Gardening project gets off the ground
AN E I G H B O U RHOOD garden project has been launched in Runcorn after groups including homes staff and veterans teamed up to provide somewhere for residents to enjoy a bit of greenery and a hobby with others in the outdoors.
The Grange Grow And Share scheme was the culmination of months of collaboration between Halton Housing Trust, Runcorn Veterans Association (RVA), Halton Borough Council and the Grange Community Forum who gathered to celebrate the opening with some fun activities and being able to take home some free freshlygrown produce.
Bill Armes, 100-year-old veteran and Halton Housing tenant, of Grangeway, and Sylvia Rose, also of Grangeway and a Grange Community Forum member, shared the honour of declaring open the garden, which has rejuvenated a formerly rundown, disused space for the public.
The Grange Grow And Share garden will now be run and managed by The Wonky Garden, a non-forprofit organisation founded by Sue Hulme, Angela Hayler and Amanda Prescott.
The Wonky Garden’s aim is to reduce social isolation, boost wellbeing, have fun and educate.
Debbie Jameson, Halton Housing customer engagement officer, said: “This has been a fantastic project to work on over recent months, and it’s been a pleasure watching the site develop.
“This type of garden provides local residents with a space where they can come together, meet new friends, and ultimately help reduce social isolation in the area.
“The garden also teaches the community how to collectively plant and grow healthy, nutritional and inexpensive food for the community to share.
“We would like to say a massive thank you to everybody involved in the project to date, but particular thanks go to Runcorn Veterans (Association) who have done a fantastic job nurturing the garden to the stage where it is ready to handed over to the community, and also to Wonky Garden who will take over the running of the project from here.
“Also, a big thank you to Halton Borough Council’s Health and Wellbeing team who without their permission to use the garden, the scheme would not have gone ahead.”
Sue Hume and Angela Hayler from The Wonky Garden issued a joint statement.
They said: “The three of us met as a result of having cancer treatment over the past few years, and we are now well on the road to recovery and out the other side.
“We set up The Wonky Garden to give something back to the community who have supported us through some of our hardest days.
“The garden at Grangeway will not just be about planting and growing, it’s about having fun and bringing people of all ages together in a space we can all share and make our own, and is most importantly about having a good time.
“We want to hear from local community members about what they would like to do with the garden.
“Residents are welcome to help design and create the garden, and we’ll arrange various activities to bring everyone together so we can share ideas, expertise, have fun and enjoy the Wonky Garden together.”
To find out more visit www. thewonkygarden. co.uk