‘Grow’ open garden event takes place this weekend
Event showcasing local projects with a social ethos
GROW, a weekend of open gardens, growing, wellbeing and creativity, is being held in Loughborough this Saturday and Sunday, June 16/17..
The Grow project is a trail across three open gardens on Herrick Road, Mountfields Allotments and two green spaces, showcasing local projects with a social ethos to promote the connections between creativity, gardening and wellbeing.
Visitors can start or end their trail with a visit to the gardens at 94, 100 and 134 Herrick Road.
You’ll find bee hives, the Master Composters, tea, cake, plant sales and honey. Yiu can also wander around the garden and Secret Craft Fair at 134 Herrick Road and find craft from nature by Jane Bevan, paintings, prints, homewares and more from Helen Rhodes and Seed Home Designs. Plus handmade willow plant supports.
The Green Gym and extensive John Storer House plots on Mountfields Allotments will be open to the public. Projects including The Crop Club, Shelthorpe Community Garden and the Wellbeing Café Project have stalls in the allotment Community Space.
People can head across Epinal Way and talk to Loughborough in Bloom award winners - Forest Road Green Belt Gardeners – about how they are working with the community to improve green spaces.
Highlights across the event site include an art installation in the willow trees by Nita Rao, a visit from the Muto clothing project bus, outdoor sketching with Maxine Greer and her Art-Cart, plus craft activities for wellbeing with Little Bird SOS in the allotments. There’s lots for all to see and do. Look out for the flower arrows and pick up an event pass at the gate of Mountfields Allotment or garden gates at 94, 100 or 134 Herrick Road. £3. Children free.
The Grow Loughborough project originates in the National Garden Scheme (NGS) Open Gardens that have been held in the town since 2013.
The NGS is a national initiative, with over 3,700 gardens, that open to raise funds for caring charities.
In 2013 Janet Currie opened her home on 2013 at 134 Herrick Road and was the first garden to do so in Loughborough and attracted hundreds of visitors during that weekend.
As well as providing tea and cakes, the weekend included a ‘Secret Craft Fair’.
Since then, the event has grown to include collaborations with other partners including Little Bird SOS (LBSOS).
Grow Loughborough aims to bring together and raise awareness of local projects working to increase wellbe- ing, reduce social isolation, encourage creativity and support participation in community gardening.
The project has been grant funded via Charnwood Borough Council Community Development Grant Scheme and the Loughborough Community Grants scheme.
Visit the website for more information www.growloughborough.org.uk