Wartime Garden Restoration at Occombe Farm
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Torbay
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August 2025
Bringing teams together for community and environmental wellbeing
SDS volunteered at Occombe Farm’s Wartime Garden, helping to maintain this living heritage space that reconnects visitors with traditional food growing. The garden recreates a 1940s-style allotment, highlighting the importance of sustainable food practices, growing your own produce, and understanding how history can inform today’s approaches to climate resilience and community health.
The Challenge
Torbay Council has identified the need to increase access to “seed to plate” activities that engage children and young people in growing and cooking food, helping them to understand the link between food, community, and environment. Spaces like the Wartime Garden are vital for keeping these traditions alive while inspiring new generations to live and eat more sustainably.
Our Approach
Working alongside our partners in the Torbay & South Devon NHS design team — including Stride Treglown, AECOM, and Mott Macdonald — our volunteers joined Occombe staff to:
– Refurbish the pagoda area, ready for September’s Apple Weekend event
– Prepare garden beds in the top garden for school visits and outdoor education sessions
– Spread woodchip on the nature trail to improve accessibility and visitor experience
– Relocate fencing to form a new entrance gate, creating a more controlled and functional space
– Turning compost into polytunnel beds, supporting food-growing and sustainability
This collaboration not only supported Occombe’s staff but also showed how multidisciplinary teams can come together to create lasting community benefit.
“To get all these tasks done in one day will be especially appreciated by our garden volunteers who are continuously trying to play catch up, and get the gardens back to their original glory.” – Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust
The Impact
100% of volunteers felt they contributed to the local environment
75% said day increased their awareness of local issues
100% reported feeling fulfilled or energised, with a positive impact on wellbeing
12 volunteers engaged with 3 partner organisations
Improved accessibility and educational value of the garden for school and community groups
Reduced pressure on Occombe staff time by exceeding planned activities
Why It Matters
Occombe Farm is more than a historic recreation; it is a place of learning and inspiration for the whole community. By volunteering here, SDS – together with our NHS design team partners – helped preserve a space that promotes healthier lifestyles, environmental awareness, and social connection. Supporting community wellbeing in this way is especially meaningful given our role as the design team for Torbay Hospital – demonstrating how our contribution extends beyond buildings to the everyday wellbeing of local people.
