Our Grassroots Community Garden continues to grow from strength to strength. Developed from overgrown land at the back of our building, this space has been developed by and for our clients, and is now a space where clients, volunteers and staff can meet, sit, talk and children can play safely. We also use the space to host our annual Refugee Week BBQ, as well as pizza parties, art classes, and yoga sessions.
The garden provides a space where asylum seekers and refugees can develop new skills and volunteer their gardening skills to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables (which are then used to prepare delicious food in our cafe). We recycle, re-use and re-purpose wherever possible and we use environmentally-friendly materials in all we do.
Project Successes
This huge space was buried under weeds and brambles before and during lockdown, but over the past few years a group of amazing and committed volunteers have cleared, dug, strimmed and planted. They have laid paths, built steps and created vegetable patches. They have dismantled, relocated and rebuilt a shed and have completely transformed the area. The volunteer group is growing steadily and currently meets twice a week. They encourage visitors to the garden when they are there, to meet on the new patio, relax or even join in the work!
Recent successes
• Our raised beds and polytunnel have enabled us to grow more fresh produce for the café
• We have extended the existing patio area and installed safety rails around the perimeter
• We raised enough funds to recruit a paid Garden Worker, to supervise the volunteers and client involvement in planning future developments
