Tumbledown Community Growing is a beautiful 27-acre former farm owned by Weymouth Town Council. We are developing the land into a community asset by producing and selling local fruit and veg, supporting people with volunteering and learning opportunities, and protecting our local environment for the benefit of our community. Our vision is to create:

“Tumbledown is an inclusive greenspace where people come together to connect with nature and benefit from community-led growing, learning and well-being opportunities”

Tumbledown Values

• A place of belonging and inclusion.
• An environment that respects and protects the environment for future generations.
• A space that promotes physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
• A sustainable environment that generates income, protects and nurtures biodiversity.

Core principle

The core principle and priority driving the development of Tumbledown is working with the community to manage the land in a sustainable way so that it allows a wide variety of people to have meaningful experiences that can deliver high levels of social benefits.

The story so far

We have a brand new building called Kestrel Barn which houses a community space, teaching kitchen, and accessible toilets. We also have a small learning space in the renovated Swallow Barn with cooking facilities and a sheltered outside area which we use for structured sessions with schools, colleges and small groups.

In 2022 we produced a limited amount of food which was almost all given to food banks and The Nest Social Supermarket. With the help of our volunteers and friends from schools and colleges we have added some new growing areas and we are now ready to start producing much more food.

Our orchard is becoming established now, with a total of 130 fruit trees planted over the last 2 ½ years and we have an area of raised beds where people who have difficulties with mobility can help us to grow food.

Our Community Grow spaces are allotment sized plots rented to local community groups and used by their members. These give people the opportunity to work together in a lovely outdoor environment to grow food sustainably. Members can access the plots at any time and communal gardening tools are provided. The groups also make use of the facilities in the Swallow Barn.

We have a small area of woodland which is set up as a Forest School space. This can be rented out to groups and organisations on a one off or regular basis. People using the forest school can also use the wider facilities of the site.

We want to increase public awareness about Tumbledown and encourage public access. There are two public footpaths which cross the site and include a viewpoint which provides the best view in Weymouth, over Radipole Lake, the town and as far as Durdle Door and Purbeck. Tumbledown is a peaceful and relaxing space great for taking a break and immersing yourself in local wildlife.