Community gardening scheme

Just wanted to say Hi and to introduce the community based gardening scheme I am involved with, and to see if there are any fellow BBC Neighbourhood Gardeners out there.
For those that have not heard of the scheme we work with volunteers on community based gardening projects sharing our skills and knowledge of gardening and encouraging people to improve their local green spaces.
It would be great to hear from any interested volunteers or any groups involved in similar activities.
Jackie

 

What you're doing sounds really interesting Jackie. It is great to get volunteers involved in community projects. We had a scheme locally where a group of people got together and applied for a grant to improve an unsightly communal area. I'm not sure where the money came from but it was certainly a worthy project to inspire others to take on the challenge. The local residents planted up the hitherto eyesore with trees and shrubs to become a shared amenity.

 

Hi Petal,
Sounds like your local scheme was along the same lines - was this a recent project and did it manage to inspire others. Would be interested to hear where the funding came from as all the projects we are involved in need some form of funding to get off the ground - knowing where to look or direct other people is really useful.
Jackie

 

Not heard of that Scheme Jackie - but it sounds a very good idea. I must enquire if my local community runs such a scheme.

 

Hi Fran
Don't know where abouts you live in Bedfordshire but it may be worth contacting Shuttleworth college. They are the sister college to the one in Essex where my group is based and they ran one of the pilot schemes.
As I am new to this forum can you tell me if it is OK to provide website links on this forum; if so I can direct you to other sources of info.on this matter. In the meantime, check out the main BBC gardening website for more details of the scheme.
Thanks
Jackie

 

oooh how I wish! We have some potentially beautiful areas around here but at present they just seem to get used for fly tipping! One or two have had a makeover and look really stunning. Perhaps I should approach the NE Redevelopment Scheme.

They've already done a great deal to upgrade the area but there's so much to be done still. One square foot at a time, I guess!

 

Links to web sites for general information are fine, as long as they are not advertising.

Thanks for the information on Shuttleworth its only about an hour away from here, and I will check out the Beeb. Never thought of checking there - and they are my ISP :eek:

 

Fran
Links to useful websites re community gardening scheme as follows:
www.bbc.co.uk/neighbourhoodgardener

Also see www.writtle.ac.uk ; see college info section for neighbourhood gardener and also links on this website to Shuttleworth College website(see college info section again).

Have also set up small website for our group at
http://beehive.thisisessex.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=12994

- bit of a long website address for this one but set up on local community forum; gives some idea of the projects we are involved in.

Jackie

 

oooh how I wish! We have some potentially beautiful areas around here but at present they just seem to get used for fly tipping! One or two have had a makeover and look really stunning. Perhaps I should approach the NE Redevelopment Scheme.

They've already done a great deal to upgrade the area but there's so much to be done still. One square foot at a time, I guess! [/quote]

The idea behind this scheme is to get local residents from local communities to make a difference to a local green space - sometimes just a few square feet can make that difference.

Saw a great idea last year where someone had sown wildflower seeds along a verge and by a bus shelter - looked absolutely stunning. Just goes to show what a little effort can do; also provides inspiration to others too.

Will see if I can find the photo I took of the wildflowers and post it on here (if I can work out how to do it).

Jackie

 

Have just created a new website for our community gardening group, www.ng-writtlegroup.ik.com.
Would welcome any feedback or comments.

 

Well done Jackie,very rewarding I'm sure.
Would be nice to get involved in something like that around here.

 

Most people where I live cant, dont or wont even cultivate their own gardens, let alone get involved in community projects.
Any atempt to try to brighten up the area is usually used as a place for the locals to park their cars on or the council put poles in to stop the cars and make it look like a cemetary.
I've seen where people have planted daffodils at the roadside and in one night the whole lot is destroyed but a bunch of drunken yobs, or school kids.
I wish you luck Jackie

[ 28. January 2006, 09:07 PM: Message edited by: pete2255 ]

 

Pete,
I fully understand your comments but don't let them defeat you - it only takes one person or a group of enthusiastic residents to make a real difference.

With regards to the council, many are now working to improve their local areas and will work with local communities in this respect - also, even cemetries have flowers!

As for the local youth - if you can manage to engage the youth groups in the planning and planting somehow then the destructive element is hopefully reduced - was told about a scheme where they got certain local youths involved, and because of who they were no-one else dared touch it!!!!

This scheme has certainly given me the view that I can make a difference - I'm sure if I can do it, others can too.

Anyway, thanks for the message of support
Jackie

 

As I say Jackie I really do wish you luck on this one.
But the point I was trying to make is that the work of fifty people over some months can all be undone in one night by half a dozen yobs.
Its not right. :(
Even the cemetaries get vandalised around here.

[ 29. January 2006, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: pete2255 ]