- 28.08.25
With four cafés under one roof, Unity Place goes through a lot of coffee - and now, those used grounds are finding a second life in the gardens of Camphill Milton Keynes.
Camphill provides a safe, supportive, and meaningful working life for adults with a wide range of learning disabilities and autism. At their allotments in Willen Park, fruit, vegetables, and salad are grown to feed more than 500 people weekly - residents, staff, and visitors to the on-site vegetarian café.
Gardening workshops are a central part of daily life at Camphill, offering individuals the chance to learn new skills, enjoy the outdoors, and contribute directly to their community.
Used coffee grounds are a natural fertiliser and pest deterrent, making them an ideal addition to Camphill’s allotments. Since earlier this year, Unity Place has been donating its grounds directly to Camphill, with monthly hand deliveries. Later this year, the Unity Place team will also take part in a voluntary day at Camphill to support the charity’s horticultural work.
“Coffee is such a big part of daily life at Unity Place, and we’re proud to know that what could be waste is instead helping to support the fantastic work happening at Camphill,” comments Nathan Kennard, Centre Experience Manager at Unity Place.
“Minimising waste and working closely with our local community are values we hold close, and this partnership brings both together in a meaningful way.”
Camphill Milton Keynes has welcomed the support. “Our allotments are at the heart of daily life here - providing fresh, healthy food for our homes, café, and community, as well as valuable learning opportunities for our residents,” comments Will at Camphill Milton Keynes. “The donation of coffee grounds from Unity Place is already making a positive difference to the soil, and to know that a local partner values our work enough to support it directly means a great deal.”
The initiative highlights Unity Place’s ongoing commitment to reducing waste while supporting local organisations. For Camphill, it brings a practical boost to its gardening provision and an extra layer of community connection.
