Cherwell Larder: Thursdays 11am, and Fridays at 4pm while supplies last at WISH, 4 The Parade, Kidlington. Ask to join our WhatsApp group for regular updates on additional distributions.
Harvest @ Home
Food security from the ground up
Harvest @ Home empowers individuals to grow their own food at home through skills learned as they care for the community greenspace gardens we manage.
This combats food insecurity, promotes well-being, and lowers our communal carbon footprint. The surplus food grown in these gardens directly supplies Cherwell Larder, Climatarian Kitchen, and other local community organisations in Banbury and Bicester, including the Bicester Foodbank.
What we do
Grow food
We teach the community to grow their own food using permaculture methods: We don’t use pesticides, and we create wildlife havens throughout our growing spaces to boost biodiversity and productivity. Surplus food gets shared with the community.
Learn
Expert and novice gardeners work alongside one another in our garden to promote learning and serve the community. Volunteers of any skill level are welcomed to join; we run gardening training, and our coordinators are always eager to teach as you go.
Safeguarded activities
We provide a platform for partnering with schools and other community groups to foster art projects and weekly lessons for youth in community green spaces.
Support existing networks
We support home growers and existing green spaces by donating seeds, sharing garden equipment, and building a knowledge base in the community.
Create beautiful spaces
With our combined efforts, Harvest@Home helps contribute to the proliferation and beautification of green spaces that provide relaxation, reflection, fun, and enjoyment.
Collect data
We survey our volunteers and community members to gain insights and constantly evaluate and improve our approach.
Our gardens
We manage several greenspace gardens across Oxfordshire, located in Kidlington, Oxford, Banbury, and Bicester. Our Community Leads at each of these sites manage volunteers, partnerships, and activities to suit their gardens.
Harvest @ Home can support in building new greenspace gardens. We have brought life to undeveloped garden spaces across the county and are happy to share our knowledge and expertise.
After development we can support with their management or return them to your care. Most recently we developed several greenspaces for Kidlington Parish Council that we no longer manage, and are kept thriving by wonderful volunteers.
Harvest @ Home can support in building new greenspace gardens. We have brought life to undeveloped garden spaces across the county and are happy to share our knowledge and expertise.
After development we can support with their management or return them to your care. Most recently we developed several greenspaces for Kidlington Parish Council that we no longer manage, and are kept thriving by wonderful volunteers.
Locations & Information
Banbury
BYHP Garden
- Location: BYHP Chandos Close OX16 4TL
- Owner: BYHP
- Access: The garden is not locked and the public is welcome.
- Group/Volunteer meeting times: MW 2:30 – 4:30 weekly in the growing season. Winter hours may vary.
Banbury Garden at Cornhill Center
- Location: Outside the Cornhill Center, Castle Street OX16 5NT.
- Owner: Royal Voluntary Service
- Access information: Work in progress – stay tuned!
Contact: banburyharvest@gmail.com
Kidlington
Locations coming soon!
Bicester
Garth Garden
- Location: Adjacent to Garth Park, OX26 6ER. Entrance is via Garth Court, OX26 6ER (note: there is no parking, please use parking spaces in Garth Park or nearby public car parks)
- Owner: The local council
- Weekly ‘open’ session: Friday 10am – 12pm, year round
- Access information: Secure walled garden, padlocked but the code is available to registered volunteers for anytime access.
The Nightingale Garden
- Location: Adjacent to the Nightingale Pub, OX26 6XX. The pub has free parking spaces and there is also a car park opposite (free).
- Owner: The Nightingale Pub
- Weekly ‘open’ sessions Wednesdays 2 – 4pm, Spring, Summer, Autumn.
- No open sessions during the winter months
- Access information: Access anytime (not locked or enclosed)
Grebe Garden
- Location: Alongside Grebe Road, OX26 6TY, a residential street in the area of New Langford. On-street parking usually can be found
- Owner: The local council
- Monthly ‘open’ session is 10am – 12pm on the 2nd Sunday of each month, year round
- Access information: Anytime (not locked or enclosed)
Contact: harvestathome.bicester@gmail.com
suggest a new garden
Come along and grow with us
We manage several greenspace gardens across Oxfordshire, located in Kidlington, Oxford, Banbury, and Bicester. Our Community Leads at each of these sites manage volunteers, partnerships, and activities to suit their gardens.
12 events found.
Events
Volunteer and donate
How can you help?
Volunteers are the heart of Harvest @ Home. Our regular gardening sessions are open to all. While you don’t need to book your participation in advance, we do recommend getting in touch with a coordinator before turning up, as they may have special instructions or wish to bring some extra supplies for you!
Share unwanted supplies and surplus seedlings
We love repurposing unwanted items, and are always in need of seeds, plants, pots, compost, old planters, tools, gloves and other gardening items and equipment.
Share your time
Help grow seedlings for our gardens, source donations or assist with record keeping.
Share your expertise
We provide education around growing your own food, companion planting, harvesting, batch cooking, preservation, pruning and composting. If you have any expertise to share we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch with one of our co-ordinators
Matthew
Kidlington Harvest @ Home Lead
Sam Wheeler
Banbury Harvest @ Home Lead
Amanda Groom
Bicester Harvest @ Home Lead
Corporate volunteering
Our gardens regularly host volunteers from a variety of companies. We usually tailor corporate volunteering experiences to the company’s interest and the current needs of the gardens.
If you would like to set up a corporate volunteering session, please get in touch.
If you would like to set up a corporate volunteering session, please get in touch.
Our collective thoughts
The Cherwell Collective blog
Closing Harvest @ Home Bicester operations
It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the closing of our Harvest @ Home Bicester branch, effective 1st of May 2026. We have invested over £60,000 in…
Dr. Emily Connally
29th April 2026
Easter fun at WISH
Last week we hopped straight into the Easter school holidays with some fun-filled children’s activities at WISH! On Tuesday 31st March we hosted flower-smashing card making, and on Wednesday 1st…
Molliemae Cox
16th April 2026
Great Big Green Week Finale Event at Oxford City Farm
On Saturday, 14 June 2025, Cherwell Collective participated in a finale celebration for Great Big Green Week. Discover what took place.
Michael Hines
25th July 2025