In 2001, Arkwright Meadows Community Gardens was created by local Meadows residents coming together to transform part of this disused, unloved, rubbish-strewn playing field into a green space for the local people to use. Local residents now enjoy the benefits of a safe space for family events, place of learning and opportunity to buy freshly-grown fruit and vegetables. Since 2003 Arkwright Meadows Community Gardens in the HEART of the Meadows has been an oasis in an urban area, a green space for local residence and people of the City of Nottingham to enjoy, a place of learning, relaxing, recreation and space to have pride and ownership of. aIn 2007 we successfully secured funding from the Big Lottery Fund to continue our work and aims for a further five years. It has allowed us to employ additional staff and enables us to extend our reach to the many diverse groups found within the Meadows community.