledge, community experience, and connections with Oxford networks working in similar areas. Their role focused on outreach, strengthening communications, and building local capacity.
Between July 2023 and February 2024, 23 events and sessions were delivered, creating opportunities for people of all ages to connect with nature, learn new skills, and develop a stronger sense of community ownership. Activities included allotment sessions, nature walks, community orchard sessions, and shared lunch and art activities, reaching 478 participants.
The Nature Effect provided mentorship and incubatory support to the steering group and Community Engagement Coordinator, helping Cutteslowe Greenhouse achieve key milestones. The group has now constituted as a Community Benefit Society, joined Good Food Oxford and Community Action Groups Oxfordshire, and launched its membership offer and fundraising activities.
