Upcott House Growing Together
2
The Pitch
Problem statement
Upcott House community garden is based on an estate in Hackney that has 4 large tower blocks with residents from a wide range of diverse backgrounds. Residents do not have access to their own private gardens. Feedback from the community states that the space was previously unused (many local residents didn’t even know it existed), or it was being vandalised and misused.
Solution
In 2020, ecoACTIVE started working with residents at Upcott House to create and care for a community garden in the grounds of the estate. The aim is to support residents who are keen to volunteer on a regular basis, to help them gain new skills, whilst also helping the group to reach out and engage their neighbours and the wider community, through running some family events in the garden. This funding will allow us to further improve the garden making it even better for wildlife, by contributing to the costs of strengthening raised beds, planting five fruit trees, installing an irrigation system, creating a wildlife area through planting of native perennial shrubs, and adding signage.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
ecoACTIVE has been working with community groups in Hackney since 2002. Our experienced Community Garden Network Coordinator and skilled Session Worker are both trained horticulturalists. They are working closely with the residents at this community garden (and others in the Borough) to create a vibrant garden, being managed by a resilient, self-sustaining group of volunteers. We offer in-house training to residents, as well as sign-posting them to opportunities for skills development. We help the group to develop the physical space and also provide resources and activity ideas for the family events, whilst ensuring that the residents feel listened to and have ownership of their site.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Contribution to timber costs for raised beds | £200 |
| Cost of flooring for new shed | £80 |
| Materials to create signage for the community garden | £300 |
| Irrigation system for harvested rainwater | £150 |
| Fruit trees, perennial shrubs, compost & soil | £1,270 |
Beneficiaries
50 people
Expected impact
Through this new phase of the project, we hope that more residents will get involved, taking part in sessions or attending family events for the first time.Core volunteers will report learning new skills, as a result of taking part in sessions and training.Increased connection to nature and to others in the local community supports mental and physical health. Core volunteers will report feeling connected to nature, and will be spending more time outdoors. Their time in the garden will positively impact upon their physical and mental health.Residents will report meeting new people, as a result of volunteering or attending events, and will feel that members of their community get on well together.
Track record
Around 50 residents are regularly volunteering, in 9 community gardens that we are supporting. Since starting the project, we have run over 25 training sessions for our volunteers & 57 events for the community. Have you met other local people through volunteering at your garden? 100% - Yes How important is the garden as an opportunity to get outdoors and connect with nature? (1= not important, 5= extremely important) 88% = 4 or 5 out of 5 - baseline surveys 100% scored 4 or 5 out of 5 - follow up survey How would you describe your experience of gardening or food growing? 75% of volunteers reported feeling more experienced about gardening or food growing, in their follow up surveys, compared to their baseline survey One Upcott resident who has already taken part in sessions has told us, "I've learned a lot more about gardening from some of the residents who have experience. It's been a good way to meet other residents and it's good to spend more time outdoors."