A NEGLECTED grey concrete space has been transformed into a community garden as part of a Coventry foodbank scheme.
Volunteers took part in the Sow to Grow scheme, which aims to promote wellbeing support and provide an area where the grown prodice can be turned into meals.
The garden already has fruit and vegetables including strawberries, tomatoes and sweetcorn in a space at the back of the foodbanks headquatres.
In time the food grown will be fed into the foodbank’s feeding programmes, like Coventry Foodbank and The Community Pantries.
Feed The Hungry and Coventry Foodbank’s, Rich Smith, said: “The aim of the project is to create a space that is accessible for all, whilst providing opportunities for people to gather, learn and try something new.
“It was born out of a desire to transform a neglected space into a hive of activity for volunteers, clients and staff, whilst also being a space for the natural world to break from the concrete and flourish.
“Coventry foodbank’s positioning in the middle of an industrial estate means there is limited, if not no, green space for people to connect with.
“We are working at turning this space from a grey, barbed wired, metal fenced area, into a green space for wildlife to explore and people to engage in the natural world.”
He added that many clients struggle with dept, mental health issues, illness and social isolation – the garden is a space for people to talk in a positive environment.
The National Garden Scheme donated £4,000 in funding and local businesses supported the project during volunteer days.
Currently the foodbank feeds 800 people each week which represents an increase from 700 people in January 2023 and 500 people in January 2022.
