Exwick Roots & Shoots: Bringing Local Food Heritage to Live Through Community Walks

By Felix (Community Physical Activity Organiser)

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon in April, around 30 residents and local history enthusiasts gathered for the Exwick Roots & Shoots guided walk, an event that celebrated Exwick's rich food heritage while bringing people together to explore the stories hidden within their local neighbourhoods.

The walk was the result of a collaboration between the Exwick History Society, Zero Mile Gardens, Westbank and Wellbeing Exeter. By combining expertise in local history, community growing, wellbeing and guided walking, the partners created an event that connected people with both the past and present of this unique part of Exeter.

Starting at Miller's Crossing, participants enjoyed a gentle circular walk through Exwick, discovering a side of the area that many had never encountered before. Along the route, guides shared fascinating stories about Exwick's former plant nurseries and market gardens, revealing a thriving horticultural history that once supplied food and plants to the wider city. People learned about the cultivation of exotic plants, including melons and magnolias, heard tales of plant theft and explored how allotments and orchards continue a long tradition of local food growing.

The walk linked historical stories with contemporary community growing activities and included a visit to the local allotments. Participants were encouraged to think about how food production has shaped Exwick over generations and how growing spaces continue to contribute to community wellbeing today.

The event attracted a diverse group of residents, many of whom were discovering new aspects of this neighbourhood for the first time.

One participant commented, "it was lovely to see places I didn't know existed." Another shared, "I learnt so much about a part of the city I know very little about. All of the guides were excellent."

The collaborative effort between the various community organisations played a key role in the event's success. The Exwick History Society brought extensive knowledge of the area's past, while Zero Mile Gardens helped connect historical food-growing traditions with current community growing initiatives. Health Walks at Westbank and Wellbeing Exeter ensured the walk was accessible and welcoming for all abilities.

Following the walk, one attendee reflected, "Sharing this knowledge is so important to nurturing the roots of our community so our shoots are growing from a place of strength and good soil." This comment perfectly captured the spirit of the Exwick Roots & Shoots walk, using local history and food heritage to strengthen community connections, celebrate local identity and inspire future generations.

The success of the walk demonstrated a strong appetite for community-led heritage activities that combine learning, wellbeing and social connection. Following the positive response, the organisers are looking forward to developing further guided history walks in this walking event series, enabling even more people to discover the rich heritage and hidden stories that exist across Exeter's neighbourhoods.