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The garden area of Roots and Shoots (nicknamed 'The Secret Garden' by volunteers) was created from two allotments by Eric, a local man, in memory of his grandson Karl. The flowers grown in the garden were used by Peggy, a member of St Martha's, a local church, to create floral displays for the church. When Peggy's husband died, his ashes were sprinkled in the garden. Sadly, Peggy herself died in 2004 and her own ashes were also sprinkled in the garden. Eric donated the garden to the Brotowe Partnership Trust in 2005 to be used for the benefit of the local community.
The Trust then rented four other allotments surrounding the garden to develop the site and the possibilities for community use. Besides the 'secret garden', areas were established for a polytunnel, small plots for local people or groups to grow their own produce, an open area for craft activities surrounded by fruit trees, a natural area set aside for wildlife, places to put various sheds, summer houses and a compost toilet and a bed to grow willow for the willow craft group to use.
Various groups and individuals now make use of the site. Community Service Supervisors bring down a team of people on the community service schemes to work on the site and The Hope Centre Nursery and Ambleside Primary School also make use of the facilities at Roots and Shoots.
The Team
Kat Welch is the Community Gardener responsible for Roots and Shoots. You can contact her to discuss joining the various gardening and craft projects at Roots and Shoots Community Garden. Kat may also be able to arrange transport to the allotments. Tel: 07974 918111 or 0115 9130248 or alternatively email her:
localgrowth@yahoo.co.uk
Alison Joined the team in the summer of 2007. She job shares with Kat, sharing the responsibilties for running Roots and Shoots.
Mike Simpson is the craft tutor in greenwood and willow crafts.
Tim Allman is responsible for the construction work on site, in particular the building of the compost toilet.
Empowerment
The ethos of Roots and shoots is one of empowerment allowing service users who would like to, to take an active and real role in decision making and other aspects of the group. For example, some have been involved in writing letters to support funding applications, writing articles about Roots and Shoots for local publications and developing this website. The name ‘Roots and Shoots’ was itself chosen by users in a vote. The user groups are encouraged to own the gardens as theirs rather than merely being passive recipients.
Environment
Roots and Shoots aims to encourage an awareness of ecological issues. We are at present building a compost toilet which besides providing a necessary facility, disposes of human waste in an environmentally friendly way.
The willow craft group is using a renewable resource in willow, which will quickly grow up again in the following year. The willow is resourced locally, which benefits the environment by cutting down on pollution from transportation. The products we make are of course biodegradable in the long run.
Water for the secret garden is collected through a drainpipe from the roof of the shed into a water butt rather then adding pressure on the water table by drawing from the mains water supply.
Health Awareness
In the provision of allotment plots for local people to use, we aim to encourage a healthy lifestyle through the eating of fresh organic fruit and vegatables and the excercise involved in growing them!
Education
Roots and Shoots aims to provide local groups such as schools and nurseries facilities to educate in environmental issues, horticulture, and wildlife using a direct hands on approach. We also give free tuition to individuals in green wood and willow crafts. BEST, based at the BEE centre has offered funding to set up courses in mosaic making and gardening if there is sufficient interest.
From Denton Green - go down Bradfield Road and then on to Aspley Lane. Turn left after Bluecoat School on Western Boulevard. The allotment is a short walk on the left.
You can also catch the 77 bus from outside of SureStart near the Co-op on Strelley Road which takes you to Melton Road.
