Harry bee Community Gardening Group | Case study

What did they want to achieve?

The gardening area is open to all, and is well used; whether that be the Harry Bee Community Gardening group growing fruit and vegetables, the nursery groups' planting sunflowers, or members of the public sitting and enjoying a coffee in the outside space.

This community garden area is shared with the café. The shared space was once open for visitors to move freely between the two areas, and children visiting the café would often pick the flowers from the garden and inadvertently damage the plants whilst playing.

So, to help define the two areas more clearly, the Harry Bee Community Gardening group built a row of trough planters using recycled materials. But that was three year ago, and over time the planters have been crumbling away.

How did they do it? 

The trough planters were replaced with sturdier planters made of sleepers, and replanted with sensory plants for the children, and others visiting the café area, to freely and safely touch.

What help did our Community Team provide?

Cumbria Wildlife Trust staff approached the gardening group about a potential Nextdoor Nature project. Liz, the Community Centre Manager, explained how she'd like to replace the trough planters and make the garden area larger. She also explained her wishes for a memorial area for a well-loved, local councillor who had recently passed away.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust staff came along to the next gardening group meeting to discuss the group's wishes further and to put a plan in place. The gardening group had two new members join that day, one of them being a gardener, and the pair shared lots of practical advice and ideas, expressing that they wanted to be involved in the project to "give back to the community". Collectively, a shopping list and planter designs were put together.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust approached Wickes Community Fund to see if they could donate any materials towards the project. While they couldn’t donate any materials, they did offer the sleepers for half price, saving almost £700!

What was the outcome?

The project has sparked bigger and bolder plans from the group for the garden, including plans to apply for further funding in the hopes of a larger greenhouse and a polytunnel to grow fruits and vegetables to share with the community.

The group also expressed wishes for a local artist to paint a large wildlife and wildflower mural on the plain grey walls surrounding the garden.