Do you love plants? Want to chat with like minded people while growing delicious food? Join us for Fruit Patch - our queer community allotment!
Come grow with us in a welcoming, creative environment & experience the wonders of nature! We want to make gardening accessible to everyone. We have a gentle approach in a space with level access & will be sourcing easy grip tools.
We aim to host regular volunteer days at the allotment where people can get involved as much as they’d like! We are also looking for some regular volunteers to come in and help maintain the space and the plants. Sound like you? Contact Molly (she/they) at gardening@tartproductions.co.uk.
This project is funded by Oxfordshire Community Foundation’s Thriving in Nature grant.
About the allotment
Fruit Patch is based at The Children's Allotment, near Florence Park. It's a shared space with Roots Radical Learning & the Children's Allotment. We have multiple raised planters in a polytunnel & the opportunity to develop the outdoor space.
FAQ
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Not at all. Everyone is welcome, but you have to respect the fact that this is a space for queer people. Avoid assuming anything about a person’s gender or sexuality based on their body. Here is a handy guide on how to be an ally to trans and gender non-conforming people.
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You don't need to book. As long as it's one of our advertised volunteer times/ events, you are welcome to drop in! If you are unsure or nervous about attending, you can email us in advance and request a buddy or ask any questions you need.
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We would love to host your community group! Please get in touch with Molly on gardening@tartproductions.co.uk to organise.
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Yes! This space is for all ages, but anyone under the age of 16 needs to come with a trusted adult who will be responsible for supervising the young person the entire time. There is a play area for children, including a mud kitchen.
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Not at all! This space is for everyone to learn and grow together!
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Not at all! You are very welcome to get involved with other projects, like building things, painting, or you can just chill out near the plants!
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There aren’t a great deal of queer and accessible events in Oxford. We need safer, inviting spaces where we can express ourselves without fear of harassment and be celebrated for what makes us different.
Fruit Patch is a welcoming safe space for you to express yourself while connecting with others and nature.
How to get here
What3words: ///nurses.skills.softly
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To access The Children’s Allotment, turn into the drive leading to the side entrance of Greyfriars School, opposite Shelley Road.
Take the pedestrian alley on the right and you will come to a metal fence and gate.
You’ll see a Children’s Allotment sign by our entrance gate.
NB: We are not accessible directly from Cricket Rd or the East Ward Allotments.
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There is no on-site parking available.
There is on-street parking on Cricket Road, Shelley Road, and Ridgefield Road for a maximum of 2 hours between 8am - 6:30pm.
Blue Badge users can park on the street without restriction.
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We are a 25-minute bus (via routes 1 and 5) journey from Oxford train station.
Trains run from Oxford to Reading, London Paddington, Didcot, Bristol and beyond.
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The nearest bus stop is Shelley Road. The bus routes 1, 5, 5A and 10 stop there.
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We have a travel fund, so anyone who cannot get a lift to our events can get a taxi. Keep your receipts and send them to us at directors@tartproductions.co.uk noting what session you attended, or we can book your taxi for you if you give us notice at least a few days in advance. We can offer a maximum of £20 total, per person & per session. Please fill out this travel fund form.
If you would like help planning your journey, please get in touch on info@tartproductions.co.uk.
Accessibility
We want to make this space as gorgeously accessible as possible.
Please note: the site is not as accessible as we would like it to be at the moment. Our first volunteer groups are working on improving the allotment’s accessibility as a priority. If you’d like to help us out, please fill out our volunteer form.
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The site currently has level access; however, the ground is uneven.
Ramps are available.
If you would like specific photos or guidance about the grounds, please get in touch on gardening@tartproductions.co.uk.
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As you come in there is smooth concrete leading to a paved path with an inline. This is too steep for wheelchairs currently and we are looking at a ramp solution.
In one of the polytunnels there is smooth painted concrete flooring. In the other there is a mix of concrete tiles and dirt.
In the yurt there is carpet and a step into it. A ramp is available.
Outside there is a mixture of rough concrete, tiling, AstroTurf and grass. The site is used by kids for most of the week so there are climbing frames and other things around the place as well.
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There is a urinal available on the ground floor.
There is also a compost toilet, which is up 4 steps with a handrail.
We have just been granted funding for an accessible compost loo and will update when we have dates for completion!
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The site has two polytunnels - one for gardening, & one as an event space. This means we can garden whilst sheltered from the elements, & have a covered area for people to sit.
Electricity is available. We also have plug in heaters to keep people warm.
Seating with high backs is available both indoors & outdoors.
There is an outdoor space sheltered by trees, as well as a yurt which has lighting & heating available.
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We have raised planters at various heights, so you won’t need to bend down as much & can garden while seated.
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🤫 Quiet sensory space available
☕ Sober event
🎧 Ear defenders and fidgets available
👩⚕️ First aider on site
📖 Visual story available on request
🐕 Assistance dogs welcome
💺 Lots of seating available
👥 We can also set you up with a buddy to ease anxiety.
Contact Molly with any questions or access needs.
SAFER SPACE POLICY
This inclusive space welcomes people of all ages (minors under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult), genders, sexualities, races, religions and identities. We are working hard to ensure that the bathroom on-site is gender neutral & accessible.
We will not tolerate any kind of homophobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, ableism, fatphobia, biphobia, femmephobia, interphobia, or non-consensual touching. Any behaviour of this sort will result in expulsion from the event. Treat everyone with respect, and we'll send that love right on back to you 🌈
If anyone at any of our events makes you feel uncomfortable or you believe they are in breach of this policy, please speak to the staff or e-mail directors@tartproductions.co.uk.