Hêvî Community Garden expands greening across Iraq with new polytunnel

Momentum continues at the Hêvî Community Garden in Gawilan refugee camp as the team nears completion of a new polytunnel. The 33m long and 9m wide structure, equipped with an in-built water irrigation system, was built using frames donated from another camp and heavy duty covers sourced on site. Once in use, it will support the propagation of thousands of seedlings – ornamentals and herbaceous species of shrubs and trees – which will be shared within Gawilan camp, neighbouring settlements and surrounding host communities, helping create greener, healthier environments across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

This new space builds on the ongoing propagation work at our flagship Azadî Community Garden in Domiz 1 camp, where thousands of seedlings are already grown and distributed each year. With both polytunnels now in place, we can support more households, more camps and more host communities across the region.

At the Hêvî garden, the first planting cycle will begin with roughly 3,000 seeds, with numbers set to rise as production expands. The garden team, all displaced from the war in Syria, is leading this work with skill, resourcefulness and creativity, steadily increasing the garden’s capacity and making the most of the space and materials available.

The manager of the Hêvî Community Garden, Othman Qewas, who has lived in Gawilan camp for eleven years, says:

“This polytunnel gives us the chance to grow more tree saplings and plants than ever before. They will bring hope to people like me and my family who have had to rebuild our lives. Everything we do in the garden is run by local people, for local people, and the polytunnel will help us support many more households across the region. It gives us real hope for the year ahead.”

Hamid Abdullah, our Horticulture and Landscape Consultant supporting the polytunnel build and plant selection, shares:

“We are excited to use this spacious polytunnel to grow seedlings – ornamental and herbaceous shrubs and trees – and distribute them across the camps where we are active, as well as to other neighbourhoods including those within the Zakho independent administration, as part of the million-tree planting campaign. Working with our partners, we hope to establish more polytunnels and greenhouses in other camps so we can make the camp environments even greener and support the surrounding host communities.”

The rapid development of the Hêvî Community Garden sits within a wider regional effort to green refugee and IDP camps. Since 2016 Lemon Tree Trust has planted or distributed more than 300,000 trees and plants, helping to create cooler, cleaner and more resilient environments in camps or ‘accidental cities’ that often evolve into long term settlements. This work contributes directly to food security, wellbeing and several UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This progress is only possible thanks to the commitment of the garden team and the continued support of donors and partners. Your support helps create productive, resilient gardens and green spaces that provide food, shade, connection and hope for communities living in challenging conditions.

Support greener, more resilient communities

You can help communities across the region grow more seedlings, trees and food. Your support, whether as an individual donor, a trust or a partner organisation, allows displaced people to expand community gardens, distribute plants and provide training in sustainable growing practices. Every contribution helps strengthen the capacity of households in Gawilan camp and beyond, creating greener, healthier and more resilient environments. Together, we can carry this momentum into 2026 and reach even more people.

• Donate today and help us grow hope and opportunity across the region
• Partner with us to support local communities in greening refugee and IDP settlements and strengthen food security through sustainable gardening projects