Rooting for Community Gardens is a collaboration between Dwellbeing Shieldifeld, For Solidarity and SAW. Between 2023 and 2025, Dwellbeing Shieldfield, For Solidarity and SAW worked together to host a series of visits to community gardens in the North East of England. The group was made up of volunteers, workers and members of local community gardening projects, as well as individuals curious about growing plants and community-run gardens.
During each trip we worked collectively to gather knowledge about the places we visited, by asking five enquiry questions using the growing of a plant as inspiration. Rooting for Community Gardens brings together these learnings alongside illustrations by NewBridge studio holder Jim Spendlove.
With thanks to Bees of Bensham, Dilston Physic Garden, Gibside Community Farm, Jesmond Community Orchard, Moss Peteral, North-East Organic Growers, Ouseburn Trust, Scotswood Garden, Shieldfield Grows, Station Masters Community Wildlife Garden, The Comfrey Project, TopSoil and Wild R
