As part of wider efforts to help to bring local communities together, the Basildon and Brentwood Alliance has supported Rose Villa GP surgery in Pitsea in a community gardening project.
A team of volunteers have worked hard to transform the surgery’s back garden, which had become sadly overgrown and strewn with rubbish.
The project started when Linzi Young, Community Engagement and Partnership Officer at Basildon and Brentwood Alliance, looked out of the window and saw the rear garden was particularly unkempt but had the potential to be a nice green space.
The alliance is encouraging Brentwood and Basildon residents to become more involved in improving their environment, as part of the local development plan.
The team enlisted the help of Trust Links, the Southend-based mental health charity charged with coordinating the event.
The garden restoration project has been the beginning of a great collaboration of hard, physical work between Trust Links, Basildon and Brentwood Alliance, MSEICB, Basildon Council, Active Essex and Rose Villa Surgery.
It’s now hoped the project will progress to make it an easy to maintain garden area, with tables and chairs and beds to grow plants and vegetables. It will continue growing but needs more people to volunteer their time and energy for a day and become part of something special. They’ll be helping to cherish nature by restoring the environment and spaces in the neighbourhoods of Basildon, Billericay and Wickford.
Those keen to volunteer and take part in future Community Garden Mornings should contact Sally Jackson-Robins on 07756 188442 or email: sallyj@trustlinks.org.
Bring your own gardening gloves, dress to get messy and Trust Links will provide hot drinks together with the chance to meet and work with other people who care about their neighbourhoods.