The vision was to create a vibrant community garden
As part of their large allotment, Saintbridge Allotment Association vision was to create a vibrant, welcoming community garden open to all to encourage connections between people, knowledge and love of food and improve health and well-being.
To this aim, they cleared five plots, created accessible raised beds with wide paths between them but needed funds help with the rest of their ambitious plans.
In 2016, Saintbridge Allotment Association with partners, Glo-active and the Aston Project came to Barnwood to share plans for growing food and community at their attractive allotment tucked just off Painswick Road in Gloucester.
They knew they has the experience, skills and people power to create an accessible, educational and fun growing space. They wanted to show people how to grow and harvest food but needed help to buy materials and equipment to make that vision reality. After meeting them, Barnwood were more than pleased to provide this through its Community Spaces Fund.
The majority of this investment was used for an accessible composting eco-toilet (does what it says on the tin!) alongside a range of other facilities they needed like a home-made pizza oven, a wheelchair accessible poly tunnel for growing, selection of gardening tools adapted for physically disabled people, a raised planting station for everyone to use and a large shelter, in the unlikely event that the Gloucester weather turns!
“The Community Garden is an outdoor community resource, where people of all ages, and from all walks of life, get together to develop and maintain an inspiring a welcoming green space. It allows people to come together and join in the planting, aftercare and harvesting of crops throughout the season“ “