Growing sense of wellbeing in Rochdale

People enjoying the Growth Project open day

Local Food enthusiasts turned out in force to attend the award-winning Growth Project’s Open Day yesterday (Thursday 19 August 2010).

Over 50 visitors came along to taste the produce, find out about growing their own food, make bug dens and meet the people who have worked so hard to create this urban haven.

Visitors were fascinated to see live demonstrations of pond-building, rendering raised beds, making a decorative herb garden and cropping vegetables, talking to the volunteers about how they have built the tranquil site themselves, savouring the atmosphere and showing obvious reluctance to leave.

The project, which is a partnership between Hourglass, Rochdale and District Mind, Rochdale Council and Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT has benefitted over 40 volunteers with mental health issues since it was set up nearly 3 years ago.

In addition to providing lots of fruits and vegetables for people involved, volunteers build fences, paths, sheds and insect palaces. The Growth Project provides a friendly but hard-working environment in which people learn new skills, as well as having an opportunity for chats, cups of tea, getting to know people and supporting each other.

In 2009, it was awarded the best Grow Your Own Award in the North West in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) North West in Bloom competition. The RHS singled it out for its “horticultural excellence, and its ability to involve, support and develop beneficiaries within a top-quality local food project”.

Barry Bower, Project Support Worker from Rochdale & District Mind, who initially started as a volunteer, said: “The power of this horticultural project in enabling individuals to realise their potential and improve their wellbeing never ceases to amaze me. It is the way forward for Health and Wellbeing care delivery in the community because it also improves people’s physical health and eating habits.”

The Growth Project is currently extending its reach, setting up a new site at Croft Community Leisure Gardens in Middleton and renovating another large derelict plot at Kellet Street. Hourglass is working with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) and Neighbourhood Renewal to create ‘Q’ Gardens, another Community Garden on Queen’s Drive attached to the Kirkholt Medical Centre.
Anyone wishing to volunteer on the project can contact the Open Minds Team on 07881 815523 or email barrybower@rochdalemind.org.uk.