Roots to Fruit Midlands Ltd.

13/03/2026

Filling in our Companies House confirmation statement last night, I realised that we’ve now been going for 16 years.

Over that time we’ve delivered many different projects and worked with some fantastic people. There are some exciting opportunities ahead as well, but throughout it all we’ve always tried to stay true to our core beliefs:
Cultivating great plants, great compost, and great people. 🌱

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far.

10/03/2026

FREE RSPB Swift Academy AFTERNOON Meadow Creation Workshop in Sutton Coldfield

Create insect-rich wildflower meadows and help bring swifts back to our skies through hands-on, practical gardening.

Practical Details

Duration: Half-day workshop (one in the MORNING and one in the AFTERNOON
Location: Newdigate Field, Newdigate Road, Falcon Lodge, Sutton Coldfield, B75 7ER
Date: 18/03/2026
Time: Morning Session 10AM-12PM Afternoon Session: 1PM-3PM
What to wear: Suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear
Who it’s for: Volunteers, community groups, gardeners, beginners welcome
All tools and materials will be provided.
Take Skills Home With You
By the end of the session, you’ll leave with practical, transferable skills you can use in your own garden, school, allotment, or community space — helping wildlife thrive well beyond the event itself. Click on the link to book your afternoon slot. 🔗 Afternoon Session Booking Link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rspb-swift-academy-meadow-creation-afternoon-in-sutton-coldfield-tickets-1984367216763?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/03/2026

FREE RSPB Swift Academy Meadow Creation in Sutton Coldfield

Create insect-rich wildflower meadows and help bring swifts back to our skies through hands-on, practical gardening.
Practical Details
Duration: Half-day workshop (one in the MORNING and one in the AFTERNOON
Location: Newdigate Field, Newdigate Road, Falcon Lodge, Sutton Coldfield, B75 7ER
Date: 18/03/2026
Time: Morning Session 10AM-12PM Afternoon Session: 1PM-3PM
What to wear: Suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear
Who it’s for: Volunteers, community groups, gardeners, beginners welcome
All tools and materials will be provided.
Take Skills Home With You
By the end of the session, you’ll leave with practical, transferable skills you can use in your own garden, school, allotment, or community space — helping wildlife thrive well beyond the event itself. Click on the eventbrite link to book a session in the morning: Morning Session Booking Link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rspb-swift-academy-meadow-creation-morning-in-sutton-coldfield-tickets-1984268058177?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/03/2026

How to read a fertiliser label and understand NPK in a song ! 🎵🎶🎵🎶

Know your fertilizer NPK. And sing it with me.

Up, Down, All Around.
Up, Down, All Around.

If you understand this, you will fertilize smarter than 90 percent of gardeners.

N is Nitrogen. Think Up. It pushes green growth. Leaves. Stems. That lush top growth that makes your plants look happy and full. Too much and you get all leaves and no fruit.

P is Phosphorus. Think Down. It builds strong roots and supports blooms and fruit development. Roots and fruits. If your tomatoes are not setting or your seedlings are slow to root, check your P.

K is Potassium. Think All Around. It strengthens the entire plant. Disease resistance. Water regulation. Overall vigor. It is the quiet workhorse that helps everything function better.

Up feeds the top.
Down feeds the bottom.
All Around strengthens the whole plant.

Next time you grab a bag of fertilizer, read those three numbers. Are you feeding leaves, roots, or the whole plant?

What crop are you feeding right now, and which one of the three does it really need?

23/02/2026

Looking to Progress Your Horticultural or Agricultural Career?

Gaining your PA1 & PA6 pesticide application qualification will certify you to safely and legally operate a knapsack sprayer within your land-based role. Holding this recognised licence makes you an approved operative in your workplace — giving you a professional edge over those who are not qualified.

📅 Next Course: Week commencing 16th March 2026
PA1 (Principles of Safe Pesticide Use)
PA6 (Safe Application Using Hand-Held Equipment)

Spaces are limited — secure your place today.
https://rtflearn.co.uk/scheduled-nptc-courses-at-rtf-learn/

04/02/2026

Roots to Fruit Midlands Ltd. is Running Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides Using Pedestrian Hand-Held Equipment (PA1 & PA6)

This in-person, face-to-face course provides the essential training and assessment required to safely apply pesticides using pedestrian hand-held equipment, including knapsack sprayers. It combines the PA1 Foundation Unit, covering current legislation, health and safety, environmental protection, and best practice, with PA6, the practical unit focused on calibration and safe application techniques.

The course consists of 3 days of structured training, followed by 1 assessment day. Training will take place in the week commencing 16 March 2026, with assessments scheduled for 19–20 March 2026.

On successful completion, learners will gain the legal qualification required to calibrate and operate a hand-held pesticide applicator, and to apply pesticides confidently, safely, and in an environmentally responsible manner in line with current UK legislation.

Total cost per person: £430.00
https://rtflearn.co.uk/scheduled-nptc-courses-at-rtf-learn/

09/01/2026

Roots to Fruit Midlands Ltd is looking for a Community Garden Assistant & Skills Facilitator to join our team.

This is a hands-on, outdoor, PAID role supporting our community gardens and allotments. You’ll help with gardening, basic repairs and site maintenance, and support friendly volunteer sessions where people learn practical skills in a relaxed, supportive environment.

🗓 3 days per week (flexible hours)
🌿 Outdoor, practical work
🤝 Community-focused and people-centred
🎓 Training and machinery licences provided

This role is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and is ideal for someone who enjoys working outdoors, helping others, and being part of a community project.

For more information including how to apply please visit this web page:

https://rtflearn.co.uk/current-vacancies-at-roots-to-fruit/

APPLICATION DEADLINE 01/02/2026

If you know anyone who is interested feel free to share!

Assistant Facilitator & Community Garden Technician Vacancy – Appliction Deadline 01/02/2026 Are you ready to create vibrant community spaces and […]

14/11/2025

We are pleased to announce a Winter Apple Tree Pruning Workshop taking place on Thursday 12th December, 1:00pm–3:30pm at the Roots to Fruit Midlands orchard. This session will provide structured, practical training in routine and regenerative apple tree pruning, covering principles of tree health, fruiting wood development, scaffold structure, and long-term management.

Although the focus is on professional-quality horticultural instruction, the event will also include a light festive wassailing element in keeping with traditional orchard practice.

The workshop requires a £5 booking fee via Eventbrite, plus a £5 cash contribution on the day, which supports our non-profit horticultural training programmes and helps us maintain committed attendance for hands-on sessions.

Please secure your place and pay your £5 booking fee through this Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-go-christmas-wassailing-winter-apple-tree-pruning-in-the-orchard-tickets-1970185513908?aff=oddtdtcreator

Alongside hands-on pruning, we’ll keep the Christmas spirit alive with some light-hearted wassailing traditions. Expect tree-blessing fun, making joyful noise to “wake up” the orchard, and even a few party poppers to give the trees a celebratory start to the new year! You can also help decorate a traditional Yule log with winter greenery. These activities add a sense of folklore and community while still keeping the session practical, educational and enjoyable.

This is a practical outdoor workshop, so sturdy footwear and warm layers are advised over 18 year olds only. Tools are provided, and participants will have the chance to get stuck in under the guidance of our experienced tutor. Expect a relaxed, friendly outdoor atmosphere with complementary warm drinks, mince pies and good company. There will be plenty of hands-on learning. You’ll leave with the confidence to prune your own trees at home—and a wonderful seasonal memory to take with you.

Date, Time & Booking Information

Friday 12th December
1:00pm – 3:30pm

Booking Fee: £5 (paid online)
Additional Donation: £5 cash on the day

The booking fee helps ensure that those who reserve a place are genuinely able to attend.
The additional £5 donation directly supports our not-for-profit community horticulture work.

Location & How to Find Us

Roots to Fruit Midlands Training Centre
51 Chester Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2HH
(Located within the Oakdene Nurseries site)

29/09/2025

🌱✨ Healthy Soil = Happy Harvests! ✨🌱

Want to get more from your allotment? Join us at the beautiful Winterbourne House & Botanic Garden, Birmingham for a hands-on workshop where you’ll discover how to:
🌿 Build rich, fertile soil
🌿 Master composting & liquid feed teas
🌿 Use green manures to boost productivity

📅 Date: Monday 6th October 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
📍 Location: Winterbourne House & Botanic Garden

👉 Book your place here:
https://www.winterbourne.org.uk/whats-on/allotments-prepare-the-ground/

Come and learn the secrets of soil health in stunning surroundings—your crops will thank you! 🥕🍅🌼

13/09/2025

Great morning with the Friday Gardening Club ☀️. Making apple juice in our Heritage Orchard 🍎🍎🍎

19/08/2025

🌱✨ FREE TASTER SESSION ✨🌱
We’re inviting you to try out our Supported Learning Gardening Club for FREE!
Since 2014, Roots to Fruit Midlands (a not-for-profit social enterprise) has been helping people with neurodivergence grow skills, confidence, and friendships through gardening and outdoor learning.
💚 What’s on offer?
✅ Fun gardening & outdoor activities
✅ Learn new skills & gain work experience
✅ Build confidence & independence
✅ Meet new friends in a supportive space
📅 Taster session date: Friday 12th September 2025
🕙 Time: 10am – 12:15pm
📍 Location: Roots to Fruit Midlands Training Centre, 51 Chester Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2HH (at Oakdene Nurseries).
🔗 Find us here: https://rtflearn.co.uk/how-to-find-roots-to-fruit-midlands-ltd-training-centre/
For more information about the club click on this website: https://rtflearn.co.uk/friday-morning-gardening-club-for-disabled-adults/
👉 Regular sessions run every Friday morning during term time.
🌿 Book your free place now and come and grow with us! 🌿 email or message Jon - rootstofruitmidlands@gmail.com or call 07590620890 to book your free space!
Lisieux Trust

15/07/2025

Huge congratulations to our amazing students for passing their NPTC Tractor Driving Tests! 🚜👏
This was our first time running this course at Roots to Fruit, and despite the heat, everyone powered through — mastering driving, manoeuvring, reversing with a trailer, and using a 3-point linkage machine. Incredible work!
A big thank you to the National Lottery for funding this free course, which we made available to our brilliant community and not-for-profit champions.
hashtag