New project launched to tackle physical inactivity in Teesside
The programme is being delivered by Groundwork North East and Cumbria
Five key allotment sites across Teesside are being urged in a project to encourage people to get active.
It will see them get involved in gardening to improev their health and wellbeing in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland.
The ‘You’ve Got This’ program, which is a Sport England-funded place partnership that aims to tackle physical inactivity in the South Tees area, has commissioned the Community and Environmental charity, Groundwork North East & Cumbria to deliver a programme of allotment regeneration within their Community Focus Areas of Brambles and Thorntree, Grangetown, North Ormesby, and South Bank.
As a starting point, Groundwork NE & Cumbria plans to revamp allotments on Town Farm and Whitehouse Farm in Middlesbrough, and the Mushroom Grove allotments, Eston Grange allotments, and Eston Bellfield community allotments in the Redcar and Cleveland area.
Town Farm Community Allotments on Cargo Fleet Lane in Middlesbrough is one of the first sites to get underway.
Work has already started dividing the site into more manageable-sized plots and building raised beds to make it easier to tend the land. The team plans to work with local people teaching them how to work the allotments, passing on skills and knowledge about the type of plants that can be grown, when to plant them, how to look after them and, ultimately how to cook the home-grown produce. This programme will be replicated across the four other sites.
Groundwork will also help people in these five key areas with their home and community gardens, passing on skills and knowledge about what and how to plant and grow fruit and vegetables. They hope to encourage local groups to adopt and manage community plots. To alleviate some of the costs associated with gardening, Groundwork is setting up a community tool shed that will operate like a library allowing people to ‘borrow’ gardening equipment.
Commenting on the project, Mike Dent, Groundwork NE & Cumbria Green Spaces Officer said: “We know that being outdoors and close to nature is good for both your mental and physical health. We also know that gardening is great physical exercise and growing your own fruit and vegetables hugely benefits health and well-being and helps keep food costs down.
“Across South Tees we are supporting the revitalisation of five great allotment sites and encouraging local communities to get involved and get gardening. We want to make these allotments a community focus, encouraging people to adopt individual plots and make them their own, building confidence and experience one plant at a time.
“We have big plans for these spaces and at Town Hall allotments, if the local communities agree, we would like to plant a community orchard with fruit trees.”
Adam Beaumont, Programme Support Officer for You’ve Got This said: “From what we are learning through the YGT programme, Gardening and Growing are seen as highly accessible and inclusive activities for all kinds of people. We know that there are many allotment and growing sites in the region that are in different states of management & usage. Once developed and supported appropriately, these open spaces located within the heart of our communities will provide a great opportunity for physical activity and social interaction.”