Bearwood Community Garden
When Bearwood Community Hub was based at St Mary's Church, we launched The Community Garden!
St Mary's outdoor space had been overgrown, unloved and under utilised for many years, so we took the opportunity to turn it into a garden designed and managed by people in the community.
The need and desire for green space had been highlighted during our initial community consultation, with many wanting the opportunity to be more directly involved.
What was accomplished:
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A dedicated space for adults and children to play, to learn about nature and to spend time in a peaceful space. A space for nature to thrive. All at the heart of Bearwood’s busy high street.
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Our first in-person project since the start of the pandemic — a Nature Playgroup for 33 families so far, of pre-school children and their parents or carers who have been isolated during the pandemic. Thanks to Wild Lives Forest School and the New Baby Network it’s a playgroup that is deliberately small, attentive to participants and all about fostering connection with each other and with nature.
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Active partnerships have been developed as a result of having a tangible, impactful space in which to develop social connections. We’ve developed partnerships with local organisations like the Princes Trust, and positive relationships with funders like the Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals Trust.
Team
Ellie Shaw, George Mee, Slina Alvi, Komal Kaur, Kieron Green, Jagjit Padham, Keelea Whitehouse, Medeeha Zeeshan, Miranda Alison, Ann Baldaro, Oliver & Maddy Arnold Richards, Vicki MacWinyers, George Mee, Sarah Eaton, Tash Comfort, Marian Hills, Vanessa Whitaker, Steve Trow, Dani & Jodi Waugh, Sally Taylor.
Youth Involvement
The community garden had two separate ‘beginnings’ due to the Covid-19 pandemic: at both, local volunteers brought tools and energy to clear brambles, ground elder and debris. For the second clearance we set up a partnership with The Princes Trust. Over two weeks in autumn 2020, around 5 -8 young people (depending on the day) worked hard to clear, design, build, plant, paint.
We set the young people a brief to work to, but they had free reign over what they wanted to do with their time and with the space. We also supported a small number of regular volunteers to come and join in the efforts, within the social distancing guidelines.
What sorts of roles and jobs did these young people take on?
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Designing - designing the new garden space, what plants, planters, seating or fencing would we need.
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Convening - Bringing volunteers and organisations together to achieve a common goal
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Brokering relationships - Forging new partnerships of mutual benefit, such as that of the Princes Trust.
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Fundraising - Helping to prepare funding applications to support the running of the garden, e.g. an application was made to install fencing and other key structural elements, as well as an application for funds to run an outdoor playgroup.
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Installing - Building, planting, painting parts of the garden ready for all to enjoy.