What we offer
ActivGardens offers placements to young people and adults of all abilities – enabling you to learn skills, improve your health and wellbeing and get to know other people in as part of a friendly team.
We offer a range of activities in the relaxed, welcoming environment of the People’s Community Garden, ActivSheds and Chantry Walled Garden, at a pace to suit the individual. We also offer opportunities at our outreach projects – currently in Belle Vue Park, Sudbury.
DAYS AND TIMES
Mon to Fri – depending on site
9am – 2.30pm – or hours to suit within this time frame
Bespoke/one to one sessions can be organised, by arrangement.
The benefits
Being part of ActivGardens will enable you to
- learn practical skills and skills for employment/ progression
- develop competencies such as working as a team, good communication, and understanding responsibility
- build self-esteem, gain confidence, and develop independence
- develop friendships and form social networks
- be a part of a community-based project
- spend time outdoors and be physically active to improve and maintain physical and mental well-being
- take part in new, fun activities such as beekeeping and outdoor cooking
- foster an understanding of the natural world and improve the local environment
Age Groups
14-18 and 19+
Area served
Ipswich, Sudbury and surrounding areas
People’s Community Garden
Activities include general gardening in our borders and veg plots – including sowing seeds and propagating plants, weeding and watering, pruning and edging, harvesting and serving members of the public at the gate. In our Wild Zone, you might be building wildlife habitat, spotting species, or taking part in beekeeping. We cook with fresh produce and make jams, jellies and chutneys, as well as making crafts and preparing items for sale.
Chantry Walled Garden
At this lovely heritage site, you can get involved in growing plants for Ipswich parks and green spaces, and managing stock for sale in our plant nursery. You might be serving members of the public or helping compile orders for online sales. There are flower borders to maintain and a gravel garden with a mini wildflower meadow to tend.
Sudbury
ActivGardens in Sudbury enables local people of all ages and abilities to gather and garden together for the benefit of the whole community. In these relaxed sessions based in Belle Vue Park you will work alongside others, sharing skills and knowledge and enjoying a cuppa among new-found friends.
ActivSheds
This is a fun space to make things with wood! We also repair and renovate, recycle and upcycle. You might have your own project or would like to join in with bigger group tasks. How about making a bird box or hedgehog home? Or if pets are your thing – a tortoise retreat or cat home? You can try your hand at using different tools and working with different materials.
What to Bring
Dress for outdoor work – we go ahead whatever the weather so please dress accordingly! You might like to bring your own gloves and safety boots, although we do have some to lend. Bring a packed lunch if you are staying for the day. Hot drinks are provided.
Cost
Suffolk County Council Adult Community Services Day Rate (from 7th April 2026) – £68.76
If you do not have funding to support a placement or if cost is a barrier to attending – please get in touch to discuss
More information
On a first visit, you will be shown around and meet our friendly staff team and volunteers. If you would like to try us out, you will be invited for a taster session, entirely free. If you would like to attend on a regular basis, an induction day will be set up, when our Skills Trainer will have an informal chat to find out the sort of activities you might enjoy, as well as register you to the project and take you through a health and safety induction. An Individual Risk Assessment will be carried out if necessary.
No transport is available but we can help with an application to Suffolk Community Transport. Regular bus services stop near both gardens.
Restrictions to access
Although we are constantly improving access throughout our sites, they are not yet suitable for people with high levels of need or severe physical disabilities.
Accreditation details
We are accredited as a service provider by Suffolk County Council on its Framework for the Provision of Adult Care Services, Learning Disabilities, Day, Evening, Weekend and Planned Breaks, CD1241
Location People’s Community Garden, Halifax Road, Ipswich IP2 8RE
Location: Chantry Walled Garden, Chantry Park, Hadleigh Road, Ipswich, IP2 0BS
Parking
Parking for the People’s Community Garden is on surrounding roads or at the CRESS Pavilion, when open. Please phone ahead for disabled access onto allotment site.
Parking for the walled garden is in the public car park in Chantry Park – from Hadleigh Road, turn into the park and then right at the top of the driveway, as you face the mansion, and right again into the car park. From the car park, turn right and follow the wall through the park to a wooden orchard gate leading to a boardwalk, which leads through a green iron gate into the walled garden itself. There are regular buses which stop right outside the site (Number 91 Sudbury bus and Ipswich buses go as far as Dickens Road). The site is a pleasant walk across the park from residential areas the other side of London Road and off Hadleigh Road.
For disabled parking, please call Susannah on 07530 407302.
Getting Involved
For more information contact ActivGardens Development Manager susannah@activlives.org.uk mobile 07530 407302 or ActivLives Office 01473 345350
