Raising the bar on community gardens
Post categories: RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2011
| 07:00 UK time, Saturday, 9 July 2011
A Show Garden can be many things. It can be just a garden for people to enjoy at the show; it can push the boundaries and the concepts of what we think of as a garden space, it can also provide us with a message and encourage us to look deeper into the gardens theme, raising awareness and the profile of the theme.
The Deptford Project: An Urban Harvest, a Hampton Court Small Garden
The garden I have been involved with this year, , will hopefully raise awareness of community gardens and show that they do not have to be areas that are untouched or unused, they can also be stylish and inspiring.
While I have never been involved with a community garden before this project, I have really enjoyed the working with the people involved from all different cultural backgrounds. I've learnt that if people are involved in a project they are inspired by, they also take away with them a sense of pride and ownership - even if they do not directly own the project themselves. I hope that this sense of ownership and pride carries on after the show when the garden is re sited at , Deptford High Street.
The sponsors GCDA have been involved in food growing projects and encouraging community interaction through gardening over the years, and were particularly keen for this show garden to promote both these areas. Urban food production provides an excellent means of involving groups such as women, ethnic minorities and older adults in socially productive activity. It also provided a valuable means of expression of local or ethnic activity for example growing culturally significant produce.
All hard landscaping elements and some plants will be taken to The Deptford Project
Food growing provides communities with opportunities for community cohesion, community capital, access to healthier food, gentle exercise, community learning and often leading to happier, safer communities.
We are keen to celebrate the individual and collective work of community gardens across urban settings – capable of transforming spaces physically and socially with opportunities for learning, healthier lifestyles and economic activity. Our sponsors have also developed growing projects in partnership with supported accommodation, schools, children centres, day centres, , and Older Peoples Services working with adults with learning difficulties and recently with centres for higher education.
In my opinion community food growing projects can act as a focus for the community to come together, generate a sense of ‘can-do’ and also help create a sense that each particular place, however ordinary, is unique and has value.
is a garden designer who first showcased an Show Garden at in 2008.
Comments Post your comment