Cumbria community garden up for international eco award

BBC Adam McGinley is smiling in front of a path leading to Gosling Sike's entrance. there are grape vines next to him. Adam has short white hair and is wearing jeans and a grey zip-up sweatshirt. BBC

Garden manager Adam McGinley says winning the award would be tremendous

A community garden which supports wildlife and people’s mental health is up for an international award.

Gosling Sike, near Carlisle, Cumbria is one of 12 nominees in Natur Im Garten’s European Award for Ecological Gardening 2025′.

It is running in the gardening focused on community category and is the only UK finalist.

Garden manager Adam McGinley said being nominated was “absolutely amazing”.

“It’s a huge recognition for the people that come here and make it right,” Mr McGinley told BBC Radio Cumbria.

Gosling Sike, based within Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s northern office, is a wildlife garden and working farm. The project has been running since 2012.

The Men’s Shed hub has also been part of the garden for about two years, helping people to connect and improve their mental health.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust Gosling Sike has a one-storey wooden building with a seating area outside overlooking different flowers and plants. Welcome to Gosling Sike is written above the entrance doors. Cumbria Wildlife Trust

The garden has been running since about 2012

Mr McGinley said the project had helped boost the wellbeing of everyone involved.

“Being able to encourage and welcome people into the garden, whether that’s doing the maintenance of the garden or monitoring the hedgehog populations.

“These connections with the plants, with the community, growing food, they’re really vital to health and wellbeing,” Mr McGinley said.

“Seeing the produce that they’re growing, that’s so rewarding.”

Cumbria Wildlife Trust Rows of flowers and plants next to a greenhouse with various produce inside. Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Fruit and veg is also grown in the community garden

The European Award for Ecological Gardening, based in Austria, has been running every two years since 2015.

Winners will be announced in November following a public vote.

Mr McGinley said getting the award would be “tremendous”.

“To recognise the hard work of all the volunteers, the community groups, the school groups, everyone who’s been a part in creating and maintaining this garden, it would mean the world to everyone involved,” he added.