Force of Nature

A community garden at Weeton Barracks

A constant in a changing military community

Force of Nature is our community garden at Weeton Barracks, created to provide a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for serving personnel, veterans, military families and the wider community.

The garden is a place to grow, connect, learn and belong.

People come to grow vegetables, spend time outdoors, learn new skills, volunteer, meet others, bring their children, enjoy fresh food and simply have somewhere to go.

But the garden is about much more than gardening.

A place that stays

Military life is built around change.

People arrive and leave, families move, personnel deploy, friendships change and new people join the community. For many military families, change is a normal part of life.

The garden stays.

It provides a familiar and welcoming place that people can return to. A place where you don't have to know anyone when you arrive, where friendships can develop naturally and where everyone can make a contribution.

For children, it can be a familiar place to explore and play. For families, it provides somewhere to spend time together. For veterans and serving personnel, it can provide connection, purpose and a reason to get outdoors.

We believe that in a community where change is constant, having something that stays is incredibly important.

How it all began......

The garden began in November 2023 on the site of the former Primary School, which had been left as an unused grassed area for around seven years. Recognising the potential of the space, the local community, the Army Welfare Service and Roots to Branches came together with a shared vision: to bring the area back to life and create a welcoming community space that would help tackle isolation, improve wellbeing and bring people together.

How it looked it 2023

WhatsApp Image 2024-04-23 at 20.22.10.jpeg

Our first volunteer session in 2024

How it looks in 2026

Who is helping the dream come true?

Firstly we have AWS to thanks for helping us get a step in the right directions. Then we have The Armed Forces Covenant Fund helping us off the mark with an amazing three year fund supporting soldiers and families. Soon to be Joined by the Lancashire Environmental fund adding to the family and environmental elements of the garden.

We have also been lucky to receive some disability funding to help everyone access the garden. Finally the general public and businesses for donating wood chips, pots and their time!

Follow our journey on our facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555897981982

What happens in the garden?

There is always something growing, happening or being created at Force of Nature.

🌱 Growing & Gardening

We grow a wide variety of fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers and encourage people to get involved, whatever their experience or ability.

🥕 Veg for Veterans

Our new Veg for Veterans project will increase our food-growing capacity and provide fresh, nutritious produce for veterans, military families and the wider community, including the local food bank.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Activities

Children and families can get involved in growing, harvesting and cooking fresh produce. Picking tomatoes and strawberries is always a favourite!

🧑‍🌾 Volunteering

The garden provides meaningful opportunities for people to volunteer, learn practical skills and contribute to something that benefits the whole community.

🌿 Wellbeing

Being outdoors, working with nature and spending time with other people can provide an important boost to physical and mental wellbeing.

🤝 Community

The garden brings together people who might not otherwise meet — serving personnel, veterans, military families, children, older people and members of the wider community.

There is something for everyone and there is no charge to come along.

Growing food. Growing people. Growing community.

Our vision for Force of Nature is to create a productive, sustainable garden that benefits the whole community.

Through veg growing and cooking we want to grow significantly more fresh produce and create regular opportunities for veterans, serving personnel and military families to get involved.

The produce we grow will be shared with veterans and military families, as well as the wider community and local food bank.

But the vegetables are only part of the story.

The real purpose is to bring people together.

To provide opportunities to learn.

To create purpose.

To improve wellbeing.

To reduce isolation.

To build friendships.

And to give people the opportunity to contribute something positive to their community.

Directions-
To find the garden postcodes will only get you so far. Use PR4 3HX until you are outside the barracks fencing on Singleton Road. Then turn into the barracks where is is signed for the primary school and roots to branches. Follow the road over the zebra crossing then turn left. follow this road over another zebra crossing and the garden will be on your right opposite honey pots nursery..

Supporting military children and families

The garden is also a special place for children growing up in military families.

Children can get their hands dirty, plant seeds, watch things grow, pick their own fruit and vegetables and learn where food comes from.

Many particularly love picking fresh tomatoes and strawberries straight from the garden.

With increased staffing and support, we want to offer more regular family-friendly gardening, growing and cooking sessions, giving families the opportunity to spend quality time together outdoors.

For children living with the uncertainty and change that can come with military life, having somewhere familiar to return to can be incredibly valuable.

The garden is there for them.