Charford Community Garden
The community garden nestled behind St. Andrew's Church in Bromsgrove had been neglected for years. However, with its location in a residential area and space for plant beds, the site had fantastic potential for both the community and wildlife. Katie, Rich and Charlotte, Charford residents and keen gardeners, were all eager to donate their time and energy into restoring the garden, with guidance from Nextdoor Nature officer Yasmina.
Over time, Katie, Rich and Charlotte gained additional help from neighbours to work on the garden. The space has been tidied and plant beds now include species that are valuable to insects, particularly bees. Through the installation of feeders, they are also supporting birds on and around the site. Although there are only several people getting involved in practical work on the garden, there is a community investment in the space; after sharing the garden’s progress on social media, the group have received numerous donations from local people including benches, tables, chairs, water butts, plants and seeds. To encourage further involvement from locals, regardless of ability and mobility, they hope to build a raised plant bed in the future. The long-term vision is for the garden to become a hub for the local community where they can socialise, pick fresh produce and connect with nature.
Embrace the weeds!
It's not only wildlife and the local community that have reaped the rewards from this project; Katie, Rich and Charlotte have all learnt new practical skills and gained more knowledge about wildlife conservation whilst working on Charford Community Garden. They have even applied their learnings to their own allotments, managing these spaces more sympathetically and with nature in mind. They have also reflected on their own personal growth and wellbeing, sharing that the project has built their confidence in meeting new people and provided a greater sense of purpose and intention in their everyday life.
They are passionate that this garden should be worked on by the community for the community. They encourage everyone to pitch in how and when they can; from individuals sparing an hour every fortnight to a local business donating materials, every effort and contribution is valued.
We are small but mighty!
