• 10/08/2009

Allotment project launches in Hendon

Green-fingered residents of Hendon and the East End have been given the opportunity to dig in and grow their own, with a major allotment refurbishment project in their area.

Corporation Road allotments in Hendon have had a new lease of life thanks to a project led by area regeneration programme Back on the Map. As well as bringing a number of derelict allotments back into use, the project has created a community allotment garden from unused space at the site. The whole project has cost £140,000 and taken five months to complete. The transformation of the community allotment site has been delivered by Groundwork North East and additional funding of £25,000 came from Marks and Spencer through their carrier bag payment scheme.

The new site was unveiled on Saturday 25 July at the project's official launch. Back on the Map's chair of housing and environment, resident director Hazel Clark, and Victoria Clapham, Marks and Spencer Sunderland store manager performed the official opening. Hazel Clark said: "The community allotment and the wider allotment site have been transformed into a space where local people can work together to grow their own produce. For Back on the Map this is such an important project because it meets so many of our objectives, from delivering environmental improvements to helping boost people's health through healthy exercise and fresh, home grown produce."

The physical work to improve the site has involved:
• clearing the site of rubbish, bracken and weeds;
• improving access and security by increasing the size of gates, creating paths and enhancing the boundary;
• improving internal fencing and creating raised beds; and
• providing equipment for the community garden so that volunteers can grow healthy fresh fruit and vegetables (greenhouse/polytunnel, shed, wheelbarrows, seeds, composting bins, water butts and soil).

Some planting activity has already taken place on site and volunteers have made progress growing lettuce, turnips and pumpkins.

Groundwork North East have also been working with a range of groups and key partners to help establish an allotment committee who will make sure that volunteers are trained and supported to aid the long term maintenance of the site.

Sam Palombella from Groundwork North East who managed the transformation said: "Groundwork North East is delighted to have led the environmental improvements on Corporation Road Allotment and the creation of a community space on previously derelict land. The Community Allotment Garden brings together so many different groups and local residents and has only happened thanks to the hard work of our partners and the financial support of the funders."

As well as the community allotment, the project has brought 10 unused plots back into use, all of which have been let to local residents.

There are still some mini-plots on the community allotment which are available for groups of residents and local volunteers to come and try out their green fingers. For more information please contact Nichola Ramshaw on 0191 527 3333.