Warwickshire Social Gardening

So the Social Gardening Project, tell us a bit about what it is.

Well really, it is what it says on the tin.

We thought we'd like to get people outdoors and also green up the local community.

So it's all about adding some plants in areas where maybe they're looking a little bit tired and nobody's looking after them at the moment.

Also it's about giving people the opportunity to get outdoors in a group, in a social environment and just be together and doing a little bit of good while you're at it

so right now we're as i said we're in regent grove we're down uh by what rachel calls the convenience garden which is which is down by the public toilets actually right down the bottom down so when i said to rachel i'll meet you at your convenience i didn't expect her to take it quite as literally as this but but here we are and so really gardens can pop up anywhere i guess rachel where else do you do you do this

Well, we've been doing quite a lot of work with Warwick Hospital, actually, and the Hospital Trust, and a little bit at Leamington Hospital.

So we have links with those.

We also have been helping down on New Street in Leamington.

There's the Burial Ground Garden.

And we recently planted the patio area for Stonely Arms Art Space.

So, yeah, as many opportunities as come up, we're really glad to help.

And we love the Stonely Arms.

That's such a special place down at the bottom.

If anyone's not yet been there, it's absolutely worth a visit down, as Rachel says, down on Clemens Street.

So you talk about volunteers getting involved.

What sort of people do get involved with a project like this?

Quite often it's people who have a little bit of knowledge about plants and love gardening.

But actually it's open to anybody.

We really need help and we very much appreciate anybody who comes along.

Even if you just want to have a natter and a cup of coffee and a biscuit.

The more the merrier really.

And if you're physically able to give us a little bit of help with maybe a little bit of weeding, a little bit of deadheading, sweeping up, then much appreciated.

So it's some holidays at the moment.

I guess there's a few young people starting to kick their heels a little bit about what they might be doing with the rest of their wonderful six weeks of sunshine.