Community Gateway Association (CGA) joined forces earlier this month with the UK’s leading youth charity, The Prince’s Trust, to breathe new life into some of its much-loved green spaces.
Remedial work required at CGA’s Moor Nook Allotments in Ribbleton, Preston, and at its Bleasdale Street East Community Garden in Preston city centre, proved the perfect opportunity for 10 young people working with The Prince’s Trust to get stuck in for two weeks and complete an important part of their project work – with stunning results.
The transformation is plain to see with overgrown sections completely cut back, weeds gone, new wood chippings laid, raised beds pruned and all paths and ground-level sections completely tidied.
The Mayor of Preston, Councillor Phil Crowe, visited the Moor Nook Allotments on Friday 14 June to take a look at the work and congratulate the young people on the completion of their 12-week project.
Claire Smith, Head of Culture and Engagement at Community Gateway Association, said:
“Here at CGA, we understand how important it is to collaborate with charities and partners in our communities to help them with their goals and aspirations – and in this instance, we’ve helped 10 brilliant young people with their 12-week Prince’s Trust project and in turn, they’ve delivered some outstanding work on the community garden and allotments.
“I was amazed to see the total transformation at both sites, and I would like to thank all ten of them for their hard work and wish them the very best of luck for the future.
“It’s also important to recognise the key roles of the team leaders, Anji Hesketh and John Jenkins from The Prince’s Trust, and of course the kind donations of shrubs, fruit and vegetables from Let’s Grow Preston and Holland House Garden Centre in Walton-le-Dale.
“Without them, this project wouldn’t have been possible, and our tenants wouldn’t be turning up to find their allotment spaces and community garden completely overhauled and massively improved.
“It was a real privilege to be joined by the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Phil Crowe, on Friday 14 June and it means a lot to receive that recognition – not just for the 10 fantastic young people involved, but for this entire community too.”
CGA owns the Moor Nook Allotments in Preston, where there are 14 beds available to rent with an annual rental fee.
Community Gateway
Community Gateway Association is Preston’s largest housing association, managing roughly 6,800 homes across Preston and surrounding areas.
CGA is a not-for-profit community-based housing association – and is the first housing association to be based on the ‘Gateway Model’ which means we put tenants at the heart of everything we do, and we involve them in decisions which affect them, their homes and their communities.
Read more: https://www.communitygateway.co.uk/who-we-are
Moor Nook Allotments
CGA owns the Moor Nook Allotments in the Ribbleton area of Preston.
We have 14 beds available to either tenants or non-tenants where they can grow their own produce. All 14 beds are currently taken. To join the waiting list, email Get.Involved@communitygateway.co.uk
The annual rental fee for an allotment is £25.00 for tenants and £30.00 for non-tenants. The address is: Waddington Road, Ribbleton, Moor Nook, Preston, PR2 6HU. More info: https://www.gateway2engagement.co.uk/moor-nook-allotments
Bleasdale Street East Community Garden
This is owned by Community Gateway Association and its management and upkeep is handled by one of our tenants currently, but there are always opportunities to help out and get involved. Email Get.Involved@communitygateway.co.uk
The Prince’s Trust
The Prince’s Trust has helped one million young people to date. Over the last five years, 3 in 4 young people supported by The Trust moved into work, education or training. More about The Prince’s Trust here: https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/about-us. The Prince’s Trust is set to be renamed The King’s Trust following King Charles III’s coronation.
The Mayor of Preston
More about the Mayor of Preston here: https://www.preston.gov.uk/article/1363/The-Mayor-of-Preston
Let’s Grow Preston
Let’s Grow Preston manages three gardens: Ashton Walled Garden; The Hub on Grange Park; and Grange Community Garden. It is run by volunteers. The volunteers book a one-hour or two-hour session to help maintain the garden and grow food. Read more at: https://www.letsgrowpreston.org/our-sites
Holland House Garden Centre
Holland House Garden Centre is on Higher Walton Road in Walton-le-Dale. See more on their website: https://hollandhousenursery.co.uk/contact/
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