Green-fingered tenants brighten up neighbourhoods

The clubs are run by green-fingered tenants who enjoy coming together to improve their local neighbourhood whilst having fun and keeping active at the same time.

Many gardening clubs have been established by tenants in recent years, empowering neighbours to collectively look after communal outdoor areas. The results can be seen in council estates across the city, with many neighbourhoods now proudly boasting beautiful gardens where neighbours can enjoy spending time outside.

Thanks to support from our Decent Neighbourhoods Team, gardening clubs are flourishing and many have successfully applied for funding to buy plants, garden furniture, equipment and even sheds and summer houses.

Tenants at 36-46 Ennerdale Road in Millbrook were inspired to form the Garden Gang, and supported by Decent Neighbourhoods they received £10,000 of National Lottery Community Funding to transform an unloved redundant drying area into a Greek island themed growing and social space.

Over in Leaside Way in Bassett, members of the Bizzie Bees gardening club have created a stunning communal garden. Last year they installed a summer house to enable residents to enjoy the garden all year round, and now they have received lottery funding to install solar panels on its roof in order to provide sustainable power.

At Toronto Court in Millbrook, a new committee of green fingered tenants has just been established to take on the gardens, and in the central area, the Holyrood Gardeneers continue to go from strength to strength brightening up their local neighbourhood. A member of The Gardeneers, Holyrood resident Lynda, has even penned a poem about the benefits of community gardening and the joy it can bring to people. You can listen to Lynda reading her poem by watching a YouTube video which also showcases the fantastic work of The Gardeneers.

Several garden clubs across the city are supported by the Plants For People project which is a partnership between the council and Mayfield Nurseries. Free gardening workshops take place regularly in Thornhill, Sholing, Holyrood, Weston, Millbrook and Shirley where local residents of all ages can learn and develop horticultural skills.

It doesn’t matter if you haven’t got green fingers, joining your local gardening club is a great opportunity to meet new people and have fun, get out in the fresh air, keep fit and active, all whilst improving the look of your community. Plus, gardening has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety whilst improving your mental health too.

If you would like to get out in the garden this spring and get involved in a community gardening club please email or call our Tenant Engagement Team on 023 8083 3185 to find out more.