BOROUGH charity Freely Fruity has planted its 10th community garden, in a project funded by Wokingham United Charities..
Built at the Eco Skills Learning Centre in Aborfield, it involved the installation of 11 raised beds and nine tonnes of topsoil, the planting of 10 fruit bushes, 30 strawberry plants, garlic bulbs, onion sets and broad beans, and the storing of tools to maintain the garden.
Freely Fruity cofounder Matt Knight said: “At Freely Fruity, we are deeply proud to build community gardens because they are more than plots of land—they are living classrooms, safe havens, and bridges between people.
“Each garden nurtures fresh, healthy food while cultivating friendship, resilience, and hope. “By working side‑by‑side, neighbours learn new skills, share stories, and rediscover the joy of growing together.
“These spaces empower families to eat better, inspire children to care for the planet, and remind us all that sustainability begins at home.
“Our gardens prove that when communities plant seeds of kindness, they harvest nourishment, connection, and lasting change.”
The Eco Skills Learning Centre is a volunteer-led community of passionate individuals dedicated to empowering young people with practical eco-friendly skills for a sustainable future.
Billie Bachra, founder of the Eco Skills Centre, said: “We’re so proud to be collaborating with Freely Fruity to create a new community garden at the centre.
“This is an exciting project that combines the aims and objectives of both organisations, creating gardens to attract bees, birds and butterflies, and planting food for the community. “We will be working together, creating raised beds, planting vegetables, and then maintaining the garden.
“And all the food grown will go to supply the local community.”
Next week Freely Fruity will visit Wales, where they will plant their first international community orchard, in conjunction with Welsh charity Believe.
For information, or to volunteer with Freely Fruity, visit: freelyfruity.org, or email: [email protected].
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