Congleton Food4Free

Congleton Food4Free Growing edibles in public spaces - for picking as you pass. N.B. Sorry, we're not a food bank. Why blueberries?

Congleton Food4Free is an informal group of people whose aim is to encourage, inspire and educate people to grow more of their own food either communally (for sharing) or on their own ground (for themselves). Growing food benefits physical and mental health, encourages all age groups to take pride in and help care for public spaces, brings people together and develops community bonds. The group wa

s formed in July 2012, having evolved from the Blueberry Project where blueberry bushes had been planted in public spaces in the town centre so that passers-by could pick the fruit. Because Congleton is Beartown, and bears love berries. The Blueberry Project developed from an idea by Olga Whitmore and Tony B, who were then joined soon after by Patti P. Val and Alec S joined in later, as did Dot W, to help form Congleton Food4Free. We also work with members of other groups in town to help make Congleton a greener place. NB In 2022, Congleton Food4Free/Seeds for Resilience became a totally separate group from this one.

Dwarf comfrey on the Fairground and Capital Walk gardens is coming into flower. Bees love it.
14/03/2026

Dwarf comfrey on the Fairground and Capital Walk gardens is coming into flower. Bees love it.

Thanks to the Streetscape team for battling a Pampas grass at the library. It might not look it now, but will benefit fr...
13/03/2026

Thanks to the Streetscape team for battling a Pampas grass at the library. It might not look it now, but will benefit from this severe cutting back. The other one was cut back like this last year and look at it now. Regular cutting back keeps them in check and removes all the dead material in the middle.

The Fairground redcurrants and gooseberries had some pruning this week.
13/03/2026

The Fairground redcurrants and gooseberries had some pruning this week.

Our signs at the Fairground garden needed a little tlc. The black lettering had faded and some stakes rotted. Here's the...
13/03/2026

Our signs at the Fairground garden needed a little tlc. The black lettering had faded and some stakes rotted. Here's the first batch with white lettering - let's see if this remains visible for longer. More signs waiting in the wings for attention.

\march 2026. It's time for all-round slow release fertiliser for edible perennials in particular, but all plants benefit...
13/03/2026

\march 2026. It's time for all-round slow release fertiliser for edible perennials in particular, but all plants benefit. So we've put blood, fish and bone around the fruit in the Fairground.

Fairground garden. Colourful heather flowers brightening up the background in addition to providing food for early bees....
11/03/2026

Fairground garden. Colourful heather flowers brightening up the background in addition to providing food for early bees. The ice plants (Sedum spectabile) already have plenty of new leaves (edible - try in salads). We're leaving the dead flowerstems a bit longer as they may harbour insects. The evergreen Viburnum tinus is in full flower and has been for the last month or so, feeding early bees. Brunnera is just coming into flower, with fresh green leaves emerging.

The heathers, primroses, hellebores & pieris are all flowering, giving food to early pollinators in the Fairground Garde...
07/03/2026

The heathers, primroses, hellebores & pieris are all flowering, giving food to early pollinators in the Fairground Garden.
The log piles and dead hedges are providing shelter for many minibeasts.

Finally a dry and warm spell today (Saturday) so we were able to do some work at the Fairground garden. Winter pruning...
21/02/2026

Finally a dry and warm spell today (Saturday) so we were able to do some work at the Fairground garden. Winter pruning of the apple trees, improving the loganberry supports, and digging out some overcrowded shrubs. Plenty of flowers for early bees and other pollinators too.

27/12/2025

Castle Green Thank you for providing a grant to pay for some more information signs, and some shrubs for pollinators.

There's still some colour in the Fairground garden, with periwinkle putting out some blue splashes.While we were there y...
29/11/2025

There's still some colour in the Fairground garden, with periwinkle putting out some blue splashes.

While we were there yesterday we planted a Penstemon 'Dorothy Wilson' in memory of Dot, who was a founder member. It'll produce spikes of purply-pink bell-shaped flowers in summer. Thanks to gardening volunteer Sue for providing a cutting for us.

The Mahonia by the library ramp is bursting with yellow flowers to brighten a dull day and provide nectar for any bees t...
29/11/2025

The Mahonia by the library ramp is bursting with yellow flowers to brighten a dull day and provide nectar for any bees that might be around during mild weather. Nov 2025

28/11/2025

Grow carefully chosen apple trees and you might never have to buy apples again!

RHS Horticultural Specialist and apple expert Jim Arbury shares some of the best varieties to plant that could give you up to 11 months of apples:

🍎 ‘Discovery’ – the best reliable early apple, cropping in late July or early August

🍎 ‘James Grieve’ – ripe from early September to early October

🍎 ‘Red Falstaff’ – one of Jim’s favourites, eaten from October to January

🍎 ‘Sturmer Pippin’ – though picked in November, this initially acidic apple ripens after picking, around January, and keeps until April

🍎 ‘French Crab’ – a very long-keeping apple that is picked late, ripens in storage around January and then stores until June

Find out more on how to choose apple trees for the longest season, tips on storing and advice on growing in a small space: https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/grow-your-own/homegrown-apples-for-eleven-months

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