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 Success for Lever Edge Community Garden

Success for Lever Edge Community Garden

By 17th September, 2018 Press Releases No Comments

VOLUNTEERS have helped bring a Bolton care home’s edible garden project to fruition.

Fruits, vegetables and herbs have been planted throughout Lever Edge Care Home, in Great Lever, after winning funding from Bolton Council.

The Bolton Transformation Fund awarded £6,100 to the project, which has seen residents, family members, staff and volunteers all getting involved in the work.

Great Lever Connected, Bolton Lads and Girls Club’s National Citizenship Service, Willow Hey Allotment owners and children from Lever Edge Primary School have all offered support.

The care home also runs regular gardening sessions with Natural Education, a Bolton-based initiative aiming to improve mental health through outdoor activities.

Sarah Urmston, from Natural Education and also the project leader, said: “Horticulturally, this year was a challenge, with a very cold April and a heatwave throughout June and July.

“This made for a harsh environment in which to garden, with watering a particular concern, but we’ve managed complete a lot of work with the help of volunteers from lots of community groups.”

Among the work, shrubs have been removed and replaced with edible plants and signage, including tomatoes, raspberries, blueberries and a variety of herbs.

Potted plants have been placed on the terrace area on the care home’s second floor and large, raised flower beds have been built in the courtyard.

Signs have also been put up to inform the community that the area is for all to use.

Karen McMahon, home manager at Lever Edge Care Home, on Lever Edge Lane, said: “Our residents have thoroughly enjoyed getting involved in the garden project, even those who previously didn’t have much interest in gardening.

“The social interaction and meeting different people from the volunteer groups who have been visiting has been brilliant.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been involved.

“The Lever Edge Community Garden is not just for the home but for everyone in the local community, so we hope to see more volunteers helping with the gardening and, eventually, harvesting the produce in future.”

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