If you’ve not visited Greenvale Community Bookshop before, what you find might surprise you.
It’s as far from a conventional bookshop as it’s possible to get! To start with, there’s no building.
The bookshop is housed in three converted shipping containers and a marquee, on the edge of Selsdon Woods.
Across these spaces you’ll find thousands of books for all ages and tastes, as well as pocket money toys, sweets and a gift section. If the weather’s nice, there are often hundreds of books outside to browse, too.
When you’ve found some books to huddle up with over winter, grab a hot drink and a biscuit and settle onto a sofa in the Reading Retreat for a chat or a read.
When you’re ready to buy, you’ll notice that none of the books are priced.
You’re simply asked to donate what you can (a minimum donation of £1 per book is requested). Every penny made goes to support local children.
Originally set up during the pandemic, the bookshop has so far raised nearly £60,000 for Greenvale Primary School.
That’s provided books and resources for all classes, cooking equipment, SEND resources and a SEND garden, playground equipment, a new forest school area, a reception class construction area… and a whole lot more!
A new team of volunteers took over in September and Karina Thorne, one of the new volunteers, said:
"The bookshop benefits the whole community, not just the school, so we’re determined to keep it running and making sure locals young and old can keep reading”.
Greenvale Community Bookshop is open every Saturday, from 10am until 4pm, and the volunteers can’t wait to welcome you.
The stock changes every week as new donations come in, so it’s worth dropping by regularly.
There’s plenty of free on-site parking – just drive into Greenvale Primary School in Selsdon (CR2 8PR) and follow the road to the end.
Bring your good quality pre-loved books to donate or stock your shelves with new books from the collection.
