Case studies
Gibbonsdown and Court Communities First People’s Allotment Group
The Communities First People’s Allotment Group is a group set up to enable local residents to gain access to a community garden, whereby local people can learn how to grow produce, meet new people and spend time in the outdoors. Communities First recognised that many residents in the local community have limited garden space, so the site has been designed with everyone in mind with the development of a shelter, children’s area and with raised beds and level paths making the site accessible to all.
The project was officially launched in 2010 once the group had put in the basic infrastructure on the site, with support and guidance from Environment Wales. The local community designed and created the garden layout and received a grant from Environment Wales to enable them to purchase equipment and materials to make the project possible. The group has also raised funds from Communities First, Communities First Trust Fund, Tidy Towns, The Vale of Glamorgan Council and The Warburton Trust.
The project is used by resident volunteers, as well as great partner organisations such as Scope, Keep Wales Tidy, local primary and secondary schools, Gibbonsdown Children’s Centre, The Princes Trust and Business in the Community. The project, in partnership with Communities First, has also set up training and best practice visits according to the individual needs of volunteers to encourage new skills and learning in the local community. We hope to continue to build on these relationships and take on board any ideas and advice that these local organisations have to offer.
The next year foresees great things for the project, where we plan to work closely with Groundwork to ensure the project is a social hub of learning and new experiences for residents and groups, encouraging healthy lifestyle choices through growing produce, being active outdoors and meeting new people. Plans for the near future include the completion of the pond and wildlife area, building a clay cob oven and cooking area, putting up poly tunnels to hold training on the site, a fruit bush area and a children’s area, encouraging families to come utilise the garden together.
Communities First is also running several pilot street growing projects in the local community which we hope will not only improve the physical environment, but further increase awareness of growing produce, healthy eating and working together with neighbours to take pride in your street. The project will also make use of the allotment space to begin the growing process and utilise the tools and equipment.
The project is very much about what the local people want and we are always open to new ideas for projects which tackle local relevant issues affecting people in the area. The allotment project has had its ups and downs but with the commitment, time and passion of those partners and individual volunteers we work with, we know that the projects potential is limitless.
For any more information on the allotment and street growing projects and any other projects we are running please feel free to contact the Communities First office on 01446 732406, or search for Gibbonsdown and Court Communities First and ‘Like’ our page or have a look at our website