Summer house promises to be a year-round success at Leaside Way

Thanks to a grant from our Community Chest Fund a summer house has recently been installed in the grounds to provide a cosy spot for residents to sit and chat, whatever the weather outside.

The communal garden is tended to by local volunteers who are part of the Bizzie Bees gardening club. Thanks to their hard work and support from the Decent Neighbourhoods Programme the outdoor space is blooming.

Earlier this year the local Neighbourhood Wardens helped residents to install a pergola, bench and bug house, but the addition of the summer house is a huge bonus, says chair of Bizzie Bees, Vicky-Lee:

“The summer house is open to residents every day and we hope it will help to reduce social isolation particularly for those who live alone. We have furnished it with comfy chairs and magazines to provide an inviting place for people to come together to sit and chat over a cuppa, read, play board games, or simply enjoy getting out of their own four walls. As it’s larger than our flats it’s perfect to host visiting family members and one resident has already booked it out for the afternoon to host a private function.”

The gardening club has also received funding for an umbrella and as a council we donated a picnic bench to help make the outdoor space even more inviting. And as Vicky-Lee explains there are exciting plans for the future:

“We hope to plant palms and other plants to create a tropical theme and ensure the garden is easy to maintain. Plus, we have submitted an application for £10,000 of lottery funding to install solar panels on the roof of the summer house. We are always looking for new members to join Bizzie Bees and come and potter about in the garden with us.”

Did you know there are lots of community gardening clubs in council neighbourhoods across the city? Some areas even hold free, regular workshops as part of the Plants For People project where you can learn gardening skills from a horticultural expert. 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 and improve the look of your community. Plus, gardening can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve your mental health too.

So, what are you waiting for? Find out more and see how you can get involved in a community gardening club like Bizzie Bees please email or call our Tenant Engagement Team on 023 8083 3185.