About the garden

Scotswood Natural Community Garden was established in 1995 on the site of a school playing field at what is now part of Newcastle College's facilities at the John Marley Centre. The garden covers somewhere between two and three acres. Like all good gardens, Scotswood is a mix of different parts. Three ponds attract a variety of wildlife and are home to frogs, toads, and three species of newt; including the rare Great-crested Newt.

Our forest gardens are some of the oldest in the country and provide a range of fruits, nuts and other food. Fruit is also produced in our orchard area. Some new growing areas were created in 2012 and being managed using Permaculture principles. The garden is recognised as a Land Project by the Permaculture Association, which means that we are part of a network of community gardens that shared expertise and encourage partnership working.

The garden also has two meadows, one managed for spring flowers, the other for summer flowers. We also have lots of willow growing on site and this is managed to produce materials that can be used for fencing and other structures. The garden also has a number of sculptures that have been installed over the years. The most recent of these were installed as part of a sculpture trail project in 2012.

Most of all, the garden is about people and we welcome visitors to enjoy the garden whenever they can. Admission is free and you can become more involved by becoming a member of the charity (also free). Our volunteers are an active group who contribute to a wide range of tasks throughout the year. We also provide lots of activities for young people of all ages. Please check our School Visits and Youth Work sections for further details.