Etheline Deer stands in the middle of a thriving community garden in Tamworth, surrounded by 15 shared beds bursting with herbs, onions, carrots, and strawberries—all growing where a disused piece of land once sat forgotten. For 11 years, this 74-year-old self-described "foodie and feeder" has been the beating heart of Belgrave Community Allotment and Garden, a transformation so thorough and generous that it's now being celebrated on the BBC's inaugural Make a Difference Day.
Deer's story is one that resonates far beyond Tamworth, a market town in Staffordshire. After retiring, her children worried she'd have nothing to do with her time. Instead, she found the perfect outlet by helping establish an allotment that has become a genuine hub—not just for growing food, but for building connection. Nestled off Marlborough Way between St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School and Tamworth Community Fire and Police Station, the garden has become a place where neighbours grow together.
What Deer and her small volunteer team have created goes well beyond simple vegetable beds. The site now features an orchard, a wildlife pond, a wellbeing garden, and a wormery. They've installed rainwater collection systems from the school's roof and make their own compost. But the infrastructure is almost incidental to what's really happened here: they've created a space that belongs to everyone. Emergency service workers from the nearby police and fire station pop in regularly. A memory café uses the garden as a gathering place for people living with dementia. Children from local schools come to learn where their food comes from, planting and tending crops they'll later eat. The volunteers donate surplus vegetables to local food groups, weaving the allotment into the fabric of community care.
"I've put the woman's touch to it, that's what I've done," Deer said with a smile, speaking of the horticultural knowledge, cultural wisdom, and gardening skills she's brought to bear. "It is not easy to do all of this gardening and to bring everyone together like this and to create something that appeals to people of all ages and all backgrounds," said Josje Praamstra from The Eden Project, which is partnering with Deer on community gardening initiatives.
The impact is visible in the faces of those she's touched. Millie Hall, a student from St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School, described Deer simply as "amazing," noting how she'd taught children about healthy eating and plant growth—and had even helped the preschool set up its own allotment. Fellow volunteer Rae Quinn has taken Deer's example to heart, encouraging others to contribute what they can: "Even if it's one hour a week, one hour a month, just chuck that hour in and see what you get back out of it."
Looking forward, Deer is hosting a big lunch event on Saturday as part of The Eden Project's push to inspire more people to volunteer. She's determined to keep growing the allotment and deepening community involvement, supported by donations and grants. At 74, with more energy and vision than many half her age, Etheline Deer shows what one person's commitment to feeding and caring for their neighbourhood can actually grow into: not just vegetables, but belonging.