Uffington Community Garden Association is looking for volunteers to help them build a clay oven on their site. It is a new small community group creating a place to grow fruit and vegetables, jointly, in the village of Uffington, as well as creating a place for community members to meet in an outdoor environment. The Community Garden is located to the rear of the Fox and Hounds pub on Main Street in Uffington.

The group have found a disused half acre site on the outskirts of Uffington, which they lease from Sovereign Vale Housing Association, with a view of the White Horse Hill and on Saturday afternoons they build and hoe, plant and plan.

This year they have planted a substantial variety of fruit and vegetables. They have just started to take their first harvest — broad beans, potatoes and Mange tout so far. A part of the site is being developed into a community events area and the group have held some community events such as Hedge laying, pumpkin carving, Apple Day fun activities.

Building a clay oven will allow them to pass on the skills needed to make an oven and also leave them with an oven which they plan to use for workshops like bread and pizza making. The oven will be built using locally grown straw and the clay found onsite. The site is off grid with no running water or electricity and this clay oven will provide the group with a source of heat as well as a place to cook on site during social events.

The group is looking for volunteers to help build the clay oven. At the end of the activity, volunteers will be provided with notes on how to build their own oven at home.

No tools are required but everyone interested should bring wellies as there will be stomping in clay required — mucky but fun!

Uffington Community Garden Association plans to build this clay oven in one day on September 13 from 10am and finish by 5pm pm at the latest. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. Places are limited to 10 people. Please contact Krista Soper on 01367 830364 or email to slatehousegang@hotmail.com to book a place or for further information.

Krista Soper, Uffington Community Garden Association