If you’ve ever wandered behind Northfield, you more than likely would have stumbled across the Forest Garden. Complete with sapling trees, charming make-shift benches and stunning views of Sussex’s wildlife, it’s the perfect green thumb’s nirvana. It mimics a young forest with a number of edible plants growing alongside it. It’s looked after by the Forest Garden Society, a student-led group formed with the goal of providing vegetation that will thrive in Mediterranean climates in preparation for severe climate change effects that will hit the UK in the coming years.
The society hit the ground running this academic year, kicking off with a bang on 20 September with the Forest Garden Festival. Co-president Jack Cooper had this to say about the event, “Organised with zero budget by the committee, being a festival was a huge success, selling out and bringing many students to the garden for the first time to hear 9 DJs, an MC and a massive sound system.” Their social Sec, Riley Merrington-Glen agreed saying, “We wanted to help rebuild the grassroots music scene on campus and make use of the garden as an events space”.
The Forest Garden Society has done everything from bench-making and carving with Future Roots to terrarium workshops and mushroom painting and printing. The society also has a weekly radio show ‘The Forest Garden Show’ 12-1 on URF every Monday. However, if you can’t catch it live, they also have their past shows uploaded on both Spotify and Youtube.
The society meets every Thursday 2-5pm during term time, with their sessions split into two segments. The society first heads to the garden where they focus on maintaining and improving it, whilst also socialising with like-minded people and learning skills in the process. Then they spend the second half of their sessions in Forest Garden HQ (aka the sunflower room in Norwich House) where they can relax and talk after the session. Whether it’s gardening or community or a tan you’re looking for, the society is keen to welcome anyone interested with membership being free. “We want to show students that nature is for everyone, no matter your gardening ability. Come for the music, come for the art or just come for the community” says Co-President Luke Higgins.
Sounds like your kind of thing? Well the society is planning an even bigger Forest Garden Festival on 4 April with support from the Student Union and collaborations with other societies. “There’s gonna be live music this time: a mixture of jazz, rock, folk and soul, bringing nature and music together for a really special end of term event” says Isla Thorpe, Welfare Officer. You can follow the society @forestgardensussex on Instagram to keep up to date on all their events.
The society plans to keep meeting after term ends to help take care of the garden over summer and have even more events planned including a sauna (?!) in the garden this coming May. Keep your eyes peeled and your gardening boots on.
By Sophie Martin and Co-President Jack Cooper