Last year our Parish Council came up with the idea of a "community garden". Their plan was for a local professional gardener to teach people how to grow fruit and veg.
The idea has flopped, probably because they charged for the course. They are now touting around for ideas to rebrand the garden ... and they have even asked some plot holders (shock horror).
I have some vague thoughts trundling round my aging grey matter ... needs to be free! ... model plot ... occasional formal sessions ... chiildren-only sessions ... other times when somebody just need to be there to answer questions.
I would be interested to hear of any experiences that A4Aers have or indeed any ideas.
Thanks
Have you considered contacting the allotment regeneration initiative? They have lots of ideas on community involvement.... ari@farmgarden.org.uk
Can you give a bit more info,what were they charging for..the tuition? If so,they could apply for funding to pay the tutor...have they got any funding already secured do you know? Where is the garden located?
How about the parish council let it as an allotment to someone who wants to grow fruit and veg.
Are there any local organisations working with people with learning disabilities or mental health problems who might take it on?
good thinking saddad.
elvis203 - I think that there was some deal whereby the professional gardener was supposed to split the money with the Parish Council but I do not know the details. They got a grant to construct this community garden - I think that it is mostly spent. The garden is situated next to the Parish Council office - it is not on the allotment site.
unwashed - their aim (as I understand it) is to encourage people to grow their own and purchase local food wherever possible. I think it unlikely that they would want to simply give it to the person at the top of the waiting list ... and if they chose somebody else then that is likely to cause bad feeling I would have thought.
robert_brenchley - not within the parish to my knowledge but I will mention it to them.
Does your area enter the 'in Bloom' contest every year? If so the committee that organises that might be interested in helping manage it if it adds to the overall look of the parish.
I like your idea about occasional sessions on a model plot. They could be offered by local gardeners, if they could get a few people who are willing, they need only offer one session each a year. Everyone who comes pays 50p or £1 to go towards costs.
The sessions could be a demonstration of potting on, or a demonstration of double digging or lasagne gardenin, hand pollination, sowing lettuce seeds... etc etc
Or a 'Gardener's Question Time' style Q&A. You could call it the plant clinic or something.
Local schools and nurseries could use the model garden for sessions on gardening or observing plants and insects. And it would look nice for passers-by.