Free drop-in events as work’s set to start on creating community garden in Birkenhead

Plans to transform a neglected piece of land into a community garden in Birkenhead are set to begin this week.

Grow Wellbeing CIC has secured £31,400 from more than 100 community backers – including a sizeable donation from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – to turn the third of an acre in Bentinck Street into a thriving green space that can be used by everyone.

It will take around eight months to create the ‘vibrant, sustainable, biodiversity-rich community garden’ through the Here We Grow project.

And Grow Wellbeing says it’s kicking things off with scheduled activities, including training and volunteer workshops.

It’s inviting people to get involved with four free drop-in events starting this Thursday.

“We anticipate that local community residents will come along, meet other neighbours, offer their ideas of what the garden could look like, and learn how to grow vegetables and become involved in transforming the garden for the benefit of their children, families and neighbours around Bentinck Street,” says Duane Chong, Founder of Grow-Wellbeing, a not-for-profit organisation that delivers creative and positive opportunities for people get involved in activities in the natural environment.

“We hope it will provide inspiration to other local communities to learn how they can develop under-used spaces in their neighbourhoods too,” adds Duane whose mission is to support healthy communities that are strongly connected to the outdoors and nature.”

Throughout the transformation local residents will be given the chance to help co-design the garden, as well as help to transform the space into a ‘beautiful oasis that all of the community can take pride in’.

The garden will offer an area for young and old to come together to grow vegetables and fruit and take part in activities to improve mental and physical health and wellbeing, partnering with other community organisations, creative arts, and healthy and social care providers.

As well as providing opportunities for residents to volunteer and get involved in gardening, recycling and food growing initiatives, it will provide learning and training to increase skills and knowledge to improve people’s employability.

And it is hoped the Here We Grow project will help to reduce crime at the site and enhance the biodiversity of the natural habitat.

Eventually, as well as growing a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, the site will have a pergola for seating and socialising; outdoor cookery provisions; a pond, wildlife and trees, wildlife cameras, and more.

The first four drop-in events to be held as the garden is designed and cleared will be on:

Thursday, January 30 – 2-4pm

Sunday, February 9 – 10am-12pm

Wednesday, February 12 – 2-4pm

Saturday, February 22 – 10am-12pm

Activities will include creative, planting and outdoor activities, as well as the chance to have a say.

You can just turn up or, to get more details, email chloe@grow-wellbeing.com

And Duane adds: “If you don’t live in Birkenhead, and would like to get involved in a community garden near you, take a look at the Liverpool Food Growers network map” 

Find out more about Grow Wellbeing here.

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