The Green Patch in Kettering gets a boost as Groundwork partners with Fothergill’s Seeds

If you’re looking for a lovely local place where kids can potter about, spot wildlife, and see how food grows (without needing to drive far), here’s some really positive news for Kettering.

Groundwork has announced a new partnership with seed retailer Fothergill’s, with 11,000 packets of vegetable and flower seeds being donated to support community gardens and Green Community Hubs across the UK. The Green Patch in Kette01ring is one of the local projects set to benefit, helping even more families, schools and volunteers get involved in growing.

What’s happening (and why it matters locally)

The partnership will see seeds like tomatoes, courgettes, carrots, cabbage, sunflowers and wildflowers distributed across Groundwork’s community garden network. The idea is simple: more seeds means more growing, more colourful planting, and more opportunities for local people to enjoy the wellbeing benefits of being outdoors.

And that matters, because access to nature isn’t equal. Natural England highlights that only around a quarter (26%) of adults in the most socially deprived areas have a green space close to home, and that quality and safety of local green spaces affect whether people can use them.

A quick guide to The Green Patch (for families)

The Green Patch is Groundwork Northamptonshire’s flagship community garden in Kettering. It’s a 2.5-acre green space where local residents, schools and groups come together to grow food, learn new skills and enjoy nature.

Where it is

The Green Patch, Valley Walk, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN16 0LU.

When you can visit

Groundwork Northamptonshire says it’s open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am–2pm (always worth double-checking before you travel).

How the seed donation could help

More seeds might sound small, but it can make a big difference on the ground. With extra growing capacity, community gardens like The Green Patch can:

• increase the variety and volume of crops grown
• run more growing sessions and workshops
• help more families experience “soil-to-plate” food growing
• keep welcoming people who may struggle to access green space elsewhere

Grow, Cook, Eat (one to know about)

If you’re specifically interested in family-friendly food growing and cooking skills, Groundwork Northamptonshire also runs Grow, Cook, Eat programmes. One example is an 8-week “Big Chef, Little Chef” course designed for parents and children aged 6–11, held after school hours.

A simple “try it at home” idea (great for half term or weekends)

If your child likes the idea of growing something from seed, you can start with a windowsill project:

• sunflowers: quick, satisfying, and brilliant for confidence
• cherry tomatoes: fun to watch and snack-friendly
• wildflowers in a pot: great for pollinators

Let them do the watering and “growth checking” job (the daily excitement is half the magic).

Watch the Green Patch story on film

There’s also a short film showing The Green Patch and the impact it has locally (really nice for getting a feel for the place before you visit).

You can learn more about The Green Patch in Kettering here.