Community allotment launched in Worthing

The church is part of the parish of All Saints Church, Findon Valley, and the plan has involved Guild Care working in close partnership with the parish over the last few months, in order to create something unique, practical and successful.

The garden is designed for older people at St Peter’s Church, in Furze Road, as a place to visit to relax or even cultivate and grow plants and produce.

It was opened last Wednesday and is now accessible seven days a week, for visitors to potter around at their leisure. There will be an organised meeting every Wednesday, from 11am to 2pm, when tea and coffee will be available.

Kelly Wickham, Guild Care media officer, said: “The group has been created because gardening is a very valuable activity for fitness and wellbeing but sadly, many people stop enjoying this past time when they get older.

“Many allotmenteers also have to give up their plot because it becomes too much to maintain and lose the camaraderie of being with other like-minded people.

“It can also reduce isolation and solitude by bringing people together. Loneliness is a serious condition that can severely affect a person’s mental and physical health, and increase the risk of premature death by 30 per cent.”

Guild Care confirms the new garden is wheelchair accessible, has raised beds and a polytunnel to enable everyone to work in all weather.

The church has allowed the charity to use the space and the project has been made possible thanks to donations of raised beds from Wenban-Smith, topsoil from Earth Cycle and money raised by staff through pantomime performances at Christmas.

Claire Thomas and Luc Harvengt were joined by three volunteers, Scott Wilson, Kathy Smith and Mark Lucas, to build the garden.

The helpers started work by building two raised beds and the frame of the polytunnel.

Luc said: “Some more work is needed for the garden to be fully ready for opening but all this hard work would definitely not have happened without those people’s kind help and hard work.”

The garden is near a no.7 bus stop or transport can be organised via Guild Care.

Call Luc Harvengt on 01903 528627 or email [email protected] to join the volunteers or offer support.

n Guild Care’s event Get Dirty for Dementia takes place on Sunday at Rookery Fit Farm in Bognor Regis.

It is not too late to sign up for the military-style obstacle course. The money raised will buy a wide range of things for people living with dementia.

Call 01903 528613 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for more details.

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