Beyond the Edible Forest Garden lies Boro Doughnut’s allotment, home to strawberries, potatoes, sunflowers, roses, poppies and more. Bees busily investigate every flower, butterflies rest on leaves and the sound of birds rings in your ears. Tucked away in this allotment, hidden between grasses, rocks and under trees you’ll find life in one of the most important features of the garden- mini ponds. Water trays stacked full of rocks and pebbles, sprouting aquatic grasses and giv

Are you feeling out of touch with nature? Perhaps you’re lost in the world of screens and just need space to breathe. Try out this simple creative activity to get back in touch with nature, and to explore your creative side. Take a short walk outside, it doesn’t have to be in a green space- just around the block is fine. If this isn’t the first time walking around this area, imagine that it is. Walk slowly; dilly dally; stop and start and take time to look around. As you wal

What is Community? Have you ever wondered what the word community really means? While many people think of a community as simply a group of people living in the same area, the concept is actually much deeper. A community is about connection, belonging, shared values, and support. It is the foundation of resilient societies and plays a vital role in our individual and collective well-being. A community is a group of people who share something in common. This may be a physical

Why do we need community gardens? In a world where urbanisation is rapid, green spaces are becoming more valuable than ever. Community gardens have become integral parts of communities, and are much more than just allotments. They are exciting third spaces where people can come together to improve their wellbeing and to improve the environment. One of the greatest benefits of community gardens is their ability to strengthen social connections. By providing a welcoming space w

July Newsletter Check out all our latest updates Boro Dougnut: Transforming Middlesbrough by embracing Doughnut Economics The Eco-Rangers The Eco-Rangers prepped the garden (and themselves) ready for our summer event. They tidied, cleaned and distributed leaflets and posters around the local area. The group meets every Saturday morning, and is always open to new members! Currently this project is supported by Teesside University and in partnership with Institute of Collecti

Enter into the doughnut you’ll be met with warmth and a cup of tea Listen to stories, tales and the dreams of others as you explore the garden: learn and play Dance around the sunflowers dance for it to rain dance for the sunshine and dance each day a celebration of what we have learned to grow and now the flowers bloom crops are harvested and the bees are feasting away Find comfort in others driven by the same goal to thrive in their town and for the town to thrive we want h

Doughnut Economics explores how we as humans need to think and act to be able to thrive in the 21st Century. In 2012, Kate Raworth published the doughnut theory in an Oxfam Report, and later published her book- Doughnut Economics: seven ways to think like a 21st century economist which further explores the mindset needed by humanity to thrive. The Doughnut theory has created a space for large scale conversations about reimagining and remaking the future and how this can be g

Tucked in the centre of Middlesbrough, Boro Doughnut have begun an initiative called ‘The Saturday Eco Youth Club’ offering an experience where young people can take part in a series of Eco Club workshops and outdoor activities, aimed at developing their practical and gardening skills, appreciation for nature, and community spirit. Access to nature and outdoor play is proven to be an integral part of a child's upbringing, linking to reduced anxiety, improved concentration a

Reframing Health Through a Doughnut Economics Lens Traditional health metrics tell us what is happening—life expectancy gaps, obesity rates, physical inactivity. But they rarely explain why these patterns persist or how they connect to broader economic and ecological systems. Using the Doughnut Economics framework, we can visualize Middlesbrough's health challenge as a system operating outside the "safe and just space for humanity." This approach, developed by economist Kate

Middlesbrough high-street has long been under considerable strain, and 2025 especially was a year in which the town centre saw profound closures. For those still working on the high street, they’re acutely aware of how the town is lagging. Kim Hutchison, who co-owns Sacred Fury, a tattoo and piercing shop dotted right outside the Hill Street Shopping centre, spoke on what she sees everyday. ‘In the 9 months we have been open, we have seen NEXT, Millets, Bodycare and Boots clo

Middlesbrough's tree canopy currently covers around 11.8% of the city. By comparison, the average across England is 16%. To reach that level, we would need to plant trees across an area roughly the size of 30 football pitches. But planting is only half the story. Across England, ambitious tree planting schemes have been severely impacted by drought, with hundreds of thousands of saplings dying due to lack of water and poor planning for environmental conditions (The Guardian,

How do we measure what truly matters for our city's future? At BORO Doughnut CIC, we start with the data. Reports like the 2024 South Tees JSNA ( https://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/media/rpgda1oj/south-tees-jsna-live-well-green-spaces.pdf ) give us a clear benchmark: Middlesbrough has just 18.8 sqm of green space per person. To understand what this means: the national minimum standard for wellbeing is 24 sqm, and the England average is 28.5 sqm. Our town's provision is not onl

At last month's Edible Forest Garden, Boro Doughnut had the privilege of speaking to Amin Ghesiari, a n Iranian refugee who fled...

By Asmaa Al Zainab Picture a Middlesbrough where everyone has what they need to live well, the local economy is strong, and the...

Download for full presentation Community Updates: Welcome to our latest round-up of activities involving Teesside University, Boro...

By Asmaa Al Zainab What if Middlesbrough could be a place where everyone has what they need: good jobs, warm homes, healthy food while...

To embrace the changing of seasons this Halloween, Boro Doughnut members Kinga Czarocka, Emi Imai, and Laurissa Papprill hosted a...