Take Part

Bandstand Beds Association (BBA) has had an amazing journey from its humble beginnings with a few raised beds beside the cafe at the Bandstand to the wonderful community garden on Windmill Drive, and we continue to thrive and grow thanks to our strong volunteer base and the support of the local community.

We are a membership organisation made up of a diverse group of people who are responsible for the management and running of BBA’s community growing spaces on Clapham Common, where we garden together.

Anyone over the age of 18 can sign up for standard or family membership, from complete novices with a yearning to spend time outdoors with their hands in the dirt, to green-fingered gardeners wanting to grow food and share their horticultural skills. Being a volunteer-led organisation with no paid staff,  BBA particularly welcomes members who will commit to helping with all aspects of running our organisation and maintaining our community growing spaces. 

When do we meet?

  • Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.
  • Saturdays (fortnightly) from 10am to midday, Get Growing children’s gardening. For more information drop us an email.
  • Wednesday evenings during the summer months from 5 to 7.30pm.   
  • Mondays from 2 to 4pm we run an over 55s Grown-Up Gardening session in partnership with Froglife’s Wild Times

Where? We meet at our community garden Windmill Drive, Clapham Common SW4 9DE. For more info about getting to the garden see contact.

What do you need? Before coming along to take part in our gardening sessions you will need to become a BBA member (click here to join). Tools, equipment, seeds and plants are provided, but we suggest you bring your own gardening gloves. Also, wear sturdy footwear suitable for gardening and warm clothing during the winter months. No gardening experience necessary. 

BBA safeguarding

Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of those who use our community garden and growing spaces and all who come into contact with us. Our safeguarding policy covers members, visitors, contractors and consultants.

We are aware that some users of our community garden and growing spaces may be more vulnerable or at risk than others. This could be for a number of reasons. Children and some older members of the community, for example, need safeguarding from all forms of harm and exploitation. Please read our full safeguarding policy for details of how community garden users might be at risk and the forms of harm we seek to safeguard them from. This includes clear information on how to report a concern and what action we will take when a concern is reported to us.

Children: Parents must contact BBA via email before bringing children to the community garden. The garden is a working environment with tools, a pond and other hazards. All children (anyone under 18 years of age) who enter the community garden must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and this parent/guardian must always supervise their own child or children. Other garden users must not supervise children belonging to other parents/guardians. Activities at our Saturday, Monday and Wednesday gardening sessions are not always suitable for children. Please  email in advance if you plan on bringing your child/children to any of our sessions at the garden. 

Access to our community garden & growing spaces: The community garden is sometimes closed, sometimes open to members only, and other times open to members of the public. Please do not enter the garden at any time when no BBA members are present. If BBA members are present, please stop at the gate and ask them about access.

For more information about Bandstand Beds Association drop us an email.