The Sleeper Path Community Garden is a lovely community garden near the centre of New Earswick in York. Children have compared it with Mr Bloom’s Nursery and The Secret Garden. We grow a large assortment of fruit, flowers and vegetables in our raised beds and polytunnel, have a pond and dipping platform, a living willow dome, a fairy dell and lots of seats. During the growing season, we sell our produce at the garden gate to help boost our funds.
When Andrew Cutts from Buglife/ Urban Buzz visited us, he said “The garden provides a haven for insect pollinators and is an exemplar for other community gardens. The site is well managed yet appears wild, encouraging a variety of bees, butterflies and beetles. It is a delightful place to visit and relax amongst nature.” We have also recently won an award from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for our approach to gardening with wildlife.
The Garden is run by a local voluntary group called NEST (New Earswick Sharing Together). NEST encourages sharing by welcoming people to help care for the Sleeper Path Community Garden and by providing a sanctuary for people to visit in their busy lives.
NEST has its origins in the Transition movement, and hopes to help make New Earswick and its neighbourhood a more sustainable and resilient community.
You will find us at the bottom of Station Avenue, just over the River Foss bridge, through the green gate on the left.
If you are coming by car, our postcode is YO32 4BN.
Or by bus, numbers 1 and 13 stop at the Folk Hall. Cross over the road and walk down Station Avenue.
Or, preferably, to save the planet, come on foot or by bicycle!
We open the garden at the Sleeper Path Allotment site on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10.00 to 12 midday. During the coldest, wettest months, we can’t guarantee to be open but we will try our best. Everyone will be very welcome whether you want to help us work or just enjoy the lovely garden allotment. Children must be accompanied, but will find lots of exciting things to do. We are also open from 10.00 to 2.00 on Sleeper Market Sundays which are the first of each month except January and February.