Greenacres Community Garden

It was good to visit the Greenacres Community Gardens on Friday 11 October 2024. I met Paul Mason who runs the Centre and is the driving force. 

The project started in 2012 and was initially funded by Social care and Inclusion. This allowed Paul to refurbish the Centre and gardens. The funding was withdrawn in 2018 from the National Lottery fund. 

85% of people that work on the project live within 10 minutes of the site. The project has previously worked with the pupil referral unit, Adult social care and Mindkind, strengthening families.

There are at present 40 plots being rented out to individuals and groups.

There are currently 12 people with Learning Disabilities attending the site every day, which helps support with access to outdoors, learning new horticultural skills, building confidence, and combatting the social isolation that many disabled people face today. 22 Adults with Learning difficulties attend on a weekly basis. Paul has organised for a skills certificate and those who take part have learnt gardening skills. 

The project also operates a garden maintenance service. The running costs are £60K a year.

Greenacres will be introducing a fishing scheme and are continually exploring and working with other organisations. I will do all I can to support this amazing organisation and even bought some Kale grown on site.