Behind St Clement's Church in Boscombe, out of sight from the traffic on Christchurch Road, a genuinely tucked-away corner of the town has spent the last ten years transforming into a working education and food-growing space, a Victorian walled garden run by the charity Grounded Community. Locals, somewhat ironically given its name, have taken to calling it "Boscombe's worst-kept secret."
What's inside
Behind the old brick walls sit an off-grid Shack complete with compost toilet, chickens, a wildlife pond and a forest garden thick with fruit and vegetables, plus The Deck, an outdoor kitchen and classroom space finished in 2022. Local families receive subsidised veg boxes grown here, and nearby cafés and businesses also buy the produce, while throughout the year the garden hosts volunteer sessions, growing workshops, a weekly outdoor playgroup, community meals, seed swaps and school visits.
Visiting
Short public tours run at 10am on Mondays and Fridays courtesy of Grounded Community; follow the path from Knole Road to reach the entrance (BH1 4DJ for sat nav), marked by a wooden gate next to a green noticeboard. Parking is available on-street on Knole Road, though not within the garden, and dogs, smoking and alcohol are all prohibited given its role hosting school and community sessions. Quieter and more community-focused than most Bournemouth attractions, it pairs well with our wider guide to things to do in Bournemouth.