Great Gardeners
For several months, volunteers at Galloway Gardens in Thorntree have been transforming the communal area of Rainham Close into a tranquil outdoor space, as part of a wellbeing project aimed at offering the community the opportunity to learn new skills in gardening and growing fresh vegetables, with specialist horticultural training also available to anyone interested. And now it’s award winning!
The project has recently been awarded a Level 3 Advancing award in the “It’s your neighbourhood” category by The Royal Horticultural Society, in the Northumbria in Bloom competition. We are so proud to be able to recognise and celebrate what has been achieved by the volunteers and everyone who engaged so positively with the project.
As part of the project, we’ve seen volunteers grow in numbers and confidence, using recycled materials to build planters and seating areas, creating a sensory garden and compost heap habitats to attract wildlife. There is even a fruit and nut tree orchard along with various vegetable patches including parsnips, chillies, tomatoes, potatoes and strawberry plants, as part of a desire to increase sustainability and create a nicer environment.
On 9 August the gardens were host to the judges from the competition, who got a tour of the area from the volunteers, who showed their enthusiasm for their craft by offering a taste of the delicious fresh potato soup and tomato bruschetta on offer, all home grown and freshly made as part of the project.
This project has been in partnership with housing provider Thirteen, MVDA and You’ve Got This, MIND, Home Ed, MEC and Middlesbrough Borough Council, who we’d like to thank for all their support. However, it has been completely led by the residents and volunteers to make sure it is what the community needs. The judges commented on the benefits that this level of inclusivity has had on the quality of work, commenting that ‘there is a resident chef who creates recipes from the food and one resident waters daily – because there is local ownership, there has been no vandalism.’ The wildlife are thriving due to the diversity of the plants and with more plans to extend the garden further, there’s no stopping this group of inspirational gardeners.
Galloway garden is a friendly and safe space that anyone can come to and be a part of, what feels more like a group of friends and family who support each other. I have enjoyed working with all the team members and in many ways the roles of volunteers, staff, participants have blurred into a group that is there to be active as well as to help and support each other.
I have felt that each day at Gallwoay Garden has been an achievement ..yes small but still a step towards the each of us moving towards achieving our goals including better health, increased confidence, aspiration etc. At the end of the day what I value the most are the laughs that I have shared with my Galloway garden family.
– Suganya, Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency (MVDA)
