Gardening – the perfect antidote to lockdown

So it’s perfect timing to announce the expansion of our community gardening project called Plants For People, into Shirley, Sholing and Thornhill. It means tenants in these neighbourhoods will be able to develop their horticultural skills, improve their local neighbourhoods and reap the many mental and physical health benefits that gardening can bring. Residents will be encouraged to get gardening and transform unloved, urban areas into pockets of greenery.

Working in partnership with Mayfield Nurseries and using funding from the National Lottery, we will be promoting a wide range of growing activities from creating community gardening clubs to growing on window sills. Local residents of all ages will be able to have a go at growing plants, herbs and vegetables and help cultivate new community gardens. Duncan Reade, Community Engagement Horticulture worker from Mayfield Nurseries, will lead regular onsite drop-in sessions to share expert horticultural hints and tips.

This expansion of growing activities follows on from the successful Plants For People projects that have been up and running in Weston, Millbrook and Holyrood since 2017. Residents in these areas have worked hard to establish thriving community gardening clubs, transform existing spaces and create new ones in these areas for the benefit of everyone.

Hayley, a tenant in Shirley Towers, says getting involved with her local community garden has been life changing:

“Due to a medical condition I had been shielding since March, which meant I was confined to my flat with my two young children. I felt fed up and very lonely. The community garden was just what I needed as we were all craving outdoor space. The garden enables us to take time out and the children can run and play safely. I really enjoy working in the garden and the space has allowed us to get to know our neighbours too!”

To find out more about community garden clubs please contact Aidan Cooper.

As well as gardening projects, the Decent Neighbourhoods team have also improved existing footpaths and have installed several new footpaths during the lockdown, to allow residents with mobility scooters and wheelchairs to get in and out of their homes with ease. New paths were created in Freemantle, Redbridge and Coxford. The work was carried out by GI Holdings (Southern) Ltd.