Gardening

The gardeners' aim is to help Southampton City Council to maintain and further develop the planting at the Rec to nurture and protect wildlife, while being an attractive and restful place to visit. 

New gardeners are always welcome - maybe you live in a flat and would like to do something outdoors? You don't need to commit to coming along every week, or be a gardening expert to get involved. If you don't have your own tools, we can provide these - although suitable footwear (not best white trainers!) and garden-worthy clothing are recommended. We'd just like you to be enthusiastic, keen to learn as needed, and able to help us when you can.

One thing we're been learning more about recently is composting.  As well as reducing the amount of green waste that has to be disposed of offsite, compost is a great source of nutrition when spread around plants, shrubs and young trees.  In our drier summers, it also provides a barrier that conserves water.

You'll find our current, self-built compost containers in the corner between the Kitchener Road and Somerset Road entrances, behind the dead hedge.  To date we've used these mainly to collect and break down fallen leaves. A recent visit to the experts at Aldermoor Community Farm confirmed we're on the right track here, while providing useful tips for future, such as layering leaves with limited amounts of grass cuttings. 

In a few weeks' time, we should take delivery of a new set of lidded bins, bought as part of a recent grant from West Solent Solar Co-operative. With more efficient heat conservation, the new bins will allow us to take a wider wariety of green waste.   We've also just taken delivery of a bowser (a big water container on wheels), again funded by West Solent Solar. This will make watering the plants and trees furthest from the water tap much more efficient, and help avoid the losses from drought that the Rec suffered last summer.

In 2026 the Gardeners are again meeting on alternate Saturdays (1st, 3rd and 5th weekends) and Sundays (2nd & 4th weekends), 10.30-12.30, weather permitting. You can find the schedule here. There's also usually time to sit down with a well-deserved cuppa and sometimes a biscuit or two!  

If you have questions or would like more information about joining this wonderful team, please get in touch through info.friendsofportswoodrec@gmail.com , and we'll pass your message on to our gardening co-ordinator.

You can also check out the gardeners' posts on our main FoPR Facebook page, and the Noticing Nature at the Rec Facebook group where many of their sightings of unusual plants or visiting critters are featured.  

As a group of volunteers ourselves, regrettably we can’t offer any additional support. This includes placements through Social Prescribing. If you are considering referring a vulnerable adult, please contact us first. Should a placement be agreed, we may ask that your client is always accompanied by a key worker. If we feel ongoing attendance at the gardening group, or other activities organised through FoPR, is not in the individual’s best interest, nor ours, we reserve the right to ask them to leave.