Friends of Tuffley Avenue Rose Garden: A Small Space with a Big Heart
Tucked just off Tuffley Avenue in Gloucester is a green space that only a few years ago many people walked past without a second thought. Once tired and underused, the Tuffley Avenue Rose Garden has been transformed by a group of neighbours who saw its potential and decided to bring it back to life together.
The Friends of Tuffley Avenue Rose Garden are local residents who share a simple passion: gardening, nature, and making their neighbourhood a little brighter. With support from the Neighbourhood Fund, in partnership with Active Gloucestershire, and alongside community building support in Tuffley, that passion has grown into a thriving community project.
From Forgotten Corner to Community Garden
The rose garden was once a neglected, disused space, with beds in need of care and little reason for people to stop and stay. Over time, residents began to meet, talk, and dream about what it could become.
Together they formed the Friends of Tuffley Avenue Rose Garden, a volunteer group committed to restoring and reimagining the space. What started as a few people weeding and pruning has turned into regular sessions where neighbours plant, tidy, and plan new features for the garden.
“A small but beautiful space where it’s clear that a lot of love goes into it.” – Visitor comment
Growing Community, Not Just Roses
The project is about much more than plants. It has created a friendly place where people of all ages can meet, chat over a task, and feel proud of something they’re building together.
Thanks to the Neighbourhood Fund, the group has been able to access small but vital resources – from tools and plants to materials for improving the beds – helping them turn ideas into action. Community builder support in Tuffley has also helped connect residents, build the group’s confidence, and link them with other local partners.
Today, the garden is:
A colourful spot for people to sit, walk through, and enjoy.
A focal point for local pride and neighbourhood conversations.
A living example of what can happen when residents lead the way and receive the right kind of support.
Their Journey on Film
The video follows the Friends of Tuffley Avenue Rose Garden as they share how the group formed, what the garden means to them, and how a shared love of gardening has blossomed into something much bigger.
Why This Project Matters
This is community building in its purest form – residents noticing a space, imagining something better, and taking action together. With light-touch funding and relational support, a once-disused rose garden has become a place of beauty, connection, and everyday wellbeing in Tuffley.
Supported by: Neighbourhood Fund (in partnership with Active Gloucestershire) & Community Builder support in Tuffley
Led by: Friends of Tuffley Avenue Rose Garden – local residents and volunteers
Focus Areas: Community gardening, neighbourhood pride, resident-led action, wellbeing
