Celebrating gardens in our communities

Spring has finally sprung! And with the lighter days and sunny(ish) weather on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to enjoy green areas in our communities.

This week is Community Garden Week, which celebrates the amazing community and school gardens across the UK.

Community grants from believe housing have helped gardening and allotment projects to sprout up across County Durham.

So, if you’re looking for a green space to ring in spring, here’s some of gardens we’ve supporting with funding:

• Wheatbottom Allotment Association – an allotment site behind Cooperative Terrace, Crook which is open for anyone in the local area to get involved in.
• Browney Community Garden – A one for the diary as Browney’s new community garden on Browney Lane is hosting an opening event for the whole community on Saturday, 26 April between 1pm and 4pm.
• Squadron green area – a gardening project at Will Boulmer Complex, Denehouse Road, Seaham, maintained by cadets of 1338 Seaham Squadron. Open over several weekends throughout the year and on parade nights (Tuesdays and Thursdays 7pm to 9.30pm).
• Murton Community Allotment – believe housing funding helped to expand a community garden to grow fruit and vegetables, as well as providing food packs to the Murton community and projects that help families with food.
• Esh Winning Residents Association community allotment on 13 Fir Terrace Allotment. – open to all residents to participate and volunteer in.
• Community Woodland Walk, Shadford – a woodland walk developed with an accessible path and benches for picnics, wildflower planting, tree planting and sensory boards at Sherburn Hill, between The Croft and Jubilee Crescent. Open to community groups in the area.
• Greenscapes Getting Closer to Nature project – a two-acre wildlife area at Greendrive Welfare Park, Seaham aimed to encourage young people to learn about and protect nature. Activities include bulb and tree planting, bird and hedgehog box building and recording mammals are in the site through homemade ink traps. Open to people of all ages to walk their dogs and enjoy the local wildlife.
• Foundry Fields Allotments, Crook – A community garden opened for people of all ages and abilities to reap the benefits of gardening.

Community Investment Performance Team Leader for believe housing, Damain Pearson, said: “Community gardens are the perfect place for people across all communities to get closer to nature and get their fingers green.

“We’re delighted to fund these green spaces across all of our communities and give people the chance to enjoy nature”

Please check with your local groups before visiting these gardens as times and availability might vary.