The amazing group fostering sustainability and building friendships in Heaton Chapel

The dedicated volunteers of a local community group in Heaton Chapel are celebrating a remarkable achievement as they have been awarded a prestigious accolade for their exceptional work in growing food together.

They have received a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recognition called ‘Growing Together Award’ for community gardening.

RHS and BBC Recognition

The RHS and BBC One Show have recognised the group’s commitment to fostering community and sustainability through their shared passion for gardening.

The volunteers have transformed a small patch of land at Marbury Road Park into a bountiful garden.

Every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., community members come together to nurture plants, share gardening knowledge, and enjoy the rewards of their collective efforts.

The Heaton Chapel Community Group

The recognition from the RHS and BBC One Show is a significant milestone for the Heaton Chapel community group.

It highlights the positive impact they have had on the local area, fostering a deeper sense of connection and encouraging sustainable practices.

While the group’s achievements are commendable, the upcoming winter months will bring a temporary halt to their regular meetings.

Unfortunately, the group has been unable to secure funding for an indoor space to continue their gatherings during this period.

However, they remain determined and will strive to secure funding in the coming year to ensure uninterrupted community engagement.

Fancy Joining this Amazing Community Group?

The Heaton Chapel Community Group extends an open invitation to residents and gardening enthusiasts alike to join them and be a part of their inspiring initiative.

Whether you have green thumbs or are simply eager to learn, the group welcomes everyone with open arms.

Together, they aim to create a vibrant and inclusive gardening community that nurtures both plants and relationships.

To further support their endeavours, the group has set up a JustGiving page where donations are gratefully received to fund an indoor space for them to work over the winter.

The funds will be utilised to incorporate innovative growing technologies into their garden, enhancing their capabilities and enabling them to create an even more sustainable and efficient gardening space.

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A spokesperson said: ” The next phase of our journey needs another structure, we would like to invest in a commercial polytunnel to grow, teach and learn together.

“Whilst they are more expensive than a garden polytunnel, they are more robust for our purpose and offer a little more security.

“We would like to install an aquaponics system, this would offer us a dual food crop whilst working in harmony with what the site has offered us. Aquaponic farming uses 80% less water than traditional growing practices.

“Having a system like this will offer us the opportunity to share the techniques and systems with people who are interested in growing and volunteers that help tend the crops will be entitled to a share of them – a unique experience to grow your food with technologies that are normally to costly to operate at a non-commercial level.”

Join the Heaton Chapel community group and become a part of this remarkable journey.

By working together, we can cultivate a greener, more connected future for our neighbourhood.