A small community garden restoration project in Pitsea, Essex, is fast becoming a blooming success story.
A band of volunteers took part in a ‘Community Gardening Morning’ at Rose Villa GP surgery as part of a wider campaign aimed at bringing local communities together.
Volunteers and staff worked hard to transform the surgery’s back garden, which had become sadly overgrown and strewn with rubbish.
It’s been so rewarding to come together and make such a difference to the garden at Rose Villa Surgery. It all came about as I was onsite at a meeting. I happened to look out of the window and saw the rear garden was particularly unkempt but had the potential to be a nice green space, something we’re encouraging residents to get more involved with throughout Basildon as part of the local development plan.”
Linzi Young, Community Engagement and Partnership Officer at Basildon and Brentwood NHS Alliance
Various follow up conversations with partners at Find Your Active and Trust Links put the idea into action.
The garden restoration project was the beginning of a great collaboration of hard, physical work from Trust Links, Basildon and Brentwood Alliance, NHS Mid and South Essex, Basildon Council, Active Essex and Rose Villa Surgery.
The amazing team of volunteers cleared rubbish, cut back overrun bushes and vegetation to start transforming the garden into a small but beautiful green space for not only local Pitsea residents, but also the staff at Rose Villa Surgery to sit and enjoy some fresh air.
It is 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.
More people are needed to volunteer their time and energy for a day and become part of something really special. They’ll be helping to cherish nature by restoring the environment and spaces in the neighbourhoods of Basildon, Billericay and Wickford.”
Linzi Young, Community Engagement and Partnership Officer at Basildon and Brentwood NHS Alliance
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.